Boasting three of the ten most calorie-heavy meals in America, Cheesecake Factory has taken the cake (and eaten it too) in the Center for Science in the Public Interest's annual Xtreme Eating survey -- earning the unofficial title as America's most unhealthy restaurant.
Topping the charts (and tipping the scales) are: Bruléed French Toast at an impressive 2,800 calories and 93 grams of saturated fat; Farfalle with Chicken and Roasted Garlic totalling 2,410 calories; and Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Cheesecake, a slice of which accounts for 1,500 calories.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest is a non-profit watchdog group that advocates for safer, healthier foods. Researchers with the group say they've seen calories and portions creep ever higher over the last half-decade or so.
"When we were screening candidates for the first Xtreme Eating awards in 2007, we were shocked to see 1,500-calorie entrées," the group said in a statement. "This year, nearly all of our 'winners' hit (or just missed) the 2,000-calorie mark. And a few doozies topped 3,000 calories. You could take half home and still overeat."
The single unhealthiest meal in the survey was the "Monster"-sized A-1Peppercorn burger, Bottomless Steak Fries, and Monster Salted Caramel Milkshake meal from Red Robin Gourmet Burgers. That meal came in at 3,540 calories, 69 grams os saturated fat and an unbelievable 6,280 mg of sodium -- four days' worth.
The contest was a dreamt up as a way to draw attention to America's ongoing obesity problem. More than one third of American adults are obese. Even more are overweight.