The #1 Worst Burger at Burger King, Says a Dietitian
It's unlikely that you frequently find yourself pulling up to a fast-food restaurant because you think it has the healthiest food in town. However, if you're having a cheat day or find yourself on a long road trip without a healthier option in sight, you might decide that a stop at the nearest Burger King is a better choice than toughing it out until you can find a kale salad.
Fortunately, if you do happen to stop at the burger chain, there are plenty of healthier options you can choose from, from grilled chicken sandwiches to veggie burgers (just check out our list of Best and Worst Menu Items at Burger King). The bad news? There's one Burger King burger so bad that dietitians say you should avoid it at all costs. So, which sandwich earned the dubious honor of being dubbed the worst Burger King burger by experts?
According to Diana Gariglio-Clelland, RD, a registered dietitian with NextLuxury.com, the Texas Double Whopper takes the proverbial cake when it comes to being a bad burger choice.
"The Texas Double Whopper has 1,876 calories, the majority of most people's daily calorie needs in a single meal," says Gariglio-Clelland. "It also contains 51 grams of saturated fat, more than twice the amount recommended for an entire day. It also has over 3,000 milligrams of sodium, also over 100% of the daily recommended amount."
In the long-term, regular consumption of this burger could contribute to more than just weight gain.
"The high saturated fat and sodium content aren't very good for your heart health—saturated fat is linked with an increase in LDL or 'bad' cholesterol, which increases heart disease risk. Excessive sodium intake can worsen chronic health conditions, like high blood pressure and kidney disease, as well as causing fluid retention and bloating," Gariglio-Clelland explains.
So, what should you order to satisfy that burger craving instead? Dietitian Kristen Rowe, RD, who concurs that the Texas Double Whopper is the restaurant's worst choice, says there's a Whopper that has much better nutritional stats.
"Do your health and heart a favor and select a better option, like the Whopper Jr.," says Rowe. The burger, which has just one patty, as compared to the Texas Double Whopper's two, and isn't topped with bacon or American cheese, has a comparatively paltry 314.5 calories, 17.5 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, and 389.6 milligrams of sodium.
If you want to make healthier choices the next time you get a craving for fast food, check out our list of The Best and Worst Burger From Every Popular Fast Food Chain, and for the latest fast food news delivered to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter!
