Five Best Bets when it Comes to Fast Food Hamburgers

Hamburgers have become a staple in the American diet and are usually synonymous with being an unhealthy fatty food, but not all hamburgers are created equally. Your best bet is to make a hamburger yourself in the comfort of your own kitchen so you can be in control of your fat, calorie and salt intake. Opt for lean beef, ground turkey, or even a soy-based vegetarian burger. But for those times you are on the road or shopping and you crave a hamburger, look for these best bets from popular fast food hamburger joints.

Burger King

According to Eat This, Not That by David Zinczenko, eating a Whopper Jr. is one of your best bets when it comes to fast food burgers because it has just 4.5 grams of saturated fat and only 365 calories. I can see why it's called a whopper though - it has a whopping 1,230 mg of sodium. Instead of fries, opt for a side salad.

Did you know that in 2007, the Center for Science in the Public Interest actually sued Burger King for moving too slowly to remove trans fats from its menus? Looks like Burger King sprung into action because by the end of 2008, Burger King did just that.

McDonald's

According to Zinczenko, McDonald's is the world's largest purchaser of beef, potatoes and apples - can you say wow? McDonald's is obviously one of the world's most popular fast food burger chains. When eating at McDonald's opt for a Quarter Pounder which has 410 calories, 7 grams of saturated fat, and 730 grams of sodium. Other low calorie options include Chicken McNuggets (six pieces) which have just 280 calories; or how about the famous Egg McMuffin for 300 calories?

Hardees

Beware of the Country Breakfast Burrito as it contains 920 calories, 23 grams of saturated fat and 1,970 mg of sodium! Instead opt for the 1/3 lb Low Carb Thickburger which has 420 calories, 12 grams of saturated fat and 1,010 mg of sodium - not great stats but better than the breakfast burrito. A healthier option is a side dish - the mashed potatoes and gravy which only have 110 calories and zero grams of saturated fat. Whatever you do, avoid the 1/3 lb Thickburger which contains 850 calories, 22 grams of saturated fat and 1,470 mg of sodium.

In -N-Out Burger

According to Eat This, Not That, In-N-Out has the shortest menu in the fast food world. The good news about the In-N-Out Burger is that they peel and cut their French fries from whole potatoes on site so you know they're fresh. Nothing is frozen, micro-waved or heated under a heat lamp.

Their Double-Double Hamburger Protein Style skips the bun and tops its burger with lettuce instead. This saves on calories so you can enjoy two beef patties for 350 calories. Or opt for a regular hamburger which contains 310 calories and just 4 grams of saturated fat.

Five Guys

Did you know that a regular hamburger at Five Guys contains two beef patties? Instead order a Little Hamburger which has 583 calories, 11.5 grams of saturated fat and 892 mg of sodium. There aren't many options at Five Guys so if burgers, hot dogs and fries aren't your thing, you might want to go elsewhere.

So the next time you're craving a hamburger from the fast food world, think about the levels of sodium, fat and calories you'll be consuming. Is it worth it? If your answer is "yes," then go for the smallest burger without cheese or sauce.

Source: Eat This, Not That