Protein has become a buzzword in our diets, but when it comes to fast food, finding nutritious options can be tricky. If you’re trying to hit your protein goals, knowing what to order can help.
The champion of protein in fast food is the Fatburger XXXL Triple Kingburger, packing a staggering 129.5 grams of protein. That’s a lot of meat, with three hefty beef patties totaling 1.5 pounds. But watch out! This burger delivers a hefty 1,686 calories and 96.5 grams of fat.
Following in line is Burger King’s Triple Whopper, which boasts 81 grams of protein. Shake Shack also offers several high-protein choices, like the Avocado Bacon Burger Triple and the Bacon Cheese Burger Triple, both at 81 grams, and the Triple SmokeShack with 80 grams.
Want to up your protein? Adding another patty can help. However, the protein content varies by restaurant. Fatburger’s patties give you 28 grams each, while Shake Shack’s offer 19 grams. Wendy’s patties come in at 17 grams.
But bigger isn’t always better health-wise. Let’s focus on high protein density instead. The Shake Shack Triple Hamburger has 63 grams of protein and only 750 calories, meaning about 34% of its calories come from protein. Freddy’s Triple Steakburger without cheese is another contender with a similar protein density of 33%. It has the same amount of protein but slightly more calories at 760.
Going “protein style,” or in a lettuce wrap, can boost protein density even more, as demonstrated by Freddy’s burger. Without the bun, it contains 60 grams of protein and just 580 calories, making its protein density close to 42%!
So, while you can hit your protein targets at fast food, remember to consider overall balance. Understanding these details can help you make better choices without sacrificing your goals.
