FitSugar

The Counter: Healthier Burgers You Custom Build

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:45:00 -0700

I am not in the habit of eating at fast-food joints regularly, but when traveling sometimes I just can't avoid them. Next time I'm on the road, I will be looking to feed my family at The Counter. New on the fast food scene, The Counter is going to revolutionize the way we eat burgers. With over 312,120 possible burger combinations, this restaurant allows you to customize your meal anyway you like.

Using a clipboard menu, you build the burger exactly how you want starting with the protein: certified humane beef, turkey burger, veggie burger, or grilled chicken. There are 10 cheese options, and you also get to choose five toppings from a long list including carrot strings, dried cranberries, hardboiled eggs, avocado, and sun-dried tomatoes. Further customize your burger by selecting a sauce and bread. I love that there are healthy choices in each category so you're not just stuck with beef high in saturated fat, iceberg lettuce, and a white flour bun.

To see a sample of their menu read more.

Pretty inventive, huh? With all these choices it's possible to create a uniquely delicious burger that's also healthy. Locations are cropping up all over the US so I'd definitely choose The Counter over Mickey Dee's any day. Have you eaten at The Counter? If yes, tell me what you thought in the comments section below.

Another Beef Recall!!!!

FitSugar — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 10:15:00 -0700

A New Jersey-based meat company is voluntarily recalling some of its hamburgers after many illnesses have been reported. The New York Health Depart says that at least 6 people in Albany have gotten sick and contaminated hamburgers were found in one of the victim's freezers. The culprit? E. coli.

These products carry the number ""Est. 9748" inside the USDA mark of inspection, and were produced June 22nd, July 12th or July 23rd.

The recalled products include:

Certain 10-pound boxes of Butcher's Best 100-percent All Beef Patties
Certain 10-pound boxes of Kohler Foods burgers
Certain 10-pound boxes of Sand Castle Fine Meat
Some two-pound boxes of Topps 100-percent Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers
Some three-pound boxes of Topps 100-percent Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers

Go to the USDA website to see the complete list of recalled products. If you have questions, you can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) from 10am - 4pm. These products were distributed nationwide so check your freezers!

Source

Healthy BBQ: South Beach Diet Chimichurri Burgers

FitSugar — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 02:30:00 -0700

I am always looking for healthy foods to make on the grill. These Chimichurri Burgers from the South Beach Diet: Taste of Summer Cookbook really fill that order. Instead of smothering your hamburger with condiments filled with hidden calories, this burger is topped with chimichurri, a thick herb sauce that hails from Argentina. Plus, we all know parsley (the herb in this sauce) is a healthy addition to any meal. I truly appreciate an alternative to the too sweet taste of ketchup

Recipe and Photo courtesy of: The South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook, by Dr. Arthur Agatston (Rodale, 2007)

To see this tasty and easy recipe, just read more

South Beach Chimichurri Burgers
from The South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook

Chimichurri Sauce
1 cup fresh Italian parsley leaves
3 scallions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/8 teaspoon salt

Burgers
1 1/2 pounds extra-lean ground beef
2 teaspoons dried basil
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 whole-wheat hamburger buns - lightly toasted

Make the sauce first by:

Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor.
Pulse until just puréed, about one minute. Set aside.

For the burgers:

Place all ingredients in a large bowl and combine.
Form beef mixture into 4 patties, about 1 inch thick.
Lightly coat a grill or grill pan with cooking spray and heat to medium high.
Grill burgers 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 160 degrees F.
Serve burgers on buns topped with chimichurri sauce.

If you are following the South Beach Diet this recipe is considered a Phase 1 recipe if you forgo the bun. With the bun, it is rated as Phase 2.

Print recipe with images | without images

Just in case you are interested in the nutritional information, here it is.

Phase	Calories	Fat (g)	Protein (g)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)
One	330	19	36	3	1
Two	450	21	40	25	4

Which McDonald's Item Has the Most Calories?

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 07:30:00 -0700

Last week I mentioned that we are not able to decipher unhealthy menu items without having nutritional information available. You guys took the other quizzes but I found the other three questions too. So let's see how well you do figuring out calories...

In-N-Out Burger Breakdown

FitSugar — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 07:30:00 -0800

In-N-Out Burger is a cult like favorite out here in the West. People literally flock to In-N-Out to get their grub on. I won't lie, I recently dined at In-N-Out and with a nutritional information card no where in sight, I had to fend for myself.

So you don't have to play the guessing game next time you go, here is the Breakdown:

The Double-Double with Onion has 670 calories, 41 grams of fat, 1440 mg of sodium and 39 carbs.

The Cheeseburger with Onion has 480 calories, 27 grams of fat, 1000 mg of sodium and 39 grams of carbs.

The Hamburger with Onion has 390 calories, 19 grams of fat, 650 mg of sodium and 39 grams of carbs.

The French Fries have 400 calories, 18 grams of fat, 245 mg of sodium and 54 grams of carbs. BUT they are not cooked in trans fats, so they get a major plus for that one.

The Chocolate Shake has 690 calories, 36 grams of fat, 350 mg of sodium and 83 grams of carbs.

Fit's Tip: Get it with out the "spread" and you can knock off 80 calories, 9 grams of fat but you need to add 80 mg of sodium and 2 grams of carbs.

Fast Food Nation: The Movie

FitSugar — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 12:30:00 -0800

OK, so you've probably heard of the book, Fast Food Nation, where the author, Eric Schlosser reveals the unpleasant truths about fast food.

Did you know that Americans spend more money on fast food than on higher education or new cars? Every month more than 90% of American children eat at McDonald's. The average American eats 3 hamburgers and 4 orders of fries a week.

But what exactly is in those hamburgers? If you knew, you'd never eat at another burger chain again. And if you thought the fries were "animal-free," think again. McDonald's still acknowledges that some of the flavor in their fries comes from "animal products" - whatever that means.

This best-selling book was made into a movie, starring Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke. But The New Yorker and New York Post both gave it horrible reviews.

I don't know about the movie, but I found the book to be extremely powerful and life-changing. After reading it, I'm sure you'll think twice before ordering your next Happy Meal.

Veggie Burger Breakdown

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:50:16 -0700

If you're watching your saturated fat and cholesterol intake, veggie burgers are a great option when grilling. According to my burger poll, many of you actually prefer them. There are so many different brands and flavors out there now, the selection can be a little overwhelming. Some burgers are made with soy and others with grains. Other veggie burgers are just that and made from veggies. Sunshine even makes gluten-free burgers with sunflower seeds. Depending on the main ingredients, your options will differ in calories, sodium, carbs, and protein, so check out this breakdown to see which one you might want to grill up at your next BBQ.

1 Patty	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Amy's Kitchen All American Veggie Burger	120	3	0	390	15	3	10
Amy's Kitchen California Veggie Burger	140	5	0	430	19	4	6
Boca All American Flame Grilled	90	3	5	280	4	4.5	14
Boca Original Vegan	70	.5	0	280	6	4	13

There's plenty more, and to see them, just read more.

1 Patty	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Boca Grilled Vegetable	80	1	0	300	7	4	12
Boca Cheeseburger	100	4.65	10	360	5	4	13
Boca Garden Vegetable Made With Organic Soy	130	3	0	400	9	4	15
Boca Roasted Garlic Made With Organic Soy	130	.5	0	470	9	4	16
Gardenburger Original	100	3.5	5	420	14	5	5
Gardenburger Sun-Dried Tomato Basil	100	3	5	310	15	5	5
Gardenburger Portabella	90	2.5	5	360	15	5	5
Gardenburger Black Bean Chipotle	80	2.5	0	250	13	5	5
Gardenburger GardenVegan	100	1	0	230	12	3	10
Gardenburger California Burger	90	3.5	0	380	12	2	3
Morningstar Farms Cheddar Burger (contains partially hydrogenated soybean oil)	150	7	10	480	10	3	13
Morningstar Farms Mushroom Lover's (contains corn syrup solids)	110	6	0	220	8	less than 1	7
Morningstar Farms Veggie Medley made with organic soy	120	4	0	260	11	2	11
Morningstar Farms Classic Burger made with organic soy	150	6	0	280	9	3	14
Morningstar Farms Spicy Black Bean Veggie	120	4	0	350	13	4	11
Sunshine Burger Southwest	240	12	0	240	26	9	6
Wildwood Tofu-Veggie Burger, Original	180	13	0	330	8	1	12
Wildwood Tofu-Veggie Burger, Southwest	190	13	0	320	9	2	11

I'm curious to know what your favorite veggie burger is, so tell me in the comments section below.

Healthy BBQ - Wildwood Burgers

FitSugar — Thu, 31 May 2007 11:45:00 -0700

A friend recently introduced me to a new meatless burger, Wildwood Tofu-Veggie. She's allergic to wheat, which makes most veggies burgers off limits since they contain wheat gluten.

These Wildwood burgers on the other hand are made with tofu, and they have a really soft, yet dense consistency. I'd say their texture is more like meat than Gardenburgers.

I tried the Southwest flavor (they also make Original and Shiitake), and was surprised how flavorful it was - must be the cayenne pepper, cilantro and garlic. After taking my first bite, I looked down and could actually see bits of carrot, kale and full corn kernels. There's nothing I love more than seeing real food in my food!

Each patty contain 13g of fat, 0g of cholesterol, 320 mg of sodium, 9g of carbs, 2g of fiber, and a whopping 11g of protein (Gardenburgers only have 5g).

If you are a vegetarian, or trying to cut back on your meat consumption, I'd definitely give these a try. It's good to know they're also dairy-free, so if you are avoiding milk products for whatever reason (lactose intolerance) your tummy will love these. Look for them next to the tofu pups.

Veggie Burger Breakdown

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0700

The Fourth of July is just around the corner, and I'm sure you're gearing up for some BBQs. If you're watching your saturated fat and cholesterol intake, veggie burgers are a great option. And according to my burger poll many of you prefer veggie burgers, too. There are so many different brands and flavors out there now, the selection can be a little overwhelming. Some burgers are made with soy and others with grains. Other veggie burgers are just that and made from veggies. Sunshine even makes their burgers with sunflower seeds. Depending on the main ingredients, all your options will differ in calories, sodium, carbs, and protein, so check out this breakdown to see which one satisfies your needs.

Veggie Burger (1 patty)	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Amy's Kitchen All American Veggie Burger	120	3	0	390	15	3	10
Amy's Kitchen California Veggie Burger	140	5	0	430	19	4	6
Boca All American Flame Grilled	90	3	5	280	4	4.5	14
Boca Original Vegan	70	.5	0	280	6	4	13

There's plenty more and to see them just read more.

Veggie Burger (1 patty)	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Boca Grilled Vegetable	80	1	0	300	7	4	12
Boca Cheeseburger	100	4.65	10	360	5	4	13
Boca Garden Vegetable Made With Organic Soy	130	3	0	400	9	4	15
Boca Roasted Garlic Made With Organic Soy	130	.5	0	470	9	4	16
Gardenburger Original	100	3.5	5	420	14	5	5
Gardenburger Sun-Dried Tomato Basil	100	3	5	310	15	5	5
Gardenburger Portabella	90	2.5	5	360	15	5	5
Gardenburger Black Bean Chipotle	80	2.5	0	250	13	5	5
Gardenburger GardenVegan	100	1	0	230	12	3	10
Gardenburger California Burger	90	3.5	0	380	12	2	3
Morningstar Farms Cheddar Burger (contains partially hydrogenated soybean oil)	150	7	10	480	10	3	13
Morningstar Farms Mushroom Lover's (contains corn syrup solids)	110	6	0	220	8	less than 1	7
Morningstar Farms Veggie Medley made with Organic Soy	120	4	0	260	11	2	11
Morningstar Farms Classic Burger made with Organic Soy	150	6	0	280	9	3	14
Morningstar Farms Spicy Black Bean Veggie	120	4	0	350	13	4	11
Sunshine Burger South West	240	12	0	240	26	9	6
Wildwood Tofu-Veggie Burger, Original	180	13	0	330	8	1	12
Wildwood Tofu-Veggie Burger, South West	190	13	0	320	9	2	11

I'm curious what your favorite flavor is? Tell me in the comments section below.

Food Review: Sunshine Burger

FitSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 09:00:00 -0700

I'm so psyched for BBQs now that the weather is so warm. I always like to keep a box of veggie burgers in the freezer just in case I don't feel like a regular burger, or if we have vegetarian guests over. Now that meat alternatives are so popular, there are so many different kinds to try out, like this Organic Sunshine Burger. Not only are they vegetarian, but they're also vegan, soy free, and gluten free.

Want to see what these burgers really look like and find out how they taste? Then read more.

When I read the ingredients, I was surprised to see that these burgers are mostly made from ground up raw sunflower seeds and rice, which gives them a soft, slightly squishy texture. The mild flavor came from the black beans, peppers, cilantro, garlic, jalapeño peppers, cumin, and onion. It was slightly spicy, but I was expecting more of a kick. It did grill well and didn't stick to the grate like some meat alternatives, like tofu pups, can. Since these burgers are pre-cooked, they only need a few minutes on the grill to heat through. Overall, I found these Sunshine Burgers to be just OK. They were a little too dry for my tastes and honestly, I wanted more flavor.

Serving Size	1 patty
Calories	240
Total Fat	12g
Saturated Fat	1.5g
Cholesterol	0mg
Sodium	240mg
Carbs	26g
Fiber	9g
Sugar	2g
Protein	6g