Starbucks has added a new plant-based breakfast sandwich to its menu – the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich. This sandwich is made with an Impossible sausage patty, egg, and cheddar cheese on a ciabatta bun. With the rise in popularity of plant-based diets and meat alternatives like the Impossible burger, Starbucks joins other fast food restaurants in offering vegetarian and vegan options. But is this seemingly healthier sandwich actually lower in calories than traditional meat breakfast sandwiches? Let’s take a deeper look at the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich nutrition facts.
An Overview of the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich
The Impossible Breakfast Sandwich at Starbucks contains the following ingredients:
– Impossible Sausage Patty – plant-based sausage patty made by Impossible Foods
– Egg – cage-free, cooked egg
– Cheddar Cheese – cheddar cheese slice
– Ciabatta Bun – toasted ciabatta roll
The base sandwich contains an Impossible sausage patty, egg, and cheese. The ciabatta bun that the sandwich comes on adds additional calories and carbs. Customers can also add additional toppings and condiments like spinach, avocado spread, bacon, etc. for an additional charge.
Nutrition Facts for the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich
According to the Starbucks website, here are the basic nutrition facts for the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich:
| Serving Size | 1 sandwich (178g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 530 |
| Total Fat | 24g |
| Saturated Fat | 9g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 165mg |
| Sodium | 1260mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 51g |
| Dietary Fiber | 3g |
| Total Sugars | 6g |
| Protein | 25g |
| Calcium | 450mg |
| Iron | 5mg |
| Potassium | 820mg |
So in total, a regular Impossible Breakfast Sandwich from Starbucks contains 530 calories.
Detailed Breakdown of Calories by Ingredient
To get a better understanding of where those calories are coming from, we need to break down the nutrition for each component of the sandwich:
Impossible Sausage Patty
– Calories: 130
– Total Fat: 9g
– Saturated Fat: 1.5g
– Cholesterol: 0mg
– Sodium: 200mg
– Total Carbs: 2g
– Dietary Fiber: 0g
– Total Sugars: 0g
– Protein: 9g
The Impossible sausage patty accounts for 130 of the total 530 calories in the sandwich. As a plant-based meat alternative, the Impossible patty is lower in saturated fat and cholesterol compared to a traditional pork sausage patty. But it still contains a similar amount of calories and sodium as meat-based sausage.
Egg
– Calories: 72
– Total Fat: 5g
– Saturated Fat: 1.6g
– Cholesterol: 186mg
– Sodium: 115mg
– Total Carbs: 0g
– Protein: 6g
The egg accounts for 72 calories in the sandwich, plus over half the cholesterol since eggs are naturally high in cholesterol.
Cheddar Cheese Slice
– Calories: 90
– Total Fat: 7g
– Saturated Fat: 4.5g
– Cholesterol: 20mg
– Sodium: 270mg
– Total Carbs: 1g
– Protein: 7g
The cheddar cheese adds 90 calories and 4.5g of saturated fat to the Impossible sandwich. Cheese is high in saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol.
Ciabatta Bun
– Calories: 230
– Total Fat: 2.5g
– Saturated Fat: 0.5g
– Sodium: 675mg
– Total Carbs: 40g
– Dietary Fiber: 2g
– Total Sugars: 4g
– Protein: 9g
Surprisingly, the ciabatta bun accounts for nearly half the total calories in the sandwich at 230. The refined flour bun packs a lot of carbs and sodium as well.
Additional Toppings
Customers can further customize their Impossible Breakfast Sandwich with extra toppings like spinach, avocado spread, or bacon for an additional cost. These toppings can add:
– Spinach: 5 calories
– Avocado spread: 50 calories, 5g fat
– Bacon: 45 calories, 3.5g fat
So optional add-ons like avocado or bacon will increase the total calorie count and fat content.
How the Impossible Sandwich Compares to Other Breakfast Sandwiches
Now that we know the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich clocks in at 530 calories, how does it compare to other popular breakfast sandwiches?
Against other Starbucks breakfast sandwiches
Here’s how the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich stacks up against Starbucks’ other breakfast sandwich options:
| Sandwich | Calories |
|---|---|
| Bacon, Sausage, Egg & Cheddar | 530 |
| Egg & Cheese | 450 |
| Ham, Egg & Cheese | 460 |
| Impossible Breakfast Sandwich | 530 |
| Reduced-Fat Turkey Bacon & White Cheddar | 370 |
The Impossible sandwich has the same calorie count as Starbucks’ classic bacon breakfast sandwich at 530 calories. The Egg & Cheese and Ham, Egg & Cheese options are lower in calories, while the turkey bacon option has the least calories. So the Impossible sandwich has a high calorie count compared to other Starbucks breakfast sandwiches.
Against other fast food breakfast sandwiches
How does Starbucks’ Impossible sandwich compare to breakfast sandwiches from other fast food chains?
| Sandwich | Calories |
|---|---|
| Starbucks Impossible Breakfast Sandwich | 530 |
| McDonald’s Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit | 460 |
| Dunkin’ Bacon, Egg & Cheese on a Bagel | 550 |
| Burger King Croissan’wich with Sausage & Egg | 560 |
The Impossible Breakfast Sandwich is higher in calories than McDonald’s popular bacon sandwich, but lower than Burger King’s sausage croissan’wich. It’s nearly the same as a bacon sandwich from Dunkin’ Donuts. Across comparable meat-based breakfast sandwiches at other chains, the Impossible sandwich is moderately high in calories.
Factors That Add to the Calorie Count
Looking at the detailed nutrition facts, there are a few key factors that contribute to the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich’s high calorie count:
The Impossible patty
While lower in cholesterol and fat than pork sausage, the plant-based Impossible patty still packs a similar calorie punch as meat-based sausage patties.
The egg
Eggs are naturally high in cholesterol. The egg adds cholesterol and fat to the total.
High-fat cheese
Cheese adds a lot of saturated fat and sodium. Opting for a lower-fat cheese could trim some calories.
Refined carbohydrates
The white ciabatta bun accounts for nearly half the calories. A lighter English muffin or whole wheat bun could reduce the carb and calorie load.
No veggies
Unlike other breakfast sandwiches, the Impossible one lacks any vegetable toppings like lettuce or tomato to add fiber and volume. Free add-ons like spinach could make it more nutritious.
So in summary, the combined high-calorie ingredients like plant-based sausage, egg, cheese and carb-heavy bun add up to a hefty calorie count.
Healthier Ways to Customize the Impossible Sandwich
If you want to lighten up the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich, here are some ways to customize your order:
– Ask for egg whites instead of whole eggs to slash cholesterol and fat.
– Opt for a lower-calorie cheese like Swiss or cheddar instead of full-fat American.
– Choose a whole wheat English muffin or flatbread instead of the ciabatta bun to save calories.
– Add veggies like spinach, tomatoes, or avocado to add fiber.
– Skip sugary spreads like butter or creamy sauces. Use mustard or hot sauce for flavor instead.
– Avoid add-ons like bacon or sausage that will further drive up sodium, fat and calories.
Nutritious Lower-Calorie Breakfast Options at Starbucks
If you’re looking for a lighter breakfast, Starbucks offers some more nutritious and lower-calorie options:
Whole Grain Vegetable & Egg White Breakfast Wrap
– 360 calories
– 16g protein
Reduced-Fat Turkey Bacon & White Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich
– 370 calories
Egg White & Roasted Red Pepper Egg White Bowl
– 260 calories
– 24g protein
Oatmeal
– Up to 320 calories
– 5g fiber
Overnight Oats
– 150 calories
– 5g protein
Yogurt Parfaits
– 140 to 260 calories
Making Your Own Lower-Calorie Breakfast Sandwich
For even more control over nutrition and ingredients, you can DIY your own lower-cal breakfast sandwich at home:
– Use a 100% whole wheat English muffin
– Try turkey bacon or Canadian bacon
– Use 1 egg + 2 egg whites instead of 2 whole eggs
– Opt for lower-fat cheese like cheddar or Swiss
– Pile on veggies like spinach, tomato, avocado
– Condiments like mustard, hot sauce, or salsa
Making it yourself allows you to balance taste, nutrition, and calories to suit your diet goals. Plus, it costs a fraction of the price of a restaurant sandwich.
The Bottom Line
Overall, the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich at Starbucks contains a hefty 530 calories. While it’s lower in saturated fat and cholesterol compared to meat-based options, it’s still moderately high in calories, sodium, and fat due to its ingredients.
If you want a more nutritious start to your day, customize your sandwich, opt for lower-calorie menu items like oatmeal or egg white bowls, or make your own lean breakfast sandwich at home. This will allow you to control calories and increase nutritional value based on your individual dietary needs.
Summary
To summarize key points:
– The Impossible Breakfast Sandwich at Starbucks contains 530 calories.
– It has a similar calorie count as Starbucks’ regular bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich.
– It’s moderately high in calories compared to breakfast sandwiches from other fast food chains.
– Ingredients like the Impossible sausage, egg, cheese, and carb-heavy bun all add to the calories.
– Customizing your sandwich or choosing lower-calorie menu items can reduce calories.
– Making your own breakfast sandwich allows for ultimate nutrition and calorie control.
So while not the lowest-calorie option, the Impossible sandwich can fit into a balanced diet when customized properly or when less caloric menu items are chosen instead. Moderation and customization is key if you want to enjoy this meatless breakfast sandwich.
