Ranked: The Unhealthiest Food Chains In America

We’ve all been there. Your belly starts to grumble and suddenly all you can think about is food. And you’re faced with a choice: go to the store and pick up ingredients for a home-cooked meal — or stop off at your local fast-food chain. We know what sounds more appealing... But would your waistline agree? Perhaps not if you’re at one of these 40 food chains — the unhealthiest in America. 

40. Chick-fil-A

Don’t get us wrong: there are lots of healthy dishes on the menu at Chick-fil-A. But you should consider what type of chicken you order. There are, for instance, 120 more calories in eight fried nuggets compared to the same number grilled. And if you’re trying to be good, watch out for the sides — they’re packed full of sugar. 

39. Jimmy John's

A handful of sandwiches on the Jimmy John’s menu can be near the 1,000-calorie mark. The deceptive Club Tuna and The Veggie are among the worst culprits. In fact, that first one on French bread contains 83 grams of fat if you get the 16-inch option. That’s more than the recommended daily amount of fat for an adult! So asking a server to remove some of the bread from the subs isn’t going to make them much healthier.

38. Olive Garden

Eating like you’re in the Mediterranean may be good for you, but that’s sadly not the case when the dishes are given an American twist. Yep, health-conscious folks visiting Olive Garden may want to avoid anything that nonna wouldn’t dish out. The Fried Mozzarella with marinara contains 845 calories, for instance, and the Chocolate Brownie Lasagna will see you shovel a scary 103 grams of sugar down your throat.

37. Chipotle

There may be lots of veggies on Chipotle’s menu, but don’t let that fool you. The chain’s build-your-own technique can be difficult to navigate when you’re trying to be healthy. Topping your burrito or taco with guacamole, cheese, and sour cream, for example, will add 450 calories and 15.5 grams of saturated fat to your meal. And that’s even before you select your meat!