19 Salads With More Calories And Sodium Than A Big Mac And Large Fries

    Sometimes ordering the salad is not actually the healthiest choice.

    Carolyn Kylstra
    by Carolyn Kylstra

    BuzzFeed Staff

    A Big Mac + large fries = 1,040 calories and 1,160 milligrams of sodium.

    mcdonalds.com

    To put that in perspective, that's roughly half of what experts recommend you consume for calories in a day and about two-thirds of your recommended daily sodium intake.

    These 19 salads all contain more calories and sodium than that.

    Why does it matter? Well, if your goal in ordering a salad from a chain restaurant is to eat healthfully or low-calorie then you might not be making the choice that you think you're making. The good news is that there are lighter and lower-sodium meals at each of these restaurant chains, if that's what you're looking for. Click on their nutrition facts to find those choices and to make more informed orders.

    1. T.G.I. Friday's Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad

    Facebook: TGIFridays

    1,080 calories, 1,650 mg sodium

    Source: T.G.I. Friday's nutrition facts

    2. Ruby Tuesday Carolina Chicken Salad

    Ruby Tuesday / Via ow.ly

    1,102 calories, 1,643 mg sodium

    Source: Ruby Tuesday nutrition facts

    3. Denny's Fried Chicken Strips Cobb Salad With Bread

    4. The Cheesecake Factory Grilled Chicken Tostada Salad

    Pinay Flying High / Via pinayflyinghigh.com

    1,130 calories, 2,150 mg sodium

    Source: The Cheesecake Factory nutrition facts

    5. Baja Fresh Tostada Salad With Chicken

    6. California Pizza Kitchen Caramelized Peach Salad With Satueed Salmon

    Twitter: @calpizzakitchen

    1,220 calories, 1,120 mg sodium

    Source: California Pizza Kitchen nutrition facts

    7. Chevy's Fresh Mex Sizzling Fajita Salad With Chicken

    8. California Pizza Kitchen The Original BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad With Avocado

    Twitter: @calpizzakitchen

    1,250 calories, 1,800 mg sodium

    Source: California Pizza Kitchen nutrition facts

    9. IHOP Crispy Chicken Cobb Salad

    ihop.com

    1,270 calories, 2,980 mg sodium

    Source: IHOP nutrition facts

    10. IHOP Chicken and Spinach Salad With Crispy Chicken

    Flickr: Les Stockton / Creative Commons / Via Flickr: les_stockton

    1,280 calories, 2,450 mg sodium

    Source: IHOP nutrition facts

    11. El Pollo Loco Avocado Bacon Tostada With Dressing

    elpolloloco.com

    1,340 calories, 2,190 mg sodium

    Source: El Pollo Loco nutrition facts

    12. Applebee's Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad

    13. Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad

    applebees.com

    1,390 calories, 1,610 mg sodium

    Source: Applebee's nutrition facts

    14. Chili's Quesadilla Explosion Salad

    chilistogo.com

    1,430 calories, 2,600 mg sodium

    Source: Chili's nutrition facts

    15. California Pizza Kitchen Thai Crunch Salad With Avocado

    Twitter: @CPK_India

    1,460 calories, 1,570 mg sodium

    Source: California Pizza Kitchen nutrition facts

    16. California Pizza Kitchen Moroccan-Spiced Chicken Salad

    Twitter: @calpizzakitchen

    1,500 calories, 1,380 mg sodium

    Source: California Pizza Kitchen nutrition facts

    17. Cheesecake Factory Caesar Salad With Chicken

    Flickr: Cedric SF / Creative Commons / Via Flickr: cirdec

    1,510 calories, 1,450 mg sodium

    Source: Cheesecake Factory nutrition facts

    18. Houlihan's Buffalo Bleu Salad

    Facebook: HoulihansWeehawken

    1,551 calories, 3,703 mg sodium

    Source: Houlihan's nutrition facts

    19. Chevy's Fresh Mex Tostada Salad WITHOUT Dressing, With Steak