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webmd.m.share.init(); Font Size A A A webmd.m.fontSizer.init(); Best and Worst Fast-Food Breakfasts Eating on the run? Here's how to choose healthier breakfast foods. By Elaine Magee, MPH, RDWebMD Weight Loss Clinic-Feature Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Market figures show that more and more people are buying breakfast fromfast-food chains and places like Starbucks. It makes sense; after all, manypeople are already at one of those places buying coffee. Others just don'tthink they have enough time in the morning to get a bite at home, so they grabit on the go. But are any of these early morning offerings even remotelyhealthy?
In Search of a Better BreakfastFinding a healthier fast-food breakfast means looking for items with somefiber and protein (which makes them more satisfying), but not too muchsaturated fat or total fat. Fiber is important for baked offerings, too -- evenwhen these items are relatively low in fat, they can be high in sugar and whiteflour.
A look at the nutrition information some popular fast-food chains provide ontheir web sites shows that few of their breakfast items fit the bill. Someoffer one or two items that are reasonably low in fat and saturated fat andcontain some protein, but they're usually lacking in fiber. Others have noteven one main-dish breakfast item that's low enough in fat and saturated fat tobe considered healthy.
At Carl's Jr., for example, there was only one main-dish item with less than20 grams of fat per serving (the French Toast Dips, with 18 grams of fat). Ithas some protein, 9 grams, but is lacking in the fiber department (1 gram).However, that's far better than the worst choice on their breakfast menu: theCarl’s Jr. Loaded Breakfast Burrito, with 820 calories and 51 grams of fat.
Best and Worst Fast Food BreakfastsNo matter which fast food chain you visit, high fat and high-caloriebreakfast choices abound. But there are some better choices out there. Here aresome of the best and worst-case scenarios at several major chains:
McDonald's BEST Breakfast Choices:
Egg McMuffin: 300 calories, 12 grams fat, 5 grams saturated fat, 260mg cholesterol, 820 mg sodium, 2 g fiber. Hotcakes (without syrup and margarine): 350 calories, 9 grams fat, 2grams saturated fat, 20 mg cholesterol, 590 mg sodium, 3 gfiber.McDonald's WORST Choices:
Deluxe Breakfast with regular size biscuit, without syrup &margarine: 1070 calories, 55 grams fat, 18 g saturated fat, 575 milligramscholesterol, 2090 mg sodium, 6 g fiber. Deluxe Breakfast with large size biscuit, without syrup &margarine: 1140 calories, 59 g fat, 20 g saturated fat, 575 mg cholesterol,2250 mg sodium, 7 g fiber. Big Breakfast (large size biscuit): 790 calories, 51 g fat, 18 gsaturated fat, 555 mg cholesterol, 1,660 mg sodium, 4 g fiber.Burger King's BEST Breakfast Choices:
Ham Omelet Sandwich: 290 calories, 13 g fat 4.5 g saturated fat, 85mg cholesterol, 870 mg sodium, 1 g fiber. French Toast Sticks, 3 piece: 240 calories, 13 g fat, 2.5 gsaturated fat, 4 g protein, 0 mg cholesterol, 260 mg sodium, 1 gfiber. 1 | 2 | 3 Next Page > SHARE What is this?
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