Baffled by fastfood nutrition?

A new poll by Field Research Corp. asked Californians to identify the low-calorie, low-salt, high-fat and high-calorie menu items from a list of four choices. Of the people surveyed, 68 percent failed every question, and no more than 11.2 percent got any one question correct.

Number in parentheses that follows each possible answer is the percentage of survey respondents who selected that food item:

1. Which of the following breakfast items that are served at Denny's do you think has the fewest calories?

A. Ham and cheddar omelet (36.2)

B. Country fried steak and eggs (11)

C. Three slices of French toast with syrup and margarine (14.7)

D. Three pancakes with syrup and margarine (28.5)

Answer: Country fried steak and eggs (464 calories)

2. Which of the following items that are served at Chili's do you think has the least salt?

A. Cajun chicken sandwich (6.6)

B. Classic combo steak and chicken fajitas (7.6)

C. Guiltless chicken platter (24.9)

D. Smoked turkey sandwich (51.5)

Answer: Cajun chicken sandwich (2,220 milligrams of sodium)

3. Which of the following items that are served at Romano's Macaroni Grill do you think has the most fat?

A. Traditional lasagna (35)

B. Chicken Caesar salad (10.1)

C. Pasta classico with sausage and peppers (21.8)

D. Barbecue chicken pizza (26.2)

Answer: Chicken Caesar salad (69 grams of fat)

4. Which of the following items that are served at McDonald's do you think has the most calories?

A. Two Big Macs (53)

B. Two Egg McMuffins (8.4)

C. One large chocolate shake (11.2)

D. Four regular hamburgers (22.1)

Answer: One large chocolate shake (1,160 calories)

Source: California Center for Public Health Advocacy