Burgers aren’t always a bad choice for lunch or dinner. Depending on the sauce and toppings used, they can sometimes be healthier than takeaway salads. (No, really.)
However, some options are obviously worse than others – and the potential damage to your waistline is considerable.
The following burgers from McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King, Oportos and Grill’d pack in more kilojoules than any other from their respective chain.
The burgers are ranked based on total kilojoule count. Hungry Jack’s was the worst offender, with the Ultimate Double Whopper tipping the scales at 4860 kilojoules – and that’s before you add a soft drink and chips.
It’s important to note that a burger’s kJ count doesn’t tell the entire story – so we’ve also included a breakdown of fats, carbs, sodium and sugars along with the amount of protein contained in each product.
If you’re trying to cut down on the amount of junk you eat (without going cold turkey), you can find alternative menu choices that are slightly less bad for you below.
Oportos
Chicken BLT Burger: 2690 kilojoules
“With two fresh-grilled 100% chicken breast fillets, sizzling bacon, fresh tomato, fresco lettuce mix, cheese and creamy mayo.”
Available in WA & SA only.
The Chicken BLT Burger packs in 2690kJ of energy, 37.5g of fat, 40g of carbs, 6g of sugars and 1612mg of sodium. It has 33.8g of protein.
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What to eat instead: Most Oporto burgers are pretty healthy (as far as burgers go.) You can also opt for single fillets, which brings the energy down to well under 2000kJ for every burger on the menu.
KFC
Zinger Stacker Burger: 3013 kilojoules
“Try our Zinger Stacker. If you’re looking for a hunger busting spice sensation, here it is. With two juicy Zinger Fillets, two slices of melted cheese, lettuce, spicy supercharged sauce and chilli relish. Oooh yeah!”
The Zinger Stacker Burger packs in 3013kJ of energy, 37.2g of fat, 55.7g of carbs, 12.9g of sugars and 2285mg of sodium. It has 54.9g of protein.
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What to eat instead: All of KFCs burgers are pretty out there – their patties are battered and deep fried with no grilled chicken options to choose from. Our choice would be the Kentucky Burger – at 2749kJ it’s not much healthier, but the addition of coleslaw, crispy onions, two slices of cheese and bacon means you’re getting better bang (and flavour) for your buck.
Grill’d
Black With The Lot: 3430 kilojoules
“We didn’t burn it. It’s activated charcoal. There’s a bit of a difference. And that difference is health. Black crumb chicken schnitzel with crispy trim bacon, tasty cheese, sour cream, baby cos, tomato & sweet chilli mayo.”
The Black With The Lot packs in 3430kJ of energy, 42.1g of fat, 64.3g of carbs, 9.9g of sugars and 1530mg of sodium. It has 44.7g of protein.
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What to eat instead: Grill’d prides itself on providing menu choices that are healthier – and better tasting – than the competition. There is a range of bread crumb free options that contain less carbs and fat than the Black. If chicken burgers are your bag, go for the Zen Hen, Hotbird or Simon Says.
McDonald’s
McDonald’s Double Quarter Pounder: 3570 kilojoules
“Satisfy your ultimate hunger. Take two quarter pounds of 100% Aussie beef, then complete the tasty picture with cheese, onions, tangy mustard and pickles.”
The Double Quarter Pounder packs in 3570kJ of energy, 53.6g of fat, 34.3g of carbs, 7.4g of sugars and 1440mg of sodium. It has 57.9g of protein.
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What to eat instead: If you’re craving a Quarter Pounder, we advice eschewing the Double and going for the original, sane serving size. Alternatively, the Gourmet Creations range has plenty of options that are decedent but slightly less naughty.
Hungry Jack’s
Ultimate Double Whopper: 4860 kilojoules
“Hold onto your taste buds, this Whopper has got the lot. Two flame grilled 100% Australian beef patties, two slices of cheese, premium eye bacon, hand-cut tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, onion, mayo and tomato sauce on a toasted sesame seed bun.”
The Ultimate Double Whopper packs in 4860kJ of energy, 75.6g of fat, 56.4g of carbs, 9.9g of sugars and 1910mg of sodium. It has 64.2g of protein.
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What to eat instead: Like the Double Quarter Pounder, taking this monstrosity down to a single patty would be a good start. Despite being larger and infinitely tastier, the Grill Masters range somehow manages to pack in slightly less energy: our pick would be the Angus, Bacon And Cheese.
You can see how some of these burgers (and many others) fare in our Taste Test and Takeaway Truth series.
Comments
10 responses to “Revealed: The Unhealthiest Burgers From Australia’s Top Fast Food Chains”
Holy crap: 75.6g Fat for the ultimate double whopper.
HJs really is garbage, even a standard Whopper with cheese packs in 47g of fat. More than every other product above.
Well I mean Hungry Jacks is Burger King…
Meanwhile I’m having a Mcdonnalds pounder BLT for lunch.
Well if KFC made the Double a permanent menu item i wouldnt need to order the zinger stacker burger
They have just announched the Original Fillet stacker!!!!
Is the Zinger actually too spicy for anyone? It’s pretty mild. I’d love them to kick it up a notch. Or several for a special version.
Where’s the Big Mac? I was to think that the Big Mac is worse than double Quater Pounder?
Unhealthy is not the word to be used for good food. For any person doing continuous, manual work every day it is not an unhealthy meal to eat an Ultimate Double Whopper with 4860 kilojoules for lunch as it is an excellent meal to keep up the energy needed for the job.
There never was and never will be unhealthy food, in certain circumstances any food is better than no food over a short period of time, it is the continuous eating of the food which does very little to keep the body in a continuous healthy state that is not good for a body’s well-being.
We often see ads for healthy salad, the ingredients may be in a healthy state but it does very little to keep the body in a continuous healthy state if it is the only food eaten at every meal.
Unless the continuous daily intake of the food eaten by individual people is known, then stating that all the food listed and shown in the article is unhealthy causes the information in the article to be worthless.
We already have too many ‘so-called’ dietitians publishing incorrect food advice.
I have to agree with you on this. If you eat far too much of anything for sustained periods of time, and do no activity to burn off the kilojoules, you’re going to be unhealthy. I know a couple of seriously obese vegetarians, who in most people’s eyes, would be seen to be eating ‘healthy food’. The fact that they sit on their couch all day doing nothing, means that hardly any of the energy they consume, is being used by their body, resulting in them being the blobs they are.
i hate the way they market ‘healthy’ food the way they do. Especially at places like McDonalds. “Healthy choice” menu is just a gimmick to sucker people in to going there and not feeling guilty about it.
“There never was and never will be unhealthy food.”
Eating an incorrectly prepared Fugu or pufferfish would suggest otherwise.
hahaha true, but there’s a difference between poisonous and unhealthy in the context with which it’s being used here 😉