To be totally honest, there aren’t really all that many dieticians who will recommend that you go to Applebee’s to maintain your healthy diet. Many of the items here are loaded with calories and saturated fat, so a visit to Applebee’s won’t really help with your weight-loss efforts.
And that’s not even considering the sodium content of some of these items. Keep in mind that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that you limit your daily sodium intake to less than 2,300mg of sodium per day. But even the “healthiest” menu options at Applebee’s contain close to 2,000mg of sodium. That means you’re very likely to go over the daily limit for that day.
And it’s absolutely worse for those with heart issues, whose doctors ask them to go with only 1,500mg of sodium each day. That means a single entrée here at Applebee’s (and certainly the entire meal) will set you over that limit.
But despite all these issues, it’s hard to deny that the food here at Applebee’s are so darn delicious. And then when you see the available food (see full menu here), you have so many options to choose from.
The best you can do is to at least make sure you don’t pick the worst of the lot. That means you should absolutely avoid the following Applebee’s menu items:
The Classic Combo
This is a dish that includes several tasty stand-alone items. You have the boneless wings, the yummy spinach and artichoke dip, a chicken quesadilla, and the mozzarella sticks. Altogether, it’s a grand total of 2,260 calories, with 130g of fat (38g of saturated fat) and a whopping 6,020mg of sodium. That’s almost 3 days’ worth of sodium in just one go.
Sure, this is absolutely meant to be shared, preferably with a large group of family and friends. But the combo is so appealing when it comes to taste that you might just order this Classic Combo for just yourself. And even if you tell yourself that you won’t get an entrée or dessert, you’re just deluding yourself if you think this is a healthy option.
Spinach and Artichoke Dip
This is one of the most popular appetizers on the Applebee’s menu, and it’s one of the items in the Classic Combo. You might think to just get this item instead, since spinach and artichoke are both healthy items, right? But this particular dip is not really all that good.
It comes with 990 calories, and that’s too much especially for a starter. You’re also getting 61g of fat and 2,690mg of sodium, and that’s more salt than you’re supposed to consume in a single day.
Double-Grazed Baby Back Ribs
Plain ribs may not always be a problem when they’re plain. But then when you get them smothered in salty sauces and glazes and get them with starchy sides, you have a problem. The sauce or glaze they use here at Applebee’s for the ribs often pile on the calories, and then there’s the sugar content as well. One glaring example is the hone BBQ sauce here, which adds 130 calories to the dish along with 26g of sugar.
So, how bad is the damage with these ribs? With the sauce topping and the side of fries, you’re getting up to 1,430 calories, along with 30g of saturated fat. And that also comes with 1,860mg of sodium.
Chicken Tenders Platter
This is served with coleslaw, some fries, and a dipping sauce. And with this order, you’re getting 1,400 calories along with 78g of fat, 124g of carbs, and a huge load of salt at 3,140mg of sodium.
4-Cheese Mac &Cheese with Honey Peppers Chicken Tenders
This pairing already tastes a bit weird, but it’s not healthy, either. It comes with 1,420 calories to go with the 23g of saturated fat, 152g of carbs, and 3,050mg of sodium. Yes, that’s more sodium than you ought to consume in a single day, and that’s even if you don’t have heart health issues.
Quesadilla Burger
You get the burger with the cheesiness of the quesadilla, and it’s the sort of dish that some fast-food fans might want to try if they’re adventurous. But this is one adventure that you might want to avoid, as it loads you up with 1,630 calories plus 3,620mg of sodium. And that’s not all, since you’re also getting 106g of fat with 40g of saturated fat, and 97g of carbs.
Oriental Chicken Salad Wrap
This is perhaps the worst sandwich you can get at Applebee’s if you’re actually trying to lose weight. You’re going to have to spent a lot more time in the gym to burn off the 1,890 calories you’re getting here. And there’s really no way for you to burn off the 2,900mg of sodium. In addition, you’re getting 113g of fat with 20g of saturated fat, plus a lot of carbs at 175g.
Try to avoid all these menu items, and you might just reduce the damage to your diet!
