Determining the calorie count of a protein style double double with no cheese from In-N-Out can be tricky. In-N-Out is a popular fast food chain known for its burgers, fries and secret menu items like the protein style double double. This burger comes wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun and without cheese, making it lower in carbs and calories than a traditional double double cheeseburger. But exactly how many calories are in this modified order? Let’s take a closer look and do the math.
Calories in an In-N-Out Double Double Burger
First, we need to know the base calorie count for a standard In-N-Out double double cheeseburger. According to the In-N-Out nutrition information guide, a double double with cheese contains 670 calories. This is for one burger with two beef patties and two slices of American cheese on a bun with spread.
Here is a breakdown of the calories:
Item | Calories |
2 burger patties | 440 |
2 slices American cheese | 140 |
Bun | 290 |
Spread | 60 |
Total Calories | 670 |
So a standard double double cheeseburger with all the fixings contains 670 calories. This will be our baseline for comparison.
Calculating Calories Without Cheese
To calculate the calories for a protein style double double with no cheese, we first need to subtract the calories that come from the cheese.
Each slice of American cheese in a double double adds 70 calories. So for two slices, that’s 140 calories.
670 calories (regular double double)
– 140 calories (2 slices cheese)
= 530 calories
Removing the cheese saves us 140 calories, bringing the total down to 530 calories.
Factoring in the Protein Style
Now we need to account for the protein style preparation. With protein style, instead of a bun, the burger patties and toppings are wrapped in lettuce leaves.
According to In-N-Out’s website, a plain hamburger bun contains 230 calories. So switching to lettuce wrap instead of the bun saves us those 230 calories.
530 calories (double double no cheese)
– 230 calories (bun)
= 300 calories
Factoring in the lower calorie lettuce wrap brings the total calories down to 300 for a protein style double double with no cheese.
Complete Nutrition Facts
Here are the complete nutrition facts for a protein style double double with no cheese from In-N-Out:
Item | Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
2 burger patties | 440 | 23g | 0g | 44g |
Lettuce wrap | 10 | 0g | 2g | 1g |
Spread | 60 | 7g | 0g | 0g |
Total | 300 | 30g | 2g | 45g |
As you can see, ordering a double double protein style without cheese significantly reduces the calories, fat and carbs compared to a regular double double cheeseburger with a bun. You save 370 calories and 36g of fat.
The protein style double double only contains 300 calories, 30g fat, 2g carbs and 45g protein. This makes it a more diet-friendly option if you are watching your calorie intake but still crave an In-N-Out burger.
Comparing Protein Style Double Double to Other Menu Items
To put the 300 calories of a protein style double double in context, here’s how it compares to other items on the In-N-Out menu:
Menu Item | Calories |
Hamburger | 240 |
Cheeseburger | 300 |
Double Double | 670 |
Protein Style Double Double, no cheese | 300 |
French Fries (small) | 270 |
Milkshake (small) | 530 |
As you can see, the protein style double double without cheese has the same calories as a regular cheeseburger or small fries. It has significantly fewer calories than a regular double double with cheese and bun or a small shake.
So if you are looking for a lower calorie option but still want that double double flavor, ordering it protein style without cheese is a good option at only 300 calories.
Tips for Ordering a Low Calorie Protein Style Double Double
Here are some tips to order an even lower calorie protein style double double:
– Leave off the spread: The spread adds 60 calories, so skipping it saves you some extra calories.
– Go lettuce wrap only: Skip the bottom lettuce leaf since it only adds negligible calories. Sticking to just the lettuce wrap around the burger saves 10 calories.
– Order single patties: Switching to single patties instead of doubles saves you 220 calories per patty.
– Skip fries and shake: Resist the urge to add on fries and a shake, which can double or triple the calories.
Should you make it animal style?
One question that often comes up is whether you should make your protein style double double animal style. Adding animal style basically means adding extra spread, pickles, grilled onions and mustard.
Here’s the impact on calories:
Item | Calories |
Protein style double double, no cheese | 300 |
Extra spread | 60 |
Grilled onions | 15 |
Pickles | 5 |
Mustard | 0 |
Total animal style | 380 |
As you can see, adding the animal style toppings increases the calories by about 80. So while it adds lots of flavor, it does come at a calorie cost. Whether that extra flavor is worth it is a personal decision.
Low Carb Option
Ordering protein style and skipping the spread helps make the double double a lot lower carb. Here are the nutrition facts:
Item | Carbs |
2 burger patties | 0g |
Lettuce wrap | 2g |
Total | 2g net carbs |
With just 2 grams of net carbs, this is a great low carb fast food option for keto and low carb diets.
Vegetarian/Vegan Protein Style Options
Vegans and vegetarians can also enjoy protein style burgers at In-N-Out. Some options include:
– Protein style veggie burger: Substitute the beef patties for In-N-Out’s veggie patties. Ask for no cheese and spread.
– Grilled cheese protein style: Order a grilled cheese sandwich protein style by wrapping it in lettuce instead of a bun.
– Bun-less garden salad: Create a veggie protein style salad bowl with lettuce, tomato, onion and dressing.
So protein style works for plant-based eaters too!
Tracking Calories With Apps
To easily track the calories and macros of a protein style double double, you can use food tracking apps like MyFitnessPal or Lose It. Just search for “In-N-Out protein style double double no cheese” and enter the nutrition totals. This makes it easy to log the burger and keep an accurate calorie count for your day.
Low Calorie Sauce Options
If you want to dip your protein style double double but want lower calorie sauce options, some choices include:
– Mustard – 0 calories
– Ketchup – 5 calories per packet
– Barbecue sauce – 15 calories per packet
– Buffalo sauce – 0 calories
These all have significantly fewer calories than the creamy spread sauce.
Should you add tomato?
In-N-Out allows you to add tomato slices as a sandwich topping. Each tomato slice only adds around 5 calories, so it is a low calorie way to add freshness and flavor. Leaving the tomato off doesn’t significantly change the calorie total. So it comes down to personal preference!
How does it fit your calorie goals?
Whether a 300 calorie protein style double double fits into your daily calorie budget or goals depends on factors like:
– Your total daily calorie needs – This is based on your age, gender, activity level and weight goals.
– The rest of your food for the day – You’ll need to account for the double double along with your other meals and snacks.
– Your nutrient targets – Make sure you are still getting a balanced intake of carbs, fat and protein for the day.
If you follow a specific diet plan like intermittent fasting, low carb, Weight Watchers, etc., you can adjust the rest of your food intake to accommodate the double double. Having it occasionally as a special treat is totally fine – just get back on track with healthy eating at your next meal.
Is it healthy?
While the protein style double double is lower in calories than a regular double double with bun and cheese, it is still considered a high fat, high sodium fast food burger. Two patties alone provide nearly a whole day’s worth of saturated fat and sodium.
However, compared to other burger joints, In-N-Out uses high quality ground beef with no fillers, additives or preservatives. So while not strictly “healthy,” it is fresher and better quality than most fast food burgers.
Having it occasionally in moderation along with an overall balanced diet should be fine for most people. Just be mindful of your total calories, sodium and saturated fat intake for the day when enjoying this tasty treat!
Conclusion
Ordering a protein style In-N-Out double double without cheese provides a great way to cut calories and carbs while still enjoying a juicy burger. Ditching the bun and cheese slashes 370 calories off a regular double double.
The final nutrition totals for a protein style double double with no cheese are 300 calories, 30g fat, 2g net carbs and 45g protein. This makes it one of the lowest calorie ways to enjoy an In-N-Out burger.
Some additional tips for ordering an even lower cal calorie protein style double double include:
– Leave off spread
– Skip bottom lettuce leaf
– Go single patty
– Avoid fries and shake
While not exactly a “health” food, the protein style double double can fit into a balanced diet in moderation. Enjoy this In-N-Out special treat guilt-free by ordering it protein style with no cheese!