The 5 Healthiest McDonald’s Burgers, According to a Dietitian. 1 Hamburger. Courtesy of McDonald’s Per 1 sandwich: 250 calories, 9 g fat (3.5 g saturated fat), 510 mg sodium, 31 g carbs (1 g fiber, 6 g sugar), 12 g 2 Cheeseburger. 3 McDouble. 4 Double Cheeseburger. 5 Quarter Pounder with Cheese Deluxe.
Hamburger A plain hamburger at McDonald’s contains 250 calories, which means it’s one of the lowest-calorie items on the menu. It also contains 12 grams of protein, a macronutrient that can help curb cravings and keep you feeling full between meals ( 1 ).
Fresh beef may taste better than frozen patties, but fast food burgers still have nutrition issues. McDonald’s announced today that it has replaced frozen beef with fresh, cooked-to-order patties for its Quarter Pounder and Signature Crafted Recipe burgers at approximately 3,500 restaurants in select markets.
When you think about McDonald’s, you might not think about healthy eating, but that’s about to change! McDonald’s is delicious ( there’s a reason its Coke taste so good) but, like all fast food, it’s not always the healthiest choice.
How many calories are in a McDonald’s cheeseburger?
“If cheese is your thing, then the McDonald’s cheeseburger might be the choice for you,” says Goodson. “With 300 calories, 13 grams of fat, and 15 grams of protein, it can be a calorically-conscious choice for the cheese-lovers out there. Similar to the hamburger, apple slices are the best pairing to go with this burger.”
Hamburger. “The hamburger tops the charts as the burger with the least calories and fat that McDonald’s has to offer,” says Goodson. “At 250 calories, 9 grams of fat, and 12 grams of protein, this could fit into almost anyone’s meal plan without breaking their caloric bank. Plus, it’s a decent blend of carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
“With 22 grams of protein and 400 calories, it gives you an extra patty of meat to boost the protein and iron content of the burger. This could be a meal alone for many, but if you need a side, add apple slices. With 920 milligrams of sodium, the goal should be to surround this burger with sodium-free foods.”
“Coming in close to the Quarter Pounder, the Double Cheeseburger wins the health game because, in comparison, it is lower in calories, total fat, and sodium ,” says Goodson. “With 450 calories and 25 grams of protein, it fits a fairly normal ‘meal profile’, but it is higher in saturated fat, total fat, and sodium compared to some of the smaller burgers, so likely have some water and call this a meal.”
What happens when you polish off a McDonald’s burger?
After you polish off a McDonald’s burger, that feeling of incredible fullness hits many of us. This phenomenon makes sense when we learn what is happening to our digestive system. “When you consume more calories, it takes longer to digest all the food, but that does not ‘slow down your metabolism ,'” Goodson says.
You might guess that the immediate influx of fat, carbs, and more from a Big Mac would cause a massive blood sugar spike. According to Goodson, eating the sandwich creates the opposite effect. ” [Due] to the protein and fat content in a Big Mac—it should actually stabilize blood sugar because of having a pretty balanced ratio of carbohydrates, …
Fast food restaurants notoriously jampack their meals with extra salt, leading many to rally against the immediate and prolonged health hazards of consuming so much sodium in one sitting. Eating at McDonald’s proves no different.
Your triglyceride levels will spike. Shutterstock. Even if you can get away with the burger stabilizing your blood sugar, don’t expect your fat levels to be as forgiving. “When you eat a high-fat food and/or meal like a Big Mac (30 grams of fat), your blood levels of triglyceride will raise due to the fat content in the meal, …
What is the secret ingredient that dresses up these baked hamburgers?
A crispy coating mix is the secret ingredient that dresses up these baked hamburgers. You bake them in the oven instead of grilling or frying. I like to use a sweet and spicy steak sauce for the best flavor. —Mike Goldman, Arden Hills, Minnesota
Go on a burger road trip in your own backyard. Grill the patties and load them sky-high with your favorite toppings. For instance, peanut butter and bacon make them southern style; coleslaw and tomatoes, a northern version. —Susan Mahaney, New Hartford, New York
Whether you’re in a Southwest or a Bacon Ranch mood, make sure to specify the grilled variety, as both salads have a crispy chicken counterpart. The stats: 320 calories. 14g fat.
That’s not necessarily exciting, but will still keep you full. The stats: 250 calories.
When you think about McDonald’s, you might not think about healthy eating, but that’s about to change! McDonald’s is delicious ( there’s a reason its Coke taste so good) but, like all fast food , it’s not always the healthiest choice.
What is in a McDonald’s hamburger?
What’s in a McDonald’s hamburger? A 100% beef patty that’s seasoned with a pinch of salt and pepper, topped with melty cheese, tangy pickles, minced onions, and (of course) ketchup and mustard. Duh.
Thankfully , McDonald’s and several other chains recently stopped using the “ pink slime ” in their meat patty. But the vast majority of fast food beef comes from CAFO (concentrated agricultural feeding operation) cows. Not only is this horrible for the animals and the environment, but eating meat from sick animals will only make you sick.
Of course, I prefer my veggies organic (locally grown is even better) to avoid pesticides. But so far, the onions are your safest bet. However, when the rest of the ingredients are packed full of unexpected surprises, you should probably hope for a more substantial silver lining than “chopped onions”.
Conclusion. As you can see, eating healthy, natural food and eating a McDonald’s burger just doesn’t go hand-in-hand. However, this isn’t even to single out McDonald’s, because plenty of fast food restaurants do the exact same things.
Of course, “the right circumstances” means a burger that is made of all-natural, real ingredients. And it might not surprise you to learn that the McDonald’s hamburger isn’t quite so real. In fact, you have to scroll down their 30-page nutritional information guide to get the whole scary truth.
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