“Center for Science in the Public Interest” can be better known as a bunch of busy bodies who want to be ‘nanny to the world’ and make folks eat what they think is good; and have no concept of ‘do in moderation.’
Let’s see how I do with the follow:
#1 Red Lobster - if I order it, I take home half. How often do I visit Red Lobster, perhaps 2-3 times a year, thus my intake of the calorie load is extremely rare.
#2 Steak and Shake - I visit it maybe 10-12 times a year, I’ve never had and wouldn’t order the 7Xsteakburger; I’m happy with a normal double and fries; or I’ll have a breakfast there, depending upon when I stop on a business trip.
#4 Outback Prime Rib - I visit there 2-3 times a year. A 16-0z prime rib means at least half goes home with me for a 2nd meal and I get veggies instead of potato, thus I don’t have the “fearful” calorie count at one meal. Yes, when I was a very active young soldier I would have had the meal as described, if I could have afforded it and, besides, Outback didn’t exist then.
All of the others, I’ve either never visited them or that doesn’t interest me. The folks who made this list are ‘scare mongers’.
I should add, that I have eaten at IHOP probably 4 times in the last 10 years. Steak and Shake, the nearest one is a 6 hour drive from where I live. Thus stopping there for a meal is a treat on a long driving business trip; usually once going west and once on the return trip. And perhaps an extra stop for a choclate milk shake only. I don’t mix the shakes with the meals but drink coffee or unsweet iced tea
I don’t know where a Sonic or Cheesecake factory are in business in my area.
Bingo, the Center for Science in the Public Interest has a long proven track record of being non-scientific and agenda driven. They are a self described "public advocacy" group.
And for Red Lobster, they picked the most fattening of all possible combo, and added a calorie laden magarita. Very atypical.