National Burger Month-May 2014
Yes, May is in National Burger Month in the United States. Hamburgers are the backbone of many fast food restaurants. But like most fast food food items the humble hamburger has morphed into a demonic source of saturated fat and sodium. The original fast food hamburger 50 years ago had a 1.6 ounces (45 g) patty or one-tenth of a pound. Since then patty size has grown to one-quart to one-half pound or more. Some diners serve 12 oz. (340 g) patties.
If you are dieting to loose weight, large burgers should be avoided unless you limit them to a few times per year as a treat. This popular fast food burger costs about $5.00 but you pay the price when it comes to your health.
Fast Food Hamburger
Size: 12.7 oz. (360 g)
Calories: 950
Saturated Fat: 58g
Sodium: 1890 mg
Size: 11 oz. (314 g)
Calories: 490
Saturated Fat: 23g
Sodium: 450 mg
The homemade hamburger, excluding fried potatoes and ketchup for dipping the fries, weighs only 14 percent less than the fast food burger but it has 48 percent less calories, 60 percent less saturate fat, and 76 percent less sodium. How? The homemade bun is very low sodium compared to commercial buns, the burger isn’t saturated in cheese (less than half an ounce) which lowers calories and saturated fat, and the burger patty is 4.25 oz. (120 g).
If you celebrate National Burger Month, keep in mind burgers can be healthy or a heart attach on a plate or box. And go easy on the fries. Fried potatoes add hundreds of calories. Skip the endless fries and check how many calories are in that burger before ordering it. A meal is no bargain when it increases your risk of heart attack or stroke.
Burger With Endless Fries
Total calories for the homemade burger meal including oven baked frozen fried potatoes (4-oz., 115g), and 2 tablespoons ketchup for dipping the fries is 730. That’s 23 percent less than the fast food burger without fries.
Enjoy National Burger Month in moderation.