Burger King: Salad, Smoothies And 'Healthier' New Menu

When most people think of fast food, they aren't exactly focused on health benefits. But over the last few years, several chains that are known for diet-busting cheeseburgers have introduced some better-for-you alternatives. The latest restaurant to get on the bandwagon? Burger King. But are their new menu items really healthier?

Burger King's new salad and smoothie menu options may be an attempt to emulate McDonald's successful move into more healthful fare, according to a recent AP story:

[T]here are unmistakable similarities between Burger King's new lineup and the offerings its much-bigger rival McDonald's has rolled out in recent years. The Golden Arches already rolled out specialty salads in 2003, snack wraps in 2006, premium coffee drinks in 2009, and fruit smoothies in 2010.

While many of McD's latest products seemed healthier upon first perusal, as we later learned, they were anything but. McDonald's Fruit & Nut Oatmeal, for example, was revealed to have more sugar than a Snickers bar.

So how did Burger King do? We decided to compare the nutrition information from their new offerings to the traditional fare they're known for:

Loading Slideshow

• Chicken Caesar or ... Chicken Tenders?

  Garden Fresh Salad Chicken Caesar with grilled chicken and dressing has 490 calories and 28 grams of fat. That's roughly the same as a 10 piece order of Chicken Tenders, which have about 450 calories and 28 grams of fat. And while fresh lettuce and other veggies will always be healthier than breaded meat -- rendering the salad the defacto healthier option -- 28 grams of fat is more than <em>anyone</em>, let alone someone on a specialized diet, should consume in a single meal. The <a href="http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/DGAs2010-PolicyDocument.htm" target="_hplink">2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans</a> recommends that adults get 20 to 35 percent of their daily calories from fat -- or about 44 to 70 grams a day.

• Chicken Caesar or ... Triple Stacker?

  What a difference a grill makes. If the Garden Fresh Salad Chicken Caesar is prepared with crispy chicken instead of grilled (and dressing), it shoots up to 670 calories and 43 grams of fat -- about the same as a BK Triple Stacker, which contains three beef patties, three slices of bacon and American cheese. The sandwich has a near-identical 670 calories and 44 grams of fat.

• Chicken BLT Salad or ... Double Bacon Cheeseburger

  Garden Fresh Salad Chicken BLT with grilled chicken and dressing has 510 calories and 33 grams of fat -- about the same as a Double Bacon Cheeseburger, which clocks in at 520 and 31 grams of fat.

• Chicken BLT Salad or ... Double Croissan'wich

  Garden Fresh Salad Chicken BLT with fried chicken and dressing has 690 calories, 48 grams of fat. Similarly, the Double Croissan'wich, made up of sausage, egg and cheese, has 660 calories and 48 grams of fat.

• Chicken Apple & Cranberry Salad or ... Italian Chicken Sandwich

  The Chicken Apple & Cranberry Garden Fresh Salad with grilled chicken and dressing has 520 calories and 26 grams of fat. But those in the market for an over-500 calorie lunch could just as easily indulge in the Italian Original Chicken Sandwich, which also has 520 calories and 22 grams of fat.

• Chicken Apple & Cranberry Salad or ... Club Original Chicken Sandwich

  The Garden Fresh Salad Chicken Apple & Cranberry, when with crispy chicken and dressing shoots up to 700 calories and 41 grams of fat. That's nearly identical to the Club Original Chicken Sandwich at 700 calories and 44 grams of fat.

• Strawberry Banana Smoothie or ... OREO Sundae

  A 16 ounce Strawberry Banana Smoothie will set you back 310 calories and 60 grams of sugar. That's a bit better than the OREO Sundae (440, 57 grams), but not much.

• What Fast Food Restaurants Need to Become Healthy

  The Doctors reveal that fast food restaurants don't offer whole grains.

From our partners

• 39 Deliciously Unexpected Healthy Avocado Recipes - Greatist
• 8 Great Running Apps To Help You Train For Your Next Race - Shape Magazine
• 6 Reasons To Sleep At Least 7 Hours - Everyday Health

Comments

[Porfirio Mendoza]

09:53 AM on 04/28/2012

Organic is the best policy when ever you can. Super foods and super intelligence is the way to go if you really care about your body and health. I have even gone as far to go back to college and learn as much about this subject as i can.

[El Chingaso]

03:43 PM on 04/27/2012

Sounds more like disease-causing substances -- not food.

[PollyTics]

08:09 AM on 04/25/2012

Whereas the calories and fat content on the salads are quite high, I can't help but believe that even though it is equal to a disgustingly fatty meat sandwich, the salad is just better for you in content.

Lettuce, tomatoes and whatever other vegetables they include will benefit your body more than the breaded fried chicken and beef sandwiches....plus you don't need to use any or all of the salad dressings they provide.

[vielmannstein]

07:14 PM on 05/01/2012

And you would be exactly right!!! There is so much wrong with this article, it staggers the mind. It's not so much about quantity as it is quality of calories. The salad contrast with the fried chicken nuggets in that you are getting more filling and healthy food for the same amount of calories, not to mention the fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, etc. that you just won't find in that cancer causing 5 pieces of chicken parts that only God knows for sure is chicken anyway. Eat more, weigh less. That's the idea. This article is wrong for not making that point in its side by side comparison of pure calories and nothing else.

[Claudia Roldan]

06:49 PM on 04/24/2012

This isn't surprising at all which is why I don't get when people order these fattening salads when they are on a diet. They have no idea how bad these salads are when they are better off going to a burger. I recently came across this website that broke down which meals to skip out on when eating out. At least I can make healthier decisions on my next trip to the fast food store if that is my only option: http://www.skinnyscoop.com/list/claudia/eat-this-not-that

[Forever Jung]

05:26 PM on 04/24/2012

Why does every food item have to be judged on how "healthy" it is? Can't it just be convenient or taste good? I don't think that Burger King is claiming any health benefits; they just call them "fresh new flavors". Not every item on everyone's menu has to be "health-food".

[BeerLover]

05:15 PM on 04/24/2012

Ingredient list please. Then we can talk...AND judge.

[strawberrykiki]

03:54 PM on 04/24/2012

Good article, thanks! People see salad and think healthy...not when you add fried chicken, bacon, cheese, and dressing. I don't eat at Burger King anyway.

[plantbasedpunk]

02:58 PM on 04/24/2012

This was to be expected. I feel that fast food chains don't give the public enough credit. They roll out their new "healthy" items to appeal to healthful eaters. But, in order to protect their consumer base they load everything up with bacon and cheese. Now, the regular BKs aren't geting the healthy item they thought they were getting and the real healthful eaters are not reach because they recognize these items aren't much better than what they were already offering.

As I said below, the only reason I don't eat at BK is because they don't offer anything that meets my dietary standards and what they DO offer I find very unappealing.

[strawberrykiki]

03:55 PM on 04/24/2012

Agreed! I try to eat healthy and I don't eat fast food very often regardless of what they offer.

[Zach4141]

01:52 PM on 04/24/2012

Nobody who eats at Buirger King really cares about nutrition anyway. If I want a salad, I will spend just a bit more money at the grocery store and get enough ingredients to make a week's worth of salads at home.

[xcxv2dhf xcxv2dhf]

08:03 AM on 04/24/2012

The trouble with these stories is while the calorie counts for the salad takes account if you use ALL the dressing. I'm sure some people actually do this, but THAT much dressing makes me wretch.

This article should have focused on that god awful smoothie, which contains SIXTY GRAMS of sugar; three times the amount of a piece of their chocolate pie (20 grams.) Those numbers come from burgerking.com

[luckylily88]

02:39 PM on 04/24/2012

I knew a guy who put all the dressing on his salads at BK and McDonalds, then added salt. Disgusting.

[willpower 1]

02:47 AM on 04/24/2012

I don't really think that people who would consume food from "such places" would give a dime if the meat has 200 kcal or 400 kcal. No offence, but I strogly believe those people are careless about their health, and misinformation cannot be excuse any more. Everybody knows about McDonalds, Burger King (though I think it seems to have better reputation) etc., thus, eating there shows nothing but disrespect towards your own body.

There's so much better tasting, cheaper and healthier foods to be consumed. Just think about it - baked fish, chicken, eggs, vegetables...and thousands of recipes that can help the diversity of the few healthy foods that can be found on the market.

However, it must be mentioned dieting is not everything! Dieting and workouts combined are the best key to success - no matter if you want to lose weight, shape a muscled body or just stay healthy - that is the way! A place where you can find a lot about how to lead a healthier life is: http://www.fitnessdietwill.com
Of course, there are many other useful websites as well, but this one is certainly going to be useful to you due to the quality information it provides.

Best of luck to all!

[luckylily88]

02:42 PM on 04/24/2012

I can understand where you're coming from, but I think a lot of people are also struggling with busy schedules and honestly don't have proper education on good food choices. When you say "misinformation cannot be excused anymore", I think you don't take into account the fact that youth nutrition education is almost non-existent and adults think they don't have the time or energy to cook a proper meal at night. I know I have those nights myself, where I am faced with either eating a quick dinner to make it to the gym or taking the time to make a thoughtful healthy meal and going straight to bed.

Please understand that although you're lucky enough to know what should and shouldn't go into your body, that's not the only thing to take into account when thinking of others.

[PollyTics]

08:15 AM on 04/25/2012

"Those people"?

Oh come on on willpower, perhaps your attitude is just the tiniest bit judgmental? I know plenty who go there occasionally for quick food and will actually think through what they offer and what might be the best item for them health wise. That's not saying they are looking for a healthy meal, but perhaps just a fast and cheap one when there is no time for a restaurant

[stape45]

01:27 AM on 04/24/2012

Wonder how much fast-food franchises are paid, to keep their meals loaded with things that eventually send their patrons to the pharmacy via the doctor.

[mikeg0477]

10:15 PM on 04/23/2012

The salads may not be the healthiest, but I wonder how many people order fries with salad as opposed to those who get the alternatives.

[bdl00]

09:55 PM on 04/23/2012

As a fast food chain I just find it wrong that they would try and incorporate healiter options, it just doesn't work as there main means of business is the greasy burgers and fries in which they sell, it's what they are known for. When I had a McDonald's salad it was mostly lettuce, a couple of chopped up tomatos and a packeted dressing which was bland and boring. If you want to live a healither lifestyle go somewhere which is knowen for healthy alternatives and you have an extensive range to choose from. I know that if I ever had a salad from BurgerFuel it wouldn't be the best quality it could be because fact of the matter is it's a fast food chain, that's their main focus.

[plantbasedpunk]

02:42 PM on 04/24/2012

But healthy eating is on the rise. This can be seen by the explosion of health foods stores and farmers markets. Juicing and cleansing is a new craze. And plant based eating has grown exponentially more popular in recent years. The inevitable wave of change is coming and if fast food chains don't want to get swept away, they'll have to figure out how to tap in this new and growing market. Obviously, both BK and McD's failed to achieve this but that doesn't mean it's not possible.

[bdl00]

04:53 PM on 04/26/2012

You're right, it's not; not possible. But as a fast food chain and being reputable for being just that having healthy options seems a little out of place.

[chiara0]

09:18 PM on 04/23/2012

These 'studies' don't address the underlying issue of so-called fast food which is made from inferior products/food facsimiles to begin with. It's called 'fast food.' If you want to eat healthy food, try real food.