From Nutrition Action, February 24, 2017:
These restaurant burgers are over the top
Is this the new normal for a hamburger?
Leah Ettman
Mac and cheese, chili, eggs, hash browns, omelets, buffalo wings—probably not what you’re thinking of when you hear “burger toppings.” What happened to the good old days when a burger was a patty, a bun, and maybe some lettuce, tomato, and mayo?
America’s restaurants are piling on the toppings so high that one false move will send a burger toppling to the floor. Here’s a sampling of some of the most outrageous burgers on restaurant menus right now.
Breakfast on a burger
Take Applebee’s All-Day Brunch Burger. Just what we needed. “Seared in: bacon & onion,” says the menu. “Piled on: fried egg, crispy hashbrowns, American cheese and ketchup.” Yup. What’s a burger without bacon, eggs, and hash browns on it? And in case you haven’t had enough carbs from the white bun and potatoes, Applebee’s serves fries on the side. What? No room for some pancakes or toast?
The burger alone has 27 grams (1˝ days’ worth) of saturated fat, 345 milligrams (a day’s supply) of cholesterol, and 2,350 milligrams (1˝ days’ worth) of sodium. With fries, you’re talking 1,600 calories. That’s like eating two McDonald’s Big Macs, each topped with hash browns, plus an Egg McMuffin for dessert.
Eggs on a burger sound odd to you? It doesn’t to IHOP (Denver Omelette Burger), or Denny’s (Slamburger), or BJ’s (Late Night Burger), or Chili’s (Sunrise Burger). “A great American bar and grill needs a killer burger,” said Applebee’s in an August 2015 press release. Can’t argue with that.
The Big Mac gets a makeover?
“For Big Mac lovers who want even more beef,” says the 2016 press release for McDonald’s new Grand Mac—a bigger version of their classic Big Mac.
The Grand Mac has “two 100% beef patties weighing in at 1/3 Grand Macpound, two slices of melty American cheese served on a larger sesame seed bun with crisp lettuce, minced onions, tangy pickles and of course, the one and only Big Mac Sauce.” The Grand Mac will set you back 860 calories, about 300 more than the original Big Mac. And that’s without fries or a soda.
The Grand Mac also packs about a day’s worth of saturated fat and sodium. You might as well eat three of McD’s cheeseburgers.
The Whole Hog
There’s over the top, and then there’s Uno Pizzeria & Grill’s Whole Hog Burger. Last year we gave the Whole Hog an Xtreme Eating Award for having “OVER A POUND OF MEAT. Hamburger, sausage, bacon, prosciutto and pepperoni. PLUS–Four types of cheese, garlic mayo & pickles.” Bonus: it’s served Whole Hog with french fries and onion rings.
The entire platter has a jaw-dropping 2,920 calories—more than a 24-hour supply. And don’t forget the three and half days’ worth of sat fat (69 grams) and six-day stockpile of sodium (9,920 mg).
You might as well eat five McDonald’s Quarter Pounders with Cheese and a medium fries doused with 15 packets of salt. Urp!