Cheesecake Factory, IHOP, Outback Top Unhealthy List

By AUTUMN JOHNSON (Patch Staff)

If you’re watching your weight in for the summer, there are a few restaurants you may want to avoid.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest recently put out a list of high-calorie, fat-packed options served up at national restaurant chains. And most of the meals exceed the recommended daily calorie intake for the average person.

The organization reveals the caloric, fat and sugar contents of specific dishes at Sonic, IHOP, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Outback Steakhouse, The Cheesecake Factory and Red Lobster.

The diet sabotaging dishes have been highlighted in their Xtreme Eating Awards.

The “winning” selections include:

Outback Steakhouse 16-ounce prime rib, dressed baked potato and blue cheese wedge salad (2,400 calories).

The Cheesecake Factory Louisiana Chicken Pasta with New Orleans sauce (2,370 calories). The restaurant reappears for dessert with its Warm Apple Crisp (1,740 calories).

Sonic Pineapple Upside Down Master Blast (2,020 calories).

IHOP Chorizo Fiesta Omelette (1,300 calories).

Red Lobster Parrot Isle Jumbo Coconut, Walt’s Favorite, and Linguine Alfredo shrimp dishes with fries, Caesar salad and one Cheddar Bay biscuit (2,710 calories).