Cracker Barrel knows that when you've got driving to do, it's not just your car that
needs fuel.
But while the roadside convenience of Cracker Barrel can help you keep your trip on track,
making the wrong decision when you order your meal might do the exact opposite for your
diet.
With that in mind, here are some things you should never order at Cracker Barrel.
Momma's pancake breakfast
There's nothing like down home cooking from mom.
But while your real mom would want you to start off your day with a healthy breakfast,
your Cracker Barrel mom doesn't seem to care too much about your health.
That's because Momma's pancake breakfast consists of three pancakes, two eggs, syrup, butter
and a side of meat.
If you pick bacon, which most people do, you end up with a meal that packs in 1,240 calories,
20 grams of saturated fat, and a heart-stopping 3,385 milligrams of sodium.
Considering the FDA's standard 2000 calorie daily diet includes a maximum of 20 grams
of saturated fat and only 2,400 milligrams of sodium, you've pretty much screwed up your
eating habits for the entire day before the day has even begun.
No thanks, momma!
Grandpa's country-fried breakfast
It's not just momma who has questionable nutritional judgment, because grandpa's country-fried
breakfast is even worse.
This dish includes two eggs, grits, gravy, biscuits, butter, fried apples or hash brown
casserole, and either country-fried chicken or chicken-fried steak, for a total of 1,535
calories, 20.5 grams of saturated fat, 475 milligrams of cholesterol, and 2,440 milligrams
of sodium.
No amount of down home service can make up for the fact that this puts you over almost
every daily recommended limits in just one meal.
Country-fried shrimp
If you see something on a menu listed as "country fried," that should be a red flag that it's
probably not very healthy for you.
Case in point: Cracker Barrel's "country-fried shrimp," which delivers half a pound of breaded
fried shrimp, hush puppies, three vegetable sides of your choice, plus a complimentary
corn muffin or buttermilk biscuit with butter.
Even if you pick the blandest sides possible, like broccoli and cole slaw, this dish contains
1,380 calories, 17.5 grams of saturated fat, 340 milligrams of cholesterol, and 4,040 milligrams
of sodium.
That's nearly twice the recommended daily intake of sodium!
Yikes.
Chicken and dumplings
There are other reasons to avoid certain menu items besides nutrition, such as taste and
appetite.
Which brings us to chicken and dumplings.
As one reviewer for the Dallas Observer wrote, "It was like someone drank a gallon of milk,
waited for parts of it to curdle a bit into oddly-shaped balls, and then regurgitated
it onto a plate…
It tasted like the taste after you burp, but worse."
Listen to your inner voice on this one.
"There is a dangerous smell, people.
Hold on what is that?"
"This is disgust.
She basically keeps Riley from being poisoned."
Dumplings on the side
Many of Cracker Barrel's entrees come with the choice of multiple sides, which gives
patrons a lot of options when putting their meal together.
One side you should avoid, though, is the mystery dumplings, and not just because of
that whole "chicken and dumplings" fiasco.
A side of dumplings contains, you guessed it, 940 milligrams of sodium, which is nearly
half your recommended total for the entire day.
Considering it will be just one out of three or more side dishes, adding it to an already
crowded plate is almost a guarantee that you'll eat way too much salt today.
Just because they tell you to enjoy every little thing doesn't mean you have to.
"Side dishes!
Don't have to worry about those this year!
I've got tons!"
Macaroni and cheese
Cracker Barrel's online menu doesn't offer much information for the macaroni and cheese
side option.
But while mac and cheese can make for a good dinner when prepared well and eaten in moderation,
when it's casually included in a long list of side options, it's more like landmine:
sitting quietly and unnoticed until someone chooses it without thinking.
Then BOOM!
An extra 300 calories, 22 grams of fat, and 600 milligrams of sodium just blew your diet,
and your health, to kingdom come.
Half-pound bacon cheeseburger
Cracker Barrel has decided that nothing shows its pseudo-family brand of love for you like
a half pound of grilled meat topped with cheese and thick-cut bacon … with a side of fries
and coleslaw.
Which all adds up to 1,540 calories, 245 milligrams of cholesterol, and 2,170 milligrams of sodium,
which is all dreadful but still just under the recommended daily limit.
But we're not done, because there's also 30.5 grams of saturated love.
No, sorry, saturated fat.
Which is 50 percent more saturated fat than you really should be eating in an entire day,
much less in a single meal.
Don't eat it, no matter how much they try to make you.
"You can't waste food.
Plus you have to eat your dinner.
Come on!"
Baked apple dumpling
Nobody expects any health benefits from their desert, but it's still possible to satisfy
your sweet tooth without destroying your diet.
Which is why you should avoid the baked apple dumpling with ice cream at all costs, just
as you should apparently avoid anything at Cracker Barrel with the word "dumpling" in
the title.
This seemingly simple dessert somehow packs in an incredible than 1,700 calories, 73 grams
of fat, 31 grams of saturated fat, 1,590 milligrams of sodium, and 118 grams of sugar.
So unless you want a massive take home bag of regrets and high blood pressure, you may
want to skip this one.
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