20 Worst Foods in America Revealed.

"Eat This, Not That!" Authors Unveil Annual List of Worst Caloric Offenders

NEW YORK -- Today, Eat This, Not That! authors David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding revealed this year's list of the "Worst Foods in America," compiled from their popular book series. The annual list ranks the nation's worst nutritional offenders at major chain restaurants across the country, while offering healthier alternatives at each establishment.

The authors spent the past year scouring the menus of the America's most popular chain restaurants to determine which foods warrant a "worst" ranking. Zinczenko and Goulding start by analyzing calorie counts, but also take into consideration a cluster of other nutritional markers: fat, saturated fat, sodium levels and added sugar. After the release of the 2008 list of Worst Foods, seven items were removed from America's menus including Chili's 2710-calorie Awesome Blossom, which was second on the list of Worst Foods in America in 2008.

Topping the 2009 list is Baskin Robbins Large Chocolate Oreo Shake, which contains more calories (2600) than 49 Oreo cookies, more sugar (263 grams) than 20 bowls of Froot Loops, and a staggering three days' worth of saturated fat.

Among the list of the Top 20 Worst Foods of 2009:

* Worst Salad: TGI Friday's Pecan Crusted Chicken Salad (1360 calories)

* Worst Burger: Chili's Smokehouse Bacon Triple-The-Cheese Big Mouth Burger with Jalapeno Ranch Dressing (2,040 calories, 150g fat)

* Worst Sandwich: Quizno's Tuna Melt (2,090 calories, 175 g fat)

* Worst Pizza: Uno Chicago Grill Chicago Classic Deep Dish Pizza (2,310 calories, 162 g fat)

* Worst Food in America of 2009: Baskin Robbins Large Chocolate Oreo Shake 2,600 calories 135 g fat (59 g saturated fat) 263 g sugars 1,700 mg sodium

To see the full list of 20 foods by category with nutrional information for each item, visit: http://menshealth.com/eatthis/20-Worst-Foods-2009/1_The_Worst_Food_in_America_of_2009.php

The latest book in the Eat This, Not That! series, EAT THIS, NOT THAT! SUPERMARKET SURVIVAL GUIDE, debuted as the bestselling nonfiction book in the country during its first week in stores. For more information on this essential guidebook for navigating the American supermarket, visit: www.menshealth.com/eatthis.

DAVID ZINCZENKO, SVP/Editor-in-Chief of Men's Health magazine and Editorial Director of Women's Health magazine, is the author of New York Times bestsellers The Abs Diet and The Abs Diet for Women. Once an overweight child, Zinczenko has become one of the nation's leading experts on health and fitness. He is a regular contributor to the Today show and has appeared on Oprah, Good Morning America, Primetime Live, 20/20, The Rachael Ray Show, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

MATT GOULDING is the food and nutrition editor of Men's Health. He has cooked and eaten his way around the world, touching down in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he divides most of his time between keyboard and stovetop.