Long gone is the reign of the creepy old King from BK. Even with recent menu changes offering healthier selections, BK still has some terrible-for-you menu items. Here's what not to eat.
DON'T EAT: Triple Whopper with Cheese
The ultimate bad boy of burgers at Burger King, the Triple Whopper with cheese clocks in at a cool (and fatty) 1,020 calories. It also packs a whopping 65 grams of fat to boot, or more likely, butt.
INSTEAD EAT: The best burger bet is the Whopper Jr. without cheese or mayo. You'll see a nice 260 calories, which makes this your go-to burger the next time you get hit with the Burger King bug.
DON'T EAT: BK Ultimate Breakfast Platter
Do not have the BK Breakfast Platter. 1,450 calories, 750 from fat, 84 total grams of fat. I gained two pounds just writing that last sentence.
INSTEAD EAT: If you hit up the King on your pre-morning workout route, instead opt for the BK Breakfast Muffin with ham, egg and cheese. It's 250 calories, and a self-professed rip off of the Egg McMuffin, which is your best McDonald's breakfast food too. In addition, there's only 9 grams of total fat in the BK Muffin Sandwich.
DON'T EAT: Premium Crispy Chicken Sandwich
Most breaded, fried, fast food chicken sandwiches are fairly poor choices on the menu for health conscious eaters. BK's offering is no exception. 750 calories, 400 from fat and 45 grams of fat round out this sandwich, nearly 200 of which come strictly from the mayonnaise.
INSTEAD EAT: Opt instead for the Premium Grilled sans mayo, which is only 400 calories and 31 grams of protein.
DON'T EAT: 20 Piece Nuggets
Twenty of the BK nuggets are 910 calories. Don't eat 20 nuggets!
INSTEAD EAT: There is no logical reason for a person to consume anything over a six-piece, which has roughly 40 grams less fat than the 20-piece. Generally, breaded and fried chicken and fish are often some of the worst calorie foods for you, so here is a chance to use your better judgment of the menu.
DON'T EAT: Large Hash Browns
Don't eat the large hash browns. 670 calories, almost two-thirds from fat, and 1,080 milligrams of sodium aren't that great for your heart health.
INSTEAD EAT: If you must, go small. At 250 calories, you can burn those off with a little extra motivation at the gym later on in the day.
Use your new wisdom the next time the late night Burger King craving gets you. It also comes in handy if you get stuck grabbing something quick at work, between jobs, etc. You can still eat relatively healthier with fuel that will help power your body for the day and through your next workout. Just a few minutes of diligence will save you calories and fat that will otherwise have you putting overtime in at the gym. As always, make sure you check out Burger King's nutrition information before eating there.
Ryan Barnhart, MS, PES, is a certified Performance Enhancement
and Injury Prevention Specialist through the National Academy of Sports
Medicine (NASM). He also holds a master's degree in exercise science, as
well as a bachelor of sport management, both from California University
of Pennsylvania. Ryan has worked with numerous collegiate and amateur
athletes across many different fields. Ryan also has had the opportunity
to work with several professional athletes. Recently he has worked with
amateur and professional athletes within the emerging sport of Mixed
Martial Arts.
Ryan is currently the director of fitness at a 700+
member gym near Pittsburgh, PA. He enjoys working with weekend
warriors, athletes, and everyone in between. You can contact Ryan at [email protected].
