Syracuse (Consumer Reports) -- More and more fast food restaurants are getting in the breakfast game. But heads up for a health warning — some choices can load you up with a day’s worth of fat and sodium! Consumer Reports just tested fast-food egg sandwiches to see if you can really “Start your morning off right,” as Dunkin’ Donuts suggests, or “Wake up to deliciousness” at McDonald’s.
Breakfast on the go is easier than ever. But can you make healthy choices without sacrificing taste?
Consumer Reports graded the nutrition of 106 egg sandwiches sold by fast-food restaurants like Burger King, Dunkin’ Donuts, McDonald’s, Starbuck’s, and Subway.
“As far as nutrition goes, just six out of the 106 sandwiches rated very good,” said Consumer Reports’ Erin Gudeux.
But what about taste? Consumer Reports’ trained taste testers went undercover.
Of the seven sandwiches tasted, Starbucks Turkey Bacon and White Cheddar Classic Breakfast Sandwich was just so-so.
Equally marginal — Dunkin’ Donuts Egg White Turkey Sausage Wake-Up Wrap. Testers described it as teeny-tiny — with eggs that were not flavorful.
So which morning pit stop will get you a tasty, nutritious egg sandwich?
Subway! Its Egg White and Cheese on Flatbread is the only sandwich Consumer Reports rated very good for taste. Testers found the egg whites flavorful and the toasted flatbread tender.
“It’s worth noting that, with all the sandwiches, the quality varied from location to location,” Gudeux said.
And, Consumer Reports says, don’t let your egg sandwich sit for long because as the sandwich cools, so does the taste.
Consumer Reports says a couple of moves can help make a fast-food breakfast sandwich more nutritious. Substitute egg whites for whole eggs when you can, or leave off the cheese or meat. Also if sandwiches come in different sizes, opt for the smaller one. That helps trim the calories, fat, and sodium, which can be real diet busters with these sandwiches.
