Belly up to this year’s high-calorie Xtreme Eating ‘dishonorees’

Nutritionists at the Center for Science in the Public Interest have compiled their annual list of some of the highest calorie menu items at America’s chain restaurants, including one combo meal that delivers a whopping 2,710 calories.

Red Lobster’s “Create Your Own Combination” has four days’ worth of sodium (6,530 milligrams) if customers choose the Parrot Isle Jumbo Coconut Shrimp, Walt’s Favorite Shrimp, and Shrimp Linguine Alfredo to go with the Caesar salad, French fries and one Cheddar Bay biscuit in the combo. But if the customer also adds the 24-ounce margarita, the Lobsterita, calories top out at 3,600.

In a statement, CSPI registered dietitian Paige Einstein said: “If this meal were unusual, that would be one thing, but America’s chain restaurants are serving up 2,000-calorie breakfasts, 2,000-calorie lunches, 2,000-calorie dinners, and 2,000-calorie desserts left and right. Abnormal is the new normal.”

Erica Ettori, spokeswoman for Red Lobster, issued this statement: “The Create Your Own Combination lets guests choose two or three preparations from a list of nine to create a dish that meets their individual tastes and dietary preferences. In fact, there are more than 500 possible combinations guests can create as part of Create Your Own. CSPI’s Xtreme Eating Awards hone in on just one atypical combination and as a result inaccurately portrays the nature of this menu item. For example, Create Your Own Combination with steamed Snow Crab Legs, Seafood Stuffed Flounder, and 7 ounces Peppercorn Grilled Sirloin with a garden salad and a side of steamed broccoli has 620 calories, 6 grams saturated fat and 2,370 milligrams sodium.”

Others on the 2015 Xtreme Eating Awards list include:

▪ IHOP’s Chorizo Fiesta Omelette. CSPI describes it as “loaded with spicy chorizo sausage, roasted peppers, onions and pepper jack cheese, then topped with a citrus chili sauce and sour cream and served with a fresh grilled serrano pepper,” for 1,300 calories. With pancakes and 4 tablespoons of syrup, the breakfast order has a day’s worth of calories (1,990) and two days’ worth of saturated fat (42 grams).

IHOP issued this statement: “At IHOP we're all about choice...we offer our guests a complete menu including a full selection of ‘Simple and Fit’ entrees across every category that are under 600 calories. Our menus also feature many tips on how our guests can lower the calorie counts on their selections if they choose. Additionally, every single item on our children's menu is under 600 calories and comes with fruit as the side unless fries are specifically requested.”

▪ Dickey’s Barbecue Pit’s 3 Meat Plate. CSPI picked Polish sausage, pork ribs and beef brisket with sides of fried Onion Tanglers and mac-and-cheese, the free roll, pickles, onions and a 32-ounce (the only size offered) sweet tea.

Diners also can chow down on as much free soft-serve ice cream as they want. With just one half-cup of ice cream in a cone, the meal comes to 2,500 calories with 49 grams of saturated fat, 4,700 milligrams of sodium (two1/2 to three days’ worth of each), plus 29 teaspoons of sugar.

CSPI compares it to eating three Big Macs with five vanilla cones.

Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants Inc. issued this statement: “Lean menu options are available, including smoked turkey, chicken, salad and green bean options.”

▪ The Cheesecake Factory’s Louisiana Chicken Pasta. “Parmesan-crusted chicken served over pasta with mushrooms, peppers and onions in a spicy New Orleans sauce.” At 11/2 pounds, CSPI said, this plate from the Xtreme Eating mainstay has 2,370 calories (more than a day’s worth), 80 grams of saturated fat (a four-day supply) and 2,370 milligrams of sodium.

CSPI said it is the equivalent of two orders of fettuccine alfredo plus two breadsticks at Olive Garden.

<bullet>Sonic’s Pineapple Upside Down Master Blast: A 32-ounce cup filled with vanilla ice cream, pineapple and “salted caramel and pie crust pieces” and topped with several inches of whipped cream comes in at 2,020 calories, 61 grams of saturated fat (three days’ worth), 41/2 grams of trans fat (over two days’ worth), and about 29 teaspoons of added sugar.

CSPI compares the calorie count with roughly four Dairy Queen banana splits.

Sonic issued this statement: “The calorie count for the large Pineapple Upside Down Master Blaster listed in the report is for the 32-ounce option, which is frequently shared between friends and family. At Sonic, customers may choose from a variety of sizes. … The mini Pineapple Upside Down Master Blaster is 630 calories.”

This story was originally published June 3, 2015 at 1:59 PM with the headline "Belly up to this year’s high-calorie Xtreme Eating ‘dishonorees’."