BurgerFi is a fast casual restaurant chain that serves burgers, fries, shakes, and other items. Their burgers are made from Angus beef and they offer options like the VegeFi burger for vegetarians. With consumers becoming more health conscious, many want to know if BurgerFi’s burgers can be considered a healthy option compared to traditional fast food burgers. This article will analyze the nutritional content of BurgerFi’s burgers and ingredients to determine if they are relatively healthy compared to burgers from chains like McDonald’s and Burger King.
BurgerFi Ingredients
Most BurgerFi burgers are made with the following core ingredients:
– Angus beef patties
– Brioche-style buns
– Cheese (cheddar or American)
– Lettuce
– Tomato
– Onion
– BurgerFi sauce
Their meat is never frozen and is sourced from grass-fed cows without the use of hormones or antibiotics. Their buns are non-GMO and made without high fructose corn syrup. The produce is also non-GMO.
Nutritional Content of BurgerFi Burgers
The table below shows the nutritional content of some of BurgerFi’s most popular burgers compared to similar offerings from McDonald’s and Burger King. The nutritional information is sourced from each restaurant’s website (McDonald’s, Burger King, BurgerFi).
| Burger | Calories | Total Fat | Saturated Fat | Trans Fat | Cholesterol | Sodium | Carbs | Fiber | Sugar | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BurgerFi Cheeseburger | 670 | 39g | 15g | 1.5g | 105mg | 830mg | 41g | 2g | 8g | 38g |
| McDonald’s Cheeseburger | 300 | 12g | 6g | 1.5g | 45mg | 680mg | 31g | 1g | 6g | 12g |
| Burger King Cheeseburger | 310 | 15g | 8g | 1.5g | 50mg | 520mg | 33g | 1g | 6g | 13g |
Looking at the nutritional content, we can see that BurgerFi’s cheeseburger has more calories, fat, and sodium compared to McDonald’s and Burger King’s cheeseburgers. The saturated fat content is over twice as high.
However, BurgerFi uses higher quality ingredients. Their beef patties are made from antibiotic-free Angus beef whereas McDonald’s and Burger King likely use beef from conventionally raised cows. BurgerFi also avoids artificial preservatives, flavors, colors, and other artificial ingredients that you’ll find in McDonald’s and Burger King burgers.
So while the numbers may seem higher, you are getting more natural, less processed food at BurgerFi. Their burger totals less than half of the recommended daily value for fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Their burger buns have no high fructose corn syrup, which is found in buns at McDonald’s and Burger King.
VegeFi Veggie Burger Nutrition Facts
For vegetarians or those looking to limit meat, BurgerFi also offers the VegeFi veggie burger. Here is the nutrition information compared to the veggie burgers from McDonald’s and Burger King:
| Burger | Calories | Total Fat | Saturated Fat | Trans Fat | Cholesterol | Sodium | Carbs | Fiber | Sugar | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BurgerFi VegeFi Burger | 670 | 42g | 6g | 0g | 0mg | 730mg | 57g | 4g | 8g | 16g |
| McDonald’s McVeggie Burger | 380 | 19g | 3.5g | 0g | 10mg | 580mg | 46g | 4g | 6g | 16g |
| Burger King Veggie Burger | 400 | 23g | 4g | 0.5g | 0mg | 790mg | 51g | 5g | 9g | 14g |
The VegeFi veggie burger is lower in saturated fat and cholesterol compared to the meat burgers, but slightly higher in total fat, carbs, and sodium. The fiber content is improved compared to the regular burgers. When comparing to other chains’ veggie burgers, the VegeFi stands out for using high quality ingredients like quinoa, lentils, carrots, and beans. It has a similar amount of protein as the other veggie burgers.
BurgerFi Fried Options
In addition to their burgers, BurgerFi offers fried sides like french fries, onion rings, and fried pickles. Here is how their fried options compare to McDonald’s and Burger King:
| Side Dish | Calories | Total Fat | Saturated Fat | Trans Fat | Cholesterol | Sodium | Carbs | Fiber | Sugar | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BurgerFi Regular Fries | 460 | 24g | 3.5g | 0g | 0mg | 270mg | 57g | 4g | 2g | 3g |
| McDonald’s Small Fries | 230 | 10g | 1.5g | 0g | 0mg | 160mg | 26g | 2g | 0g | 2g |
| Burger King Medium Fries | 360 | 19g | 3.5g | 0g | 0mg | 270mg | 43g | 4g | 0g | 3g |
BurgerFi’s regular fries are more comparable in size to a medium or large at McDonald’s and Burger King. Their fries have 0g trans fat since they use non-hydrogenated oils. The fries are fried in non-GMO canola oil and cottonseed oil. However, the total fat and calories are higher than a small McDonald’s fry. BurgerFi’s onion rings and fried pickles also have higher fat and calories compared to the other chains since the restaurant favors high quality ingredients fried in non-hydrogenated oils. Those wanting a lower calorie, lower fat side would be better off opting for a salad or spliting a regular fry.
Milkshakes and Custards
BurgerFi offers hand-spun shakes and custards made with all natural vanilla or chocolate custard. Here’s how they compare nutritionally:
| Dessert | Calories | Total Fat | Saturated Fat | Trans Fat | Cholesterol | Sodium | Carbs | Fiber | Sugar | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BurgerFi Vanilla Shake (16 oz) | 819 | 36g | 22g | 0g | 104mg | 296mg | 123g | 0g | 117g | 9g |
| McDonald’s Vanilla Shake (16 oz) | 700 | 17g | 10g | 1.5g | 65mg | 250mg | 123g | 0g | 114g | 11g |
| Burger King Vanilla Shake (16 oz) | 790 | 25g | 15g | 1.5g | 100mg | 260mg | 131g | 1g | 128g | 9g |
BurgerFi’s shakes are made from their all-natural frozen custard which gives them a higher fat and saturated fat content than shakes made from ice cream mixes. They have 0g trans fat compared to McDonald’s and Burger King. The sugar content is similar amongst all the chains. Those monitoring fat intake would be advised to stick with BurgerFi’s non-fried sides and potentially share one of their rich shakes.
Healthier Sides at BurgerFi
To balance out the higher fat content of their burgers and fried sides, BurgerFi offers some nutritious alternatives:
Fresh-Cut Fries – Instead of getting the regular fries, opt for the fresh-cut fries which are about half the calories and fat.
Haystack Onions – These are crispy onion strings made from thinly sliced onions. Much lower in fat and calories than onion rings.
Sweet Potato Fries – A healthier swap for traditional french fries.
House Salad/Caesar Salad – Pick a salad as your side to add nutrients.
Chicken Tenders – If skipping the burger, chicken tenders with ranch are a high protein option.
Veggie Burger – The VegeFi burger makes a solid plant-based choice.
All-Natural Shakes – Stick with the classic vanilla, chocolate, strawberry.
So in summary, while BurgerFi uses premium ingredients cooked to order in their burgers and fried items, leading to higher fat and calories, they still offer lighter alternatives you can mix in to cut some of those numbers. Their ingredients are clearly superior to typical fast food chains.
Conclusion
Compared to burgers from McDonald’s and Burger King, BurgerFi burgers do contain more calories, fat, and sodium due to the fresh, high-quality ingredients like Angus beef and brioche-style buns. However, BurgerFi avoids frozen, highly processed ingredients you find in many fast food burgers. Their veggie burger offers a healthy plant-based option. For sides, their fresh-cut fries, salads, and haystack onions make better choices than their regular fries and onion rings. Their creamy shakes and custards are indulgent treats made with natural vanilla or chocolate custard. Overall, while not the healthiest choice for every meal, BurgerFi offers a superior fast food burger using premium ingredients and smart menu choices that can fit into a balanced diet.