Calories In A Mcdonald S Veggie Burger

A veggie burger is a tasty way to cut calories and saturated fat.

Image Credit: hobo_018/E+/GettyImages Choosing a veggie burger instead of the standard cheeseburger is an easy way to improve your overall diet the next time you go through the drive-through. Red meat, like beef and pork, contains high amounts of saturated fat that can raise your LDL cholesterol and increase your risk of heart disease. Fortunately, chains like McDonald’s have started to provide healthier options.

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 Beginning in late 2018, McDonald's began offering a meatless, vegan burger at its flagship restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. The sandwich, which has been offered for years in India and at other international McDonalds under other names, is called the McAloo Tiki. It contains a seasoned veggie patty made from potatoes and peas topped with tomatoes, onions and an eggless mayo on a toasted bun.

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  Read more: Is McDonald's Breakfast Healthy?

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 Tip McDonald’s veggie burger contains 380 calories.

McDonalds Veggie Burger Nutritional Information

McDonald’s version of a veggie burger contains 380 calories. This includes 52 grams of carbohydrates, 14 grams of fat and 9 grams of protein. Choosing to add cheese, which is an appealing option for many vegetarians, increases the calories to 460. This would, however, not be an option for those following a vegan diet.

Are Veggie Burgers Good for Weight Loss?

Calorically, veggie burgers are far healthier than the other popular burgers offered at McDonald’s. For example, a Quarter Pounder with cheese contains 530 calories and a Big Mac rings in at 540.

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 In addition, the overall saturated fat in a McDonald's veggie burger is only 1 gram compared to up to 13 grams in a Quarter Pounder with cheese. According to the Cleveland Clinic, reducing your overall calorie consumption and keeping your diet low in fat is one of the most important factors in losing weight.
 
Opting for a side salad (easy on the dressing) can help cut calories.

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What Are the Lowest Calorie Foods at McDonald's?

In addition to the McAloo Tiki, there are other options on McDonald’s menu for those looking to watch their caloric intake. People ordering breakfast might consider the 280 calorie Egg White Delight McMuffin.

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 Alternatively, try the 380 calorie Artisan Grilled Chicken Sandwich for a healthier lunch or dinner. Finally, the menu also contains many salads, including the 350-calorie Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad or the 320-calorie Bacon Ranch Grilled Chicken Salad.

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 Making smarter choices with your sides and drinks can also help reduce calories. Drinking water instead of soft drinks can save hundreds of calories. In addition, try choosing a 15-calorie side salad instead of a large order of fries, which contains 510 calories. Nutritional information for all of the menu items is available online or upon request when you visit any McDonald's restaurant.

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 Read more: 11 of McDonald's Biggest Diet Wreckers From Around the World

Is a Plant-Based Diet Really Healthy?

Eating a plant-based diet can have many health benefits. People maintaining this type of diet had a lower overall body mass index when compared to people consuming a non-vegetarian diet. In addition, plant based diets have been found to effectively help people with obesity lose weight and keep it off.

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 In addition to losing weight, altering what you eat can also impact your risk of getting many chronic health conditions. Because of the lower intake of saturated fats and processed foods, people on a plant-based diet developed diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer much less frequently than others.

In addition, diets emphasizing fruits and vegetables may also help to slow cognitive decline and prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease in older adults.

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  references
  
      Web MD: The Truth about Red Meat
    
      Business Insider: McDonalds Offers Vegan Burger in Flagship US Outlet
    
      McDonalds: Nutrition Calculator
    
      Cleveland Clinic: Fat and Calories
    
      McDonalds: Veggie Deluxe Burger
    
      Harvard: What is a Plant Based Diet and Why Should you Try It?
    
      Journal of Geriatric Cardiology: A Plant-Based Diet for Overweight and Obesity Prevention and Treatment
    
      Mayo Clinic: 15 Simple Diet Tweaks that Could Cut your Alzheimer's Risk
       




  references
  
      Web MD: The Truth about Red Meat
    
      Business Insider: McDonalds Offers Vegan Burger in Flagship US Outlet
    
      McDonalds: Nutrition Calculator
    
      Cleveland Clinic: Fat and Calories
    
      McDonalds: Veggie Deluxe Burger
    
      Harvard: What is a Plant Based Diet and Why Should you Try It?
    
      Journal of Geriatric Cardiology: A Plant-Based Diet for Overweight and Obesity Prevention and Treatment
    
      Mayo Clinic: 15 Simple Diet Tweaks that Could Cut your Alzheimer's Risk
    




A veggie burger is a tasty way to cut calories and saturated fat.

Image Credit: hobo_018/E+/GettyImages

McDonald’s veggie burger contains 380 calories.

Opting for a side salad (easy on the dressing) can help cut calories.

Image Credit: ttatty/iStock/GettyImages

      Web MD: The Truth about Red Meat
    
      Business Insider: McDonalds Offers Vegan Burger in Flagship US Outlet
    
      McDonalds: Nutrition Calculator
    
      Cleveland Clinic: Fat and Calories
    
      McDonalds: Veggie Deluxe Burger
    
      Harvard: What is a Plant Based Diet and Why Should you Try It?
    
      Journal of Geriatric Cardiology: A Plant-Based Diet for Overweight and Obesity Prevention and Treatment
    
      Mayo Clinic: 15 Simple Diet Tweaks that Could Cut your Alzheimer's Risk