5 salads that are worse than entrées

Think salad is always the healthiest option? Think again. You’d be better off swapping these fast-food salads for an entrée

1 / 5
Tendergrill Salad

Burger King

The salad: The Tendergrill Chicken BLT

This salad, which is topped with bacon and cheese and chicken, weighs in at 350 calories, 23 g fat and 1,060 mg sodium. But load on the Kraft Balsamic Vinaigrette and you add 180 calories, 17 g fat and 420 mg sodium.

The entrée: Try a BK Veggie Burger (270 calories, 6 g fat, 740 mg sodium) along with a Side Garden Salad (25 calories, 0.3 g fat, 5 mg sodium) with the Kraft Calorie-Wise Zesty Italian Dressing (20 calories, 1 g fat, 660 mg sodium).

2 / 5
McDonald's Southwest Salad

McDonald’s

The salad: Tuscan Salad with Crispy Chicken

This dish comes with fried chicken, Parmesan cheese and a Roasted Garlic Dressing. Altogether, that’s 430 calories, 21 g fat and 510 mg sodium.

The entrée:
Swap out the Tuscan Salad’s crispy chicken in favour of warm, grilled chicken and you’ll drop 100 calories, 8 g fat and 110 mg sodium.

3 / 5
Wendy's Baja Salad

Wendy’s

The salad: Baja Salad

This dish comes with tortilla strips, guacamole and cheese, but the Creamy Red Jalapeno dressing really pushes this salad into the junk-food category. With the dressing, the Baja Salad contains 740 calories, 48 g fat and 1,995 mg sodium.

The entrée:
Dig into a Grilled Chicken Go Wrap (260 calories, 10 g fat, 730 mg sodium) plus a Garden Side Salad (25 calories, 0 g fat, 30 mg sodium) with Fat Free Italian Vinaigrette (20 calories, 0 g fat, 180 mg sodium).

4 / 5
Swiss Chalet Chicken Caesar Salad

Swiss Chalet

The salad: Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

A grilled chicken salad always sounds like such a good idea. But in the case of this one, which packs 680 calories, 41 g fat and 1,550 mg sodium, you may want to reconsider your order. If you’re in search of a healthy salad option, Caesar salad isn’t your best bet due to the fatty dressing, the croutons, Parmesan cheese and bacon that comes with this dish.

The entrée: If you’re really craving creamy and garlicky greens, order a Side Caesar Salad with your Swiss Chalet meal. It weighs in at 210 calories, 19 g fat, and 320 mg sodium. Better yet, get the Classic Quarter Chicken dinner (with white meat, Chalet dipping sauce, fresh vegetables or garden salad), which contains 360 calories, 11 g fat and 745 mg sodium.

5 / 5
Taco Bell Fiesta Taco Salad

Taco Bell

The salad: Fiesta Taco Salad

This salad contains dish comes in a tortilla bowl loaded with cheese, beef, sour cream and tortilla strips, so think of it as a fast-food indulgence rather than a healthy salad option. Order this salad and you’ll be consuming 850 calories, 45 g fat and 1,690 mg sodium-that’s 190 mg more than the recommended daily sodium intake for adults.

The entrée: Sidestep the salad altogether and order yourself two portion-friendly beef Fresco hard tacos, which add up to 280 calories, 14 g fat and 820 mg sodium.

Related:
7 healthier fast food swaps
11 food swaps to help you lose weight
6 healthier fast food choices

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