How many calories are in a Red Robin veggie burger?

With the rise in popularity of plant-based diets and vegetarianism, more and more restaurants are adding veggie burgers to their menus. Red Robin is one such restaurant that offers a veggie burger option. But for those watching their calorie intake or following a particular diet plan, knowing the calorie count of menu items is important.

What is in a Red Robin veggie burger?

According to the Red Robin website, their veggie burger consists of a “Morningstar Farms® burger patty made from nine different wholesome ingredients like carrots, zucchini, garlic, brown rice and mushrooms.” The veggie patty is served on a multi-grain bun with lettuce, tomato, pickle and onion.

The Morningstar Farms veggie patty itself is made up of the following ingredients:

  • Water
  • Black beans
  • Brown rice
  • Bulgur wheat
  • Onions
  • Carrots
  • Vegetable oil (soybean, canola)
  • Whole kernel corn
  • Tomatoes
  • Vegetable protein (soy protein concentrate, soy protein isolate)
  • Spices
  • Sea salt
  • Yeast extract
  • Natural flavors from plant sources (smoke flavor, grill flavor)
  • Garlic powder
  • Oat fiber
  • Barley malt extract
  • Ascorbic acid
  • Citric acid

As you can see, it contains a mix of grains, beans, vegetables and seasonings held together with some binding ingredients. The multi-grain bun and veggie toppings make up the rest of the burger.

Calorie count of a Red Robin veggie burger

According to the Red Robin nutritional information guide, here are the calories and macronutrients in a Red Robin veggie burger:

Nutrition Facts Amount
Calories 670
Total Fat 23 g
Saturated Fat 3.5 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 1280 mg
Total Carbohydrate 103 g
Dietary Fiber 25 g
Total Sugars 12 g
Protein 29 g

As you can see, a Red Robin veggie burger contains 670 calories. It also contains 23g of fat, 103g of carbohydrates, and 29g of protein.

How does this compare to a regular burger?

To put the calorie count into context, let’s compare the veggie burger to a regular Red Robin Gourmet Cheeseburger:

Burger Calories
Red Robin Veggie Burger 670
Red Robin Gourmet Cheeseburger 1,120

As you can see, the veggie burger contains significantly fewer calories than a traditional cheeseburger. The cheeseburger has 1,120 calories, which is 450 more calories than the veggie burger.

How many calories are recommended per day?

To determine if 670 calories is considered high or low for one burger, it helps to look at recommended daily calorie intakes.

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans from the USDA, the recommended daily calorie intake for the average moderately active adult is:

  • Women: 2,000 – 2,400 calories
  • Men: 2,400 – 3,000 calories

However, optimal calorie intake ultimately depends on factors like age, body size, activity level and weight goals. A petite sedentary woman would need fewer calories than a very active young man, for example.

Using the guideline of 2,000 calories per day for an average woman, 670 calories for one burger would account for about one-third of the total daily recommended intake. For a man aiming for 2,500 calories, it would be over one-quarter of the recommendation.

Strategies to reduce calories in a veggie burger

While the Red Robin veggie burger is lower in calories than a traditional burger, there are some easy ways you could further reduce the calories if wanted:

  • Skip the bun: By skipping the multi-grain bun, you can subtract 200 calories.
  • Remove cheese: Opting out of cheese slices would subtract about 50 calories.
  • Limit condiments: Condiments like mayonnaise and ketchup can add calories quickly. Opt for mustard or pickles instead.
  • Skip fries: Pairing the burger with a lower calorie side like a salad saves about 400 calories compared to french fries.
  • Watch portions: You can save calories by splitting the burger in half and having the rest later.

With some simple modifications, you could bring the total calorie count down to under 500 calories easily.

Benefits of veggie burgers

Beyond the calorie consideration, there are a few other potential benefits of choosing a veggie burger over a traditional beef burger:

  • More fiber: The Red Robin veggie burger contains 25g of fiber, while a traditional burger has 0g.
  • More nutrients: Veggie burgers provide more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants from the blend of vegetables, grains and beans.
  • Lower saturated fat: The veggie patty is much lower in saturated fat than a beef patty cooked in oil.
  • Meatless protein source: The veggie patty contains 29g of plant-based protein for those looking to add more meatless meals.

Conclusion

In summary, a Red Robin veggie burger contains 670 calories – significantly less than a traditional cheeseburger. While 670 calories may account for a large portion of someone’s recommended daily intake, there are easy ways to reduce the calorie count further through modifications. Plus, veggie burgers offer more fiber, nutrients and meatless protein compared to beef.

When dining out, taking a quick look at the nutritional information and being mindful of portions and modifications can help anyone watch their calorie intake while still enjoying the menu.

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