The Starbucks Impossible Breakfast Sandwich is a plant-based sandwich that has been growing in popularity. It features an Impossible sausage patty, cage-free fried egg and cheddar cheese on an artisanal roll. But what if you wanted to order this sandwich without the egg and cheese? How many calories would it have then?
In this article, we will analyze the nutritional information for the Impossible breakfast sandwich and its individual components. We will calculate the calories for the sandwich without egg and cheese. We will also look at some similar sandwich options at Starbucks and other quick facts about the Impossible sandwich.
Calories in full Impossible Breakfast Sandwich
First, let’s look at the nutrition facts for the full Impossible breakfast sandwich with egg and cheese:
| Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| 530 | 24g | 41g | 29g |
As you can see, the full sandwich with egg and cheese contains 530 calories. It also has 24g of fat, 41g of carbohydrates and 29g of protein.
The majority of the calories (about 60%) come from the fat and carbohydrates. The protein accounts for about 25% of the calories.
Calories in Impossible Sausage Patty
Now, let’s break down the nutrition facts for the key component – the Impossible sausage patty:
| Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| 260 | 18g | 6g | 16g |
The sausage patty contains:
– 260 calories
– 18g fat
– 6g carbs
– 16g protein
So the sausage accounts for nearly half the calories in the full sandwich. The majority of the calories come from fat (18g).
Calories in eggs and cheese
Now, let’s look at the eggs and cheese, the two components we are removing:
Fried egg
| Calories | Fat | Carbs |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | 6g | 0.5g |
Cheddar cheese
| Calories | Fat | Carbs |
|---|---|---|
| 180 | 15g | 1g |
The egg accounts for 90 calories, mostly from fat (6g).
The cheddar cheese accounts for 180 calories, mostly from fat (15g).
Together, the egg and cheese account for 270 calories and 21g of fat.
Calories in Impossible sandwich without egg and cheese
Now we can calculate the calories for the Impossible sandwich without the egg and cheese:
Full sandwich: 530 calories
– Egg: – 90 calories
– Cheese: – 180 calories
Total calories without egg and cheese = 260
So the Impossible breakfast sandwich without egg and cheese contains approximately 260 calories.
This makes sense, since we determined the sausage patty itself contains 260 calories.
So by omitting the fried egg and cheddar cheese, you reduce the total calories by about half.
Comparison to other Starbucks sandwiches
How does this compare to other Starbucks sandwiches?
Here is a comparison of calories for some other Starbucks breakfast sandwich options:
| Sandwich | Calories |
|---|---|
| Bacon, Gouda & Egg Sandwich | 350 |
| Sausage & Cheddar Sandwich | 360 |
| Reduced-Fat Turkey Bacon Sandwich | 260 |
| Impossible Breakfast Sandwich without egg & cheese | 260 |
As you can see, ordering the Impossible sandwich without egg and cheese puts it on par, calorie-wise, with the reduced-fat turkey bacon sandwich.
It’s lower in calories than the regular bacon or sausage and cheese options.
Nutritional pros and cons
What are some of the nutritional pros and cons of ordering the Impossible sandwich without egg and cheese?
Pros:
- Cuts calories in half compared to full sandwich
- Eliminates saturated fat from cheese
- Lowers overall fat content
- Still provides plant-based protein from sausage
Cons:
- Misses out on nutrients in egg like choline
- Lower protein than full sandwich
- Higher sodium since no egg or cheese to balance it out
So in summary, removing the egg and cheese cuts the calories, fat and saturated fat down significantly. But you do lose some of the potential benefits from the egg and protein from the cheese.
Other ways to make Impossible sandwich healthier
If you want to keep the egg and cheese but make the Impossible sandwich a bit healthier, here are some options:
– Ask for egg whites only instead of whole egg
– Opt for reduced-fat cheese instead of full-fat cheddar
– Order on an English muffin instead of artisanal roll
– Skip the sausage and just order egg & cheese on English muffin
– Substitute avocado spread or hummus for cheese
Making some of these substitutions can reduce the calories, fat, carbs or sodium in the Impossible sandwich while keeping some of the flavor.
Nutrition facts for Impossible sausage
Since the Impossible sausage is the key component of the modified sandwich, let’s take a deeper look at its nutritional profile.
Here are the detailed nutrition facts for a 4oz Impossible sausage patty:
| Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| 260 | 18g | 6g | 16g |
| Vitamins & Minerals | |||
| Calcium | 4% DV | Iron | 15% DV |
| Vitamin C | 0% DV | Potassium | 6% DV |
As you can see, the Impossible sausage is high in protein and iron. It provides 16g of protein (32% DV) and 15% DV for iron per patty.
It is also low in vitamins like Vitamin C. The carbs come mostly from added sugars and starch.
The calorie density comes mainly from the high total fat content, providing 18g (28% DV) per patty.
Ingredients in Impossible sausage
What’s actually in the Impossible breakfast sausage? Here are the main ingredients:
– Water
– Soy Protein Concentrate
– Coconut Oil
– Sunflower Oil
– Natural Flavors
– 2% or less of: Potato Protein, Methylcellulose, Yeast Extract, Cultured Dextrose, Food Starch Modified, Soy Leghemoglobin, Salt, Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E), Zinc Gluconate, Thiamine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1), Sodium Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Niacin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin B12.
So it contains a mix of soy protein, oils, natural flavors, starch, and vitamins/minerals for nutrition. The key soy leghemoglobin ingredient provides the “meaty” flavor and color.
Overall, while not the most wholesome ingredients list, it is meant to mimic the taste of sausage while providing plant-based protein.
Impossible Foods company background
The Impossible sausage patty is made by Impossible Foods, a company making plant-based meat substitutes. Here is some background:
– Founded in 2011 by Patrick Brown
– Headquarters in Redwood City, CA
– Mission is to eliminate need for animal agriculture by 2035
– Makes plant-based beef, pork, chicken, and dairy products
– Flagship product is Impossible Burger
– Sold in grocery stores, restaurants like Burger King, Starbucks
Impossible Foods is part of a new generation of food companies using technology and science to create plant-based imitations of animal foods.
The Impossible Burger was their breakout product starting in 2016. The breakfast sausage followed later as an expansion of their plant-based meat portfolio.
Are plant-based meats healthier?
There is much debate around whether these high-tech plant-based meats are actually healthier than animal meat. Here are some of the key considerations:
Potential benefits:
– Lower in saturated fat than animal meat
– No cholesterol (meat has dietary cholesterol)
– Often higher in fiber
– Reduce environmental impact of meat production
Potential downsides:
– Often still high in total fat, sodium
– Use highly processed ingredients
– Heavily rely on additives to mimic meat
– High sodium content
– Expensive compared to animal meat
So while plant-based meats can reduce some negatives of animal meat, they aren’t necessarily wholesome, whole foods either. Moderation and balance is key when incorporating these products.
How Impossible sausage is made
Let’s take a quick look at how Impossible Foods actually makes their plant-based sausage product:
Key steps:
– Start with base of soy protein concentrate
– Extract soy leghemoglobin (heme) from yeast to mimic blood/meat
– Mix in coconut oil, sunflower oil, flavors, binders
– Add vitamins/minerals for nutrition
– Use extruder to shape into sausage patties
– Cook under high heat to develop meaty texture
– Package and ship frozen to retailers like Starbucks
So it involves combining plant proteins, fats, and flavors with heme to replicate the flavor, aroma, and cooking experience of meat.
Interestingly, the heme iron-containing compound from yeast is what allows the Impossible sausage to “bleed” and brown like real meat when cooked.
How to order at Starbucks
If you want to try an Impossible breakfast sandwich without egg and cheese at Starbucks, here are some tips for ordering:
– Request “Impossible breakfast sandwich, no egg and no cheese”
– For sandwich-only, say: “Impossible sausage sandwich on an English muffin”
– Can customize further by adding veggies, sauces, spices
– Ask for nutritional info brochure if want to confirm calories
– Use Starbucks app to order ahead and customize
Some other pointers:
– Avoid bacon or other meats if want vegetarian/vegan
– Opt for lower-cal English muffin or reduce to one patty
– Can request egg whites or lower-fat cheese to make it healthier
Know your options so you can order your customized Impossible sandwich confidently!
Do-it-yourself Impossible sandwich
You can also easily make an Impossible breakfast sandwich at home. Here’s how:
Ingredients:
– Impossible sausage patties
– English muffin or bread
– Egg, cheese, veggies, condiments (optional)
Steps:
1. Cook Impossible sausage patty in skillet per package instructions
2. Toast English muffin
3. Cook egg if desired
4. Layer sausage patty, cheese, veggies, egg between muffin halves
5. Add condiments like ketchup or hot sauce
You can find Impossible sausage in the refrigerated or frozen meat section in grocery stores. It cooks up just like real sausage.
Making it yourself allows you full control over the ingredients and toppings. Plus, it saves money versus buying it pre-made at Starbucks.
Impossible breakfast recipes
The Impossible sausage works great in all kinds of easy breakfast recipes:
– Breakfast burritos or tacos: Fill tortilla with sausage, peppers, onion, cheese, eggs
– Breakfast pizza: Top pizza crust with sausage, cheese, mushrooms, spinach
– Breakfast sandwiches: Stuff sausage with cheese and veggies between bread or English muffin
– Breakfast bowls: Cook up sausage with veggies, potatoes, eggs and cheese for protein bowl
– Breakfast casserole: Make casserole with sausage, hashbrowns, cheese, eggs and bake
– Sausage gravy: Use sausage crumbles instead of beef to make plant-based gravy
So get creative with mixing and matching the Impossible sausage with your favorite breakfast foods!
Nutrition facts for other menu items
To compare the Impossible sandwich to other Starbucks menu items, here are nutrition facts for some popular choices:
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew (Grande 16 oz)
| Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | 13g | 33g | 3g |
Reduced-fat Turkey Bacon (2 slices)
| Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 1.5g | 1g | 3g |
Spinach, Feta & Egg White Wrap
| Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 12g | 33g | 18g |
This gives you an idea of calories and macros for some other popular Starbucks items beyond just the sandwiches.
Conclusion
In summary, removing the egg and cheese from a Starbucks Impossible breakfast sandwich reduces the calories from 530 down to around 260.
This comes solely from the Impossible sausage patty, providing protein and iron, but also high in fat and sodium.
Ordering it “egg-less and cheese-less” cuts fat, carbs and calories compared to the full version, but also reduces protein.
The modified Impossible sandwich aligns with other lower-calorie Starbucks breakfast options. But nutritional quality depends on any additional modifications and customizations.
Overall the plant-based Impossible sausage offers an interesting alternative for vegetarians/vegans looking for a meatless breakfast sandwich option at Starbucks.
