Hidden Calories in Burger Joint Meals

We are a fast food nation, in love with our burger joints in particular. McDonalds serves 9 million French fries daily, which says a lot about our obsession. Ever since Supersize Me, hamburger fast food restaurants have been trying to increase the healthy choices available for patrons. But even the healthy choices today may have hidden calories that can sabotage a weight loss program.

Chicken

Of course, fried chicken has more calories and fat than grilled. But sometimes it is an amazing amount of hidden calories. For instance, McDonalds Chicken Selects Premium Breast Strips have nearly 150 calories each. The crispy club sandwich has 100 calories more than the grilled, but the grilled still weighs in 530 calories. Grilled is a better choice than fried when it comes to hidden calories in chicken dishes, but it does not necessarily make the meal a healthy one.

Condiments

Mayonnaise and cheese are add-ons most of us know to avoid if we want to eliminate excess calories, but other condiments can add hidden calories to burger joint foods. The sauces that accompany chicken strips and nuggets, for instance, seem like they should be rather low calorie, but in fact a single container from a fast food burger joint will likely add 50 calories to your meal. The "special sauce" on a McDonalds Big Mac adds even more. Similarly, adding the Steakhouse Sauce to a Burger King burger piles on an additional 70 calories.

Salad dressing are also sometimes packed with hidden calories. One package of Caesar or Ranch dressing typically runs nearly 200 calories. And adding the small packet of croutons will add 60 more calories.

Wraps

Wraps are all the rage these days because of the popularity of low-carbohydrate diets. While wraps may have fewer carbs than sandwiches prepared in burger joints, they often have an alarming number of hidden calories. McDonalds Ranch Snack Wrap, for instance (crispy), at 340 calories, has nearly as many calories as the Southern Style Crispy Chicken Sandwich (400 calories). So you're saving a few calories, right? But the wrap is less than half the size of the sandwich.

Check totals

Don't make assumptions about healthy choices at burger joints. Fast food is not all created equal, and much of it, just like any other food, may have hidden calories you should check for. Would you really have the small snack wrap or a cheeseburger if the calorie count is the same?

References

"Nutrient Data Laboratory." U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Usda.gov.

"Calorie King." Calorieking.com.

"Nutrition." Mcdonalds.com.

"FAQ." Mcdonalds.com.