How I Saved 1,107 Calories at Lunch

Did you enjoy Dr. Alan Weiss's Scientific Cheeseburger Study? I thought it was terrific, but my perspective on cheeseburgers is a little different.

Recently, I met an old friend for lunch. When I was 12, I had a crush on him. We both went on to marry other people, and this was an opportunity for us to catch up over lunch, instead of on Facebook. We were meeting at a well-known restaurant chain known for tasty burgers.

I haven’t had a juicy cheeseburger in a long time, so I was dreaming about it.  But, as we all know, going to a restaurant without preparation can be disastrous.  So I looked online for the nutrition information of its menu items (most restaurants post theirs). What I found was stunning.

Before looking at the nutritional information, I’d browsed the menu and thought cheeseburger and fries. I knew it wasn’t a healthy choice, and I also knew I’d probably choose something else, but it was so tempting!! That is, until I looked further. Are you sitting down? That one cheeseburger (with BBQ sauce) was 1,114 calories, 68g of fat, 72g of carbs, and 48g of protein. But wait! Don’t forget the order of fries. Another 434 calories, 18g of fat, 61g of carbs (that’s not a misprint), and 6g of protein. For a lunch, I’d have consumed my entire daily caloric amount, twice the allotment of fat grams, 60 percent of my protein, and 70 percent of my carbs! And who knows how much sodium, right?

So, I did my research and planned my meal. I had the grilled chicken sandwich on a whole-wheat bun, with lettuce and tomato, but no mayo (and no pickles or onions for me, either — personal choice). And sometimes all you have to do is ask for a substitute from the fries. In this case, I had the option of choosing steamed broccoli. Winner! A little hot sauce sprinkled on it and it was great.

I still think I had a lot of salt (my rings are tight), and that’s bound to happen when you eat out. My point is simply that we all eat out from time to time (except for Dr. Weiss, who eats out all the time!). If you’re eating at a chain-type restaurant, do a little online research ahead of time. And, for me, it really was more about reconnecting with an old friend.