Worst Chain Breakfast Diet-Busters & Satisfying Swaps

Posted Wed, Jun 25, 2008, 12:23 pm PDT

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Hungry Girl is here with the 411 on some flab-inducing breakfasts, and recipe swaps that slash calories and fat FAST!

Attack of the 1,210-Calorie Veggie Omelette!

At IHOP, you might think ordering the spinach and mushroom omelette is a good idea -- but this egg disaster has a shocking 1,210 calories (eeeks!). Instead, try HG's Ginormous Oven-Baked Omelette -- you can have a giant piece of our protein-packed omelette for just 140 calories and 3g fat! An added bonus? You can make it the night before and then simply heat 'n' eat in the AM!

79-Grams-of-Fat French Toast!

Even if you're DYING for French toast, avoid Denny's Fabulous French Toast Platter at all costs. This freaky breakfast plate will cost you 1,261 calories and 79g fat! Instead of feasting on this diet dud, try HG's Cinnamonlicious French Toast. It has just 170 calories and 1g fat. And if you crave the sausage links and bacon slices this platter comes with, go for Morningstar Farms' Sausage Links (2 links = 80 calories and 3g fat) and Jennie-O's Extra Lean Turkey Bacon (2 slices = 40 calories and 1g fat). Then finish it off with sugar-free pancake syrup!

Morning Muffin Mayhem!

McDonald's regular Egg McMuffin has 300 calories and 12g fat. For a tiny little muffin? And if you slip up and order the one with sausage, you'll be gobbling up 450 calories and 27g fat. YIKES!! Try HG's Egga Muffin instead, for only 165 calories and 1.5g fat.

600-Calorie B-Fast Sandwich Alert!

Subway may be known for its low-fat sub menu, but think twice before grabbing the sandwich chain's 6-inch Chipotle Steak and Cheese Breakfast Omelet Sandwich. That meaty monstrosity has 600 calories and 32 grams of fat! If you wanna go Southwestern, you'd be way better off with HG's Bueno Breakfast Burrito, with only 170 calories and 5g fat.

Slam Don't! (Denny's 1,040-Calorie Dud!)

So you're starving ... and you order up Denny's Lumberjack Slam with hash browns. (The thing already includes pancakes, ham, bacon, sausage, AND eggs!) How can we say this politely -- BAD IDEA!!! This massive morning mistake is loaded with 1,040 calories and 53g fat! If you crave a little bit of everything, why not whip up our Super Duper Veggie Scramble (only 150 calories and 5g fat), HG's Very Blueberry Pancakes (201 calories and 2g fat), and our Butternut Hash Browns (85 calories and 1g fat)? ALL of that would cost you only 436 calories and 8g fat -- that's less than HALF the calories and EIGHTY FIVE percent less fat than Denny's Lumberjack disaster!

Hungry For More?

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974 Comments

1. Posted by GrammarGirl95 on Wed, Jun 25, 2008, 10:11 pm PDT

Yikes! That's scary about the veggie omelette. I like the recipe switch-outs. It would have been nice to have some restaurant options too.
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2. Posted by cchelsey6 on Thu, Jun 26, 2008, 6:54 am PDT

I'll have to try HG's recipes they look yummy!!
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3. Posted by rjlucio on Thu, Jun 26, 2008, 9:19 am PDT

TC needs to not read HG if all they are going to do is criticize that the food is processed. I think anyone who diets knows to eat whole foods, and they are pretty simplistic; I dont really think a food review is needed for a bell pepper or an apple. HG is simply lower fat/calorie substitutes for some of the foods that many people eat. If you don't like it, don't read it.
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4. Posted by jezusisafundie on Thu, Jun 26, 2008, 9:32 am PDT

300 calories for breakfast isn't terrible and the 600 one from subway is fine provided you are having an active day (meaning physical activities). If we're using the 2000 calories a day count you should have 1700 calories to go until sleep. So 850 to spare for lunch and dinner, which is pretty reasonable. Plus if you're not a paralyzed neck down you can burn off the 300 from breakfast by spending an hour at the gym.
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5. Posted by wes18_21 on Thu, Jun 26, 2008, 9:59 am PDT

HG, sorry, but I see now that the dissenters are right. Please start suggesting actual food, instead of processed box food made by either you or your sponsors. Your articles alway's seem to carry an undertone of you wanted to sell something, like a door-to-door salesman (or woman in this case.) Anyway, just because I disagree, does not mean I can't wish you a good day. So have a good day!
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6. Posted by madampolo5 on Thu, Jun 26, 2008, 8:19 pm PDT

There is nothing better than Denny's Lumberjack grand slam breakfast!! I say order it if you want and enjoy every single bite of it. Whatever you do, don't listen to these "health" nuts. If you do, you'll just die without having enjoyed yourself, and you will die no matter what you do.
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7. Posted by beachgal_blonde on Fri, Jun 27, 2008, 3:52 am PDT

Thanks for the update - the alternatives look easy and certainly better for you.
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8. Posted by slowandeasywego on Sat, Jun 28, 2008, 11:59 am PDT

To madampolo5---Yes we are all going to die, but living healthy is the best way to go.
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9. Posted by jackmehoff69@ymail.com on Sat, Jun 28, 2008, 11:07 pm PDT

HOW DO YOU DIE HEALTHY?
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10. Posted by saraneuman on Sat, Jun 28, 2008, 11:14 pm PDT

I agree with wes18_21. I think I could have a lot more respect for HG if all the blogs weren't simply plugging products that are...well, processed box food.
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11. Posted by Susan M on Sun, Jun 29, 2008, 8:27 am PDT

They don't like Denney's Lumberjack slam, so I guess they would not like the Texas Scramble. I am not sure if any restaraunt sales this anymore but it sure is good and you can't eat all. The Texas Scramble is as follows. At least 2 large biscuts covered with the following Scramble eggs that are scrambled in at least sausage,ham,bacon, and any other meat you might want and then hashbrowns included in the scramble. A large amount of hashbrowns that is. You can put any vegatable you would like in the scramble also. You pour all of the scramble on top of the at least two biscuts. Cover it all with cream gravy and then top the cream gravy with a mix of shredded cheeses. You get very full and it sure is good. Probably not real healthy
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12. Posted by skiouting on Sun, Jun 29, 2008, 3:21 pm PDT

I READ MOST OF THE ARTICLE WONDERING WHAT HG WAS. THE ONLY THING THAT WAS OBVIOUS WAS THAT YOU WERE PLUGGING HG RECIPES (i.e., HG'S BOOK)
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13. Posted by Mrs. McGyver on Mon, Jun 30, 2008, 8:09 am PDT

Well, of course HG is plugging HG's products! Perhaps sales are a source of revenue to maintain this online feature... HG plugs their products just like Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, & Nutra Systems do -- what's wrong with that? Haven't many of us already purchased numerous diet/low fat/healthy eating books? I personally appreciate reading about any alternatives to the fat-laden offerings saturating our culture making our familes unhealthy and obese, which is why I read the Hungry Girl articles in the first place. But, I wonder why blog contributing proponents of fat-rich meals are reading the HG column in the first place? Better they read about life after a stroke or the benefits of early funeral planning. So, either buy the HG book or don't buy it. HG's mention of their recipes doesn't offend me in the least -- in fact, I expect it. Their column is informative and entertaining, but I don't live my life around it. Like anything else in life, I absorb what I choose and discard the rest. I might just stop by a book store and thumb through their book, or I might buy it fonline and forego a week's of Starbucks... why criticize something you've (maybe) never seen?
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14. Posted by smc1232@sbcglobal.net on Mon, Jun 30, 2008, 6:27 pm PDT

I think HG is trying to do a good thing by helping others see the colorie count and fat grams in many of our foods but try to suggest other healthy foods without everything being about HG foods. Most everyone wants to be healthy so watch what you eat. Most doctors will recommend weightwatchers because it is the most healthy and cost effective. You can eat what you want. Even an ocassional I Hop breakfast. Have fun and enjoy life.
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15. Posted by Angie on Tue, Jul 01, 2008, 4:20 pm PDT

As with most diets or healthy eating, I find a lack of meat. Husband is a vegetarian and thats fine but I love my meat. Now,thanks for the hi cal reading on several breakfasts, but pls tell us what we can order out that is good for us and does not destroy a complete day of calories.
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16. Posted by bethanylozeau on Tue, Jul 01, 2008, 9:58 pm PDT

Oh goodness. To everyone concerned about dying form artificial food coloring or high fructose corn syrup: Have you forgotten that you have a liver and kidneys and a body full of amazing organs that sort out the undesirables and shoot them out the other end? I've seen people poisen themselves with a lot worse than hydrogenated oils and live a very long time. Don't throw stones. This may not be for you. There are other websites out there that are up your alley.
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17. Posted by tystang1967 on Wed, Jul 02, 2008, 7:10 am PDT

I can't seem to get the recipes to pop up. All I get is a blank screen. :(
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18. Posted by Becca B on Wed, Jul 02, 2008, 8:17 am PDT

HG has to be specific about brands because there are calorie and fat counts depending on it. Some brands are better than others for these things. Don't blame her for being specific. If she wasn't, these same people would be complaining about that, too.
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19. Posted by fridajones001 on Thu, Jul 03, 2008, 5:39 am PDT

How about equal comparisons? Obviously food prepared at home is healthier and lower in calories... give us the information on what to order on the menu that is better! Occasionally, eating out is your only option (like when your fridge is broken and the new one can't be delivered for a week...) so what would be the better choice if you must eat out?
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20. Posted by Paul Tupelo on Thu, Jul 03, 2008, 7:46 am PDT

i guess it's still safe to get the sandwich from dunkin donuts since it's not on the list :-)
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21. Posted by cant tell! on Thu, Jul 03, 2008, 7:47 am PDT

how about eat what you want and just not eat like a cow. i live on pizza and work out and have a 6 pack. plus im over 40
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22. Posted by Gummybear on Thu, Jul 03, 2008, 7:48 am PDT

The HG recipes actually look really good! I will have to try them. It is actually gross when you think about how many calories those meals out are. EW!
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23. Posted by Jesse S on Thu, Jul 03, 2008, 7:48 am PDT

as i opened my internet i saw "Belt Busting Breakfasts" the irony was that i was eating a Sausage Biscuit From McDonalds, this ad made me almost want to put it down..
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24. Posted by Tori on Thu, Jul 03, 2008, 7:49 am PDT

MMMM, French Toast platter.
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25. Posted by Snoopy/Mushy on Thu, Jul 03, 2008, 7:49 am PDT

Shameless plug for advertising HG stuff, but it's terrifying to think that one meal at a couple of those places is nearly or as much as I eat in an entire day. :/
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26. Posted by brandondeweese on Thu, Jul 03, 2008, 7:49 am PDT

Order the egg McMuffin w/o cheese...save fat and calories.
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27. Posted by Sue on Thu, Jul 03, 2008, 7:49 am PDT

Sounds like someone is trying to sell a recipie book instead of an honest opinion. That, and try to convince people that meat is bad, noticing HG's not a fan of sausage.
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28. Posted by Ran on Thu, Jul 03, 2008, 7:50 am PDT

thanks for helping in the fight to keep us disgusting humans healthy~! :o)
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29. Posted by monica w on Thu, Jul 03, 2008, 7:50 am PDT

so basically this is just an advertisement for HG.....
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30. Posted by Reaper King on Thu, Jul 03, 2008, 7:50 am PDT

I see no mention of Burger Kings delicious breakfast menu. I know those have to artery clogging so I'd like to know how much.
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