What’s In Those Fast Food Breakfasts?

You’ve seen the pitches non-stop on TV and over billboards. The Breakfast Burrito! The morning bagel. The Egg McMuffin. They look good. They taste good. But are they good for you? You don’t have to be a nutritionist to know that fast food isn’t health food.

If you’re one of those people who start the day by visiting your favourite quick fix restaurant chain, this may cause you to lose your appetite. You’re getting tons of calories, layers of artery clogging fat and lots of other things you won’t really want to put into your body.

Some examples:

Tim Hortons sausage, egg and cheese sandwich has 500 calories and 34 grams of fat.

The McDonald’s sausage, egg and cheese McGriddle sandwich will pack in 550 calories and 30 grams of fat.

Go to Burger King and partake of its enormous omelette sandwich and swallow 730 calories and 44 grams of fat along with it.

Wendy’s Grande Burrito is loaded with 740 calories and 48 grams of fat –  more than most people need in a full day.

So how can you have a healthy breakfast if you don’t have a lot of time? “Mornings are hectic,” admits Sari Diamond, a stay-at-home mom who agrees it’s a tough balancing act. “I’ve got a 6-year-old and a 4-year-old. I’ve implemented that breakfast is not an option. They must eat breakfast.”

Diamond makes sure her kids rise and shine with fruit to start their day and she tries to keep things healthy along the way. “Definitely breakfast is the most important meal in this house,” she observes. 

But only if you decide that the “fast” in breakfast doesn’t refer to a fast food restaurant. If you’re running late and do end up at one, your best bet is to ask for a nutrition guide so you can make an informed choice. Almost all of the big chains have them.

Here are some important tips when it comes to avoiding the fat of the land.

To make a healthy breakfast each day, choose one item from at least three of the following four food groups:

• Fruits and vegetables. Fresh fruits and vegetables, 100 percent juice without added sugar
• Grains. Whole-grain rolls, bagels, hot or cold whole-grain cereals, low-fat bran muffins, crackers, or melba toast
• Dairy. Skim milk, low-fat yogurt cups or low-fat cheeses, such as cottage and natural cheeses
• Protein. Hard-boiled eggs, peanut butter, lean slices of meat and poultry, or fish, such as water-packed tuna or slices of salmon

For more breakfast tips, visit the Mayo Clinic website.

Wondering what’s in your favourite fast food? Find out using the Carlorie Counter.