Introduction
Fast food is often seen as an unhealthy option, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right choices, you can make a meal that is both delicious and nutritious. However, there are some menu items that are particularly unhealthy and should be avoided. As a registered dietitian, I have identified the worst fast-food menu item according to nutrition standards. This item is high in calories, fat, sodium, and sugar, and should be avoided if you are trying to maintain a healthy diet.
The Worst Fast-Food Menu Item, According to an RD
When it comes to fast-food, it can be hard to make healthy choices. With so many tempting options, it can be difficult to know which menu items are the healthiest. That’s why it’s important to consult a Registered Dietitian (RD) for advice on what to order. According to an RD, the worst fast-food menu item is the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese from McDonald’s.
This burger contains a whopping 740 calories, 40 grams of fat, and 1,440 milligrams of sodium. That’s more than half of the recommended daily intake of fat and sodium for an average adult. It also contains a whopping 60 grams of carbohydrates, which is more than the recommended daily intake for most people. The Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese also contains no dietary fiber, which is important for digestion and overall health.
If you’re looking for a healthier option at McDonald’s, the RD recommends the Artisan Grilled Chicken Sandwich. This sandwich contains only 380 calories, 8 grams of fat, and 1,020 milligrams of sodium. It also contains a respectable 34 grams of carbohydrates and 4 grams of dietary fiber. This is a much better option than the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese.
When it comes to fast-food, it’s important to make informed decisions. Consulting a Registered Dietitian can help you make the best choices for your health. The Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese from McDonald’s is the worst fast-food menu item, according to an RD.
Generally, quick meals is all you possibly can seize once you’re speeding between conferences or within the automotive, and on the go. And hey, there are cases once you simply actually desire a burger and fries. We get it. Whereas quick meals is not usually the healthiest alternative, there are some menu objects that occur to be far worse than others.
So, if you are going to cease by a Burger King or different widespread quick meals joint, you may need to be sure to’re ordering the merchandise with the best vitamin profile to maintain your weight and well being in test. And naturally, you all the time need to attempt to make quick meals meals extra of an event, relatively than a day-to-day behavior. Going with salads (dressing on the aspect and with out fried or sugary toppings!) and grilled meats and fish, in addition to objects from the youngsters’ menu, is a brilliant begin, however there’s one menu merchandise it is best to positively keep away from consuming the following time you are selecting up a quick meals meal. (And whilst you’re making higher decisions, make sure you check out the 21 Greatest Wholesome Cooking Hacks of All Time!)
The worst fast-food menu merchandise is…
Burger King’s Triple Whopper with Cheese
1,220 energy, 82 g fats (32 g saturated fats, 4.5 g trans fats), 1,470 mg sodium, 50 g carbs (2 g fiber, 11 g sugar), 71 g protein
“All of us affiliate Whoppers with Burger King, [but] the Triple Whopper with Cheese is certainly on the worst alternative listing,” says Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN, and writer of The Protein-Packed Breakfast Membership.
What makes it so dangerous for you? Nicely, simply remember the fact that this fast-food burger is made up of three quarter-pound beef patties are topped with mayo, ketchup, and cheese, so it is simple to see at first look why it is a gut-busting menu choice.
“It is loaded with 1,220 energy, 82 grams of fats, and 32 grams of artery-clogging saturated fats. The American Coronary heart Affiliation recommends about 13 grams of saturated fats per day so you might be in for about two and a half days price with one burger, and that is earlier than including fries,” Harris-Pincus says. Yikes.
There are additionally greater than 1,400 milligrams of sodium on this burger, which may have you effectively in your to rapidly blowing by way of your beneficial day by day worth of sodium. This will additional contribute to an elevated threat of coronary heart illness, in addition to trigger some uncomfortable bloating, too. Plus, that prime sodium may also make you thirsty, which could result in overeating in a while, as many individuals typically confuse thirst for starvation.
This burger is heavy in carbs as effectively, coming in at 50 grams whole and but only a mere 2 grams of fiber. This implies it is largely refined and void of any healthful complicated carbs that might include fiber to enhance your intestine well being and preserve you fuller longer, Harris-Pincus factors out. Whereas, sure, this Whopper does have 71 grams of protein, that is not essentially a great factor. It is truly extra than your physique can take in in a single sitting, so you actually don’t want this hefty of a dose in only one meal.
So what do you have to order as an alternative?
No have to say goodbye to the beloved Whopper utterly!
“When you love a Whopper, persist with the Whopper Jr., the place you get all the flavour in an affordable portion dimension with 75% fewer energy and 85% much less saturated fats than the Triple Whopper with cheese,” Harris-Pincus. The Whopper Jr. has 310 energy, 18 grams of fats, 5 grams of saturated fats, 390 milligrams of sodium (what an enormous distinction!), 27 grams of whole carbs, 1 gram of fiber, and an honest quantity of protein with 13 grams per burger.
You will nonetheless need to make sure you select your sides correctly, too.
“Spherical it out with a aspect salad for further veggies after which take pleasure in a small order of fries if that is what you want,” she provides.
So as to add in additional protein to your meal, you possibly can all the time pair it with some nut butter on a number of whole-grain crackers and even 1 / 4 of an avocado. These can be choices which can be low in carbs and but pack that further protein. See, there are some strong choices to make that Whopper Jr. much more satisfying!
Searching for extra useful suggestions? Your final restaurant and grocery store survival information is right here!