How Many Calories ... in a Veggie Burger?

by Martha Edwards (Subscribe to Martha Edwards's posts)
Apr 2nd 2008 5:58AM

Of all the burgers out there, I think the general consensus is that veggie burgers are the healthiest of the bunch. They're low in saturated fat, and fat in general, plus they're lower in calories than regular beef or chicken burgers. As a non-vegetarian, I always get the same reaction when I order a veggie burger at a restaurant: 'Huh? Are you on a diet or something?' But I suspect that what veggie burgers lack in calories and fat they make up for in add-ons like cheese and sauce. But then again, I could be wrong.

What do you think? Are veggie burgers healthy or not?

The answer is 780 calories, according to a documentary I recently saw on calorie counts in restaurant foods. And that doesn't include the fries, side salad, appetizer or dessert. That's a little steep for a so-called 'health' food. Save yourself some money and time by ordering the veggie burger at Burger King -- with cheese, it only has 470 calories, which is still high but not as high.

The reason for the high amount of calories? Like I said, it's the add-ons -- particularly the cheese and the sauce. Order yours without any add-ons but veggies and your saving yourself a whole bunch of calories.

12 "healthy" foods that really aren't:

Why? Click to find out!

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Comments (13)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Al 4-02-2008 @ 2:11PM

Veggie burgers? I mean what's the point?

Gretchen 4-02-2008 @ 2:46PM

You suggest the Burger King veggie patty but for vegetarians, that's not really an option. They cook the veggie patty on the exact same grill as the beef burgers where the juices meet together. In that manner, it's not veggie at all.

Dreolin 4-03-2008 @ 6:43PM

No they don't, at least not the one I worked at. At ours they are not cooked on the grill, they are microwaved in a particular container that is exclusive to them. They never touch anything that contains or has contained meat.

transterra 4-02-2008 @ 2:52PM

It's health food because it has less (depending on cheese, etc) or no cholesterol. You cannot count calories as the only criteria for a health food--olive oil and walnuts both have lots of fat and calories, but good fat, yet both are healthy.

rusdog 4-02-2008 @ 3:04PM

actually the veggie burger is cooked in the microwave not the grill

Amanda 4-02-2008 @ 3:35PM

I was a vegetarian chef at an upscale vegetarian/vegan restaurant and I can't tell you exactly how many calories our burger had, but I can tell you that they were all fried. Most people don't realize that a lot of vegetarian food in restaurants (especially "patties" of any kind) are fried to add flavor. Also, many veggie burgies have rice or other grains in them that bind the burgers together (making them more filling). And don't forget that the bun is probably around 250 calories alone.

Kristen 4-02-2008 @ 4:20PM

That's really surprising to me. I make Boca burgers at home all the time, and it's a great meal -- I dip it in some mustard and ketchup, and it's low-fat, low-cal, and I think very tasty. I can see how the calories can add up, but what a shame!

Hellen 4-02-2008 @ 4:30PM

Eating what you enjoy in "normal size" portions is key. I don't eat burgers all the time, but when I do, I enjoy, it account for it and eat lighter after. I love a good burger, and when I have one I totally enjoy it.. I never eat the bottom bun..not worth it..it is usually soggy and just soaked with grease.

I was obese as a kid and now try to fight the good fight every day. I am a weight counselor..not thin but normal and healthy with a healthy attitude towards food and dieting.

Here is some advice I give my reg clients:

Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. If you can't be
perfect in your eating don't make the day a wash and start
"tomorrow".

Try to eat something you truly enjoy every day.

Try to eat tomatoes in some form..lycopene is great for all
especially men!

Get a pedometer and try to walk 10,000 steps a day.

If you don't get enough fruits and veggies take a good multi vitamin.

Try to get exercise in when you can. I have read about smartsoles on
many aol boards and they actually work, they increase calories burned
with each step and tone muscles http://www.smartsole.com

Join a support group to discuss food issues. I have found that good
old fashioned weight watchers truly is the best and not expensive.
http://www.weightwatchers.com

And the best thing I did for myself as a single woman is get a pet.
It has reduced stress for me and added to my happiness.

Try not to eat your heaviest meal too late.

Again all are "tries". nobody is perfect!

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lizzie 4-02-2008 @ 4:45PM

i use boca burgers all the time. according to the nutrition information on the box, they are 90 cals, with 25 of those from fat. i cook them in a pan sprayed with one of those vegetabel fat sprays. add a roll (maybe 160-200 calories?) some condiments, it might start adding up but no way is it close to 800 calories. and as transterra says, it's not just the number of calories but nutritional value as well.

pema 4-02-2008 @ 5:21PM

There is more to "healthy" than low fat....I'd rather have butter than hydrogenated oil, honey than high fructose corn syrup, oat bran than white flour. If this editor is going to write about healthy eating, she should know that low cal doesn't mean "healthy" !

Sally 4-03-2008 @ 6:03AM

It's the SUGAR, people. Often replaced with other sweeteners like corn syrup, it's all those sweenenters that put in the calories.
All this paranoia about foods having too many calories has led people to believe that things like Orange juice and carrots (I'm not kidding) are making people buy artificially flavored foods.
If you want to cut the calories, just go with unsweetened foods. If you want to buy your veggies canned, read the ingredients first. You'll be shocked at how often you find sugar and salt added to them. If you buy the "no salt added" version, you'll usually get no sugar as well.
We get more than enough salt just from the butter than we add to our foods. As for that subject (butter) stick with the real thing if you can afford it. Most "butter flavored products" have more fat in them than the real thing.
If you want to drink soy milk, rather than cow's milk, read it first. Some brands are lower in fat and sweeteners than others. Same for soy yogurt.
Beware of store brand yogurts: they often aren't yogurts at all - they soldify with geletin. There are no healthy bacteria in them at all.
Long story short: read the labels. If you don't know what something is, write it down for later, then look it up on line or in a dictionary. Something that sounds bad because it has a long name may or may not be bad for you. It's just a matter of educating yourself.
I've seen some "health foods" and so called "diet foods" that, when I actually read what was in them, were anything but healthy!

Lisa 4-02-2008 @ 7:14PM

Vegie burgers, YUCK!!

Michele 4-02-2008 @ 11:19PM

Actually, I'd rather get a super lean beef or buffalo burger. Season it up, and fry in a non-stick pan with cooking spray. Top it off with a roasted peppers and balsamic vineger on a toasted (in the toaster, not buttered on a grill) whole wheat roll - Yummy and guilt free!