The Unhealthiest Longhorn Menu Items You Should Always Avoid

The LongHorn Porterhouse Heading down to LongHorn Steakhouse any  time soon? Well, hold your horses — because   we've rustled up a few menu items  that'll put a real dent in that diet. A porterhouse is a cut taken from the area  of the cow where the tenderloin and top loin   meet. This cut is notorious for its large  size — and the LongHorn version doesn't   disappoint in that regard. Sitting at a whopping  22 ounces, the LongHorn Porterhouse entrée is the   largest steak to be found on the company's menu.  Grilled over a fire to create an unforgettable   smoky taste, this slab of beef  wins some major points for flavor. "Our number one competitive advantage   is grilling expertise. Perfectly  grilling steaks is what we do." But from a nutritional standpoint, it barely makes  the scoreboard. This massive steak contains 1,280   calories, 2,450 milligrams of sodium, and 67 grams  of fat — and these stats are just for the steak   alone. Add in the sides, which can range anywhere  from an extra 220 to 860 calories, and you've   got a meal heavy enough to satisfy an adults'  caloric needs for an entire day. In addition,   since red meat contains a slew of saturated  fat, the sheer size of this steak alone may   make it a poor choice for those at risk of heart  disease and other related conditions. All in all,   steak fans will have to decide if this mega-sized  entree is worth the potential downsides. Parmesan Crusted Chicken Chicken is generally considered to be a  lighter, lower-calorie meat than beef.   This means that it's commonly enjoyed by those  trying to cut back on their red meat intake,   or by those taking part in diets for  weight loss. So you might think you've   found a leaner option when you come across the  LongHorn's Parmesan Crusted Chicken entrée,   which comes in both 9 ounce and 12 ounce  plate sizes. The dish is made up of garlicky,   Parmesan-crusted chicken and comes  alongside a salad and choice of side dish. While this may not sound too nefarious at first  glance, the overall calorie count stands at   over 1,120 for the 12-ounce plate option. This  becomes all the more worrying when you consider   the fact that 12 ounces of plain chicken breast  is only around 300 calories; this suggests that   the Parmesan breading is the cause of that  high calorie count. Keep in mind that this   number doesn't include sides, either; depending on  which option you select to accompany your entrée,   the overall number of calories will go up by  a decent amount. The total fat and sodium is   worth noting, too, at 36 grams of fat and 1,860  milligrams of sodium for the 12-ounces of chicken   alone. In summary, this one may not quite be the  light poultry entree you originally envisioned. Wild West Shrimp Shrimp comes with numerous health benefits,  such as a high amount of protein per serving,   omega-3s, calcium, and choline. They also  contain a good amount of nutrients that   you might not find in many other  foods, such as iodine. However,   those innocent little shrimp can quickly become  calorie or sodium bombs depending on how they   are prepared. Grilled shrimp free from breading,  for example, will naturally be lower in overall   calories and salt than breaded shrimp fried  in oil. So, if that kind of thing bothers you,   then you may want to consider how your shrimp  were prepared before you place your order. LongHorn's celebrated take on shrimp is sadly not  the lightest seafood appetizer you'll find in the   sea. The Wild West Shrimp are fried, served  on a large platter and topped with a mixture   of seasoned cherry peppers and garlic butter.  In particular, you might want to steer clear of   this one if you're watching your salt intake.  The Wild West Shrimp comes with a whopping,   almost unbelievable 3,740 milligrams  of sodium — far exceeding an adult's   recommended daily intake of less than 2,300 per  day. Considering this is only the appetizer round,   you'll tack on even more when your actual  meal makes it to the table. Additionally,   the platter comes in at a  rather hefty 970 calories. Pork ribs aren't exactly known for being  healthy, so this next menu item may not   Baby Back Ribs come as too much of a shock. Baby back ribs,  sometimes also referred to as pork back ribs,   are taken from the upper part of a pig's back and  are celebrated for their tenderness and flavor.   The Baby Back Ribs entrée at LongHorn is available  in either a half rack or full rack portion size,   and comes slathered with the company's  signature sweet-and-savory BBQ sauce   after being grilled over an open  fire. Sounds satisfying, right? "I want my baby back baby back baby back baby  back, I want my baby back baby back baby back…" But if you're dieting, you may just want to skip  right over this one. A full rack of LongHorn's   ribs comes in at over 1,600 calories, more than  100 grams of fat, and over 1,400 milligrams of   sodium — and that doesn't even include the BBQ  sauce drizzled liberally on top, or the side and   salad that come with the meal. Bringing all of  these elements together could very well put some   adults over their target calories for an entire  day. How comfortable you are with this scenario   is up to you... and will likely depend heavily  on just how much you love those baby back ribs. Texas Tonion Step aside, Bloomin' Onion — there's another fried   onion appetizer in town. Introducing the  Texas Tonion from LongHorn Steakhouse:   a plate of sliced, deep fried onion petals  finished off by a sprinkle of the company's   very own in-house Prairie Dust seasoning.  But before you rush out to LongHorn to   sample these mouth-watering morsels, you might  want to take a look at the nutritional stats. The Texas Tonion plate comes with a shocking  1,180 calories — which will no doubt rise if   you choose to dip your pieces into the zesty  sauce that comes on the side. It also contains   2,720 milligrams of sodium. This is well  over the Dietary Guidelines for Americans   recommendation of 2,300 milligrams or less per  day in one shot... and it's just a modest-sized   appetizer, too. While an overload of sodium in the  short-term can cause excessive thirst, bloating,   and other uncomfortable symptoms,  taking in too much consistently can   put consumers at risk for high blood  pressure, stroke, and heart disease. Loaded Baked Potato Is any steakhouse dinner plate complete  without a baked potato on the side? "Poh-tay-toes! Boil 'em, mash  'em, stick 'em in a stew." Indeed, the baked potato has become a coveted  staple for steak fans all over the world. This   is especially true when that potato is loaded up  with delicious toppings — and in the case of the   LongHorn Steakhouse version, the finishing touches  are certainly added liberally. The Loaded Baked   Potato side comes topped with a generous spoonful  of cool sour cream, salty bacon bits, cheese,   butter, and green onions... and this savory snack  tastes every bit as delectable as it sounds. Sadly, the LongHorn potato may not make  the rest of your body quite as happy as it   makes your taste buds. This single spud, which  varies between 290 to 470 calories depending   on the number of toppings, comes with over a  day's worth of an adult's recommended sodium   intake right off the bat. And, when the sodium  content of the main entree is also factored in,   your total number has the potential to  grow further. This could potentially pose   a serious problem for those following  a low-sodium diet for health concerns,   so take it into account when selecting your  sides during your next meal at LongHorn. Fire-Grilled Corn on the Cob Corn is thought to have its origins in Mexico  and North America, but in today's modern world,   its reach is hardly limited to one location.  Different versions of this sweet golden   vegetable can be found everywhere — including, of  course, LongHorn Steakhouse. Roasted over a flame   until rendered slightly smoky, LongHorn's whole  Fire-Grilled Corn on the Cob side dish is topped   with a signature sauce before being finished  off with a generous topping of a Parmesan   and herbs. It sure sounds like an upgrade to  your run-of-the-mill boiled cob, doesn't it? While this may be true as far as taste goes, when  it comes to nutrition, LongHorn's version of this   savory side is actually a huge downgrade. The  dish comes in at 200 calories total — a relatively   modest number in and of itself. However, when  you consider that a standard ear of medium-sized,   plain boiled corn contains around 88 calories on  average, it becomes clear that all the delicious   additives have seriously amped up the calorie  count — making for a much heavier take on this   healthy classic. In addition, it appears  many of these extra calories come from fat;   the Fire-Grilled cob has around 9 grams of it,  while a plain ear contains just over 1 in total.   It just goes to show that looks can be deceiving  — even when it comes to steakhouse sides. Who doesn't love a hefty dose  of cheese every now and then? Steakhouse Mac & Cheese "I can ignore the cheese!  I'm sorry, I can't do it." Let's face it, though: Macaroni and cheese is  about as indulgent as food gets. All that cheese,   all that pasta, and whatever you want to throw  on top — it's fair to say that nobody chows down   on this stuff to save calories. And sure,  there are some lighter takes on this cheesy,   carbohydrate-heavy classic out there, but, for  the most part, mac and cheese isn't known for   being diet-friendly. And the LongHorn Steakhouse  version, an extra-creamy baked macaroni covered   in a layer of crispy Parmesan and bacon  bits, more than lives up to the stereotype. While undeniably delicious, LongHorn's  signature Steakhouse Mac & Cheese side dish   comes at a high-fat price; 37 grams lurk  within this steaming, modest-sized bowl,   along with 1,210 milligrams of sodium and 610  calories. Since this item will most likely be   ordered only as an accompaniment to  the main course, selecting it as a   side-of-choice will damage the nutritional  value of your meal significantly. Still,   everyone's nutritional needs vary: if  higher-fat, higher-calorie meals is   something you're striving for, then Longhorn's  Mac & Cheese may very well fit the bill. THE Cheesecake It goes without saying that desserts tend to  contain a lot of sugar, and most of us eat them   knowing full well that we're hitting or exceeding  our sugar intake for the day. That's kind of the   point, after all. But what many people don't  consider is that many sweet desserts actually   come with other less-attractive nutritional stats  as well, such as a high sodium or fat count. This is the case with one of LongHorn  Steakhouse's most popular desserts; its   signature THE Cheesecake. An originally-flavored  cheesecake with a graham-cracker crust covered in   a generous layer of whipped cream and finished  off with drizzled liquid caramel and pecans,   this treat certainly brings all the  sugar you'd expect to the table. However,   it also boasts some other unattractive  nutritional elements. You can expect to   consume a whopping 1,520 calories when eating  this one, as well as an unbelievable 93 grams   of fat and 920 milligrams of sodium. All this in  a little slice of cake? Proceed as you see fit. Chocolate Stampede |‌ What would you call a dessert that includes  multiple different types of chocolate jumbled   together deliciously on a plate? A chocolate  stampede, of course. LongHorn Steakhouse's   Chocolate Stampede is a last course worthy  of its name. This massive dessert is made   up of two unbelievably thick slices of rich  cake and six different types of chocolate;   it's finished off with chocolate  shavings, chocolate drizzle,   and a few mounds of whipped cream  and vanilla ice cream. It's so big,   in fact, even the website outlines that a family  effort may be needed to finish the entire plate. As you might expect, a dessert this big  comes with a seriously shocking number of   calories — 2,460 to be exact. This is more than  many adults require in an entire day. In addition,   there are around 132 total grams of fat, as  well as 1,040 milligrams worth of sodium. If   you're sharing with a few people at your table,  these stats can be reduced some per person...   but the Chocolate Stampede is still guaranteed to  pack a punch when it comes to your diet. Still,   we all know that saying about moderation.  If you've been looking forward to your   dinner at LongHorn for some time and you  find yourself craving a little chocolate,   nobody will judge you for ending your  evening with this unforgettable finisher.