Healthier Homemade Big Mac w/pics!

sparkletangerine

YUM - I don't like fast food (generally) but I LOVE BIG MACS... I think they are addictive... so I am going to try this for sure... Friday night is going to be bigmac night...! Thanks for sharing!

lukesmama

It looks absolutly delicious my mouth is watering! Thanks for sharing

pereztech930

Looks good!

But am I reading this wrong? As far as cals, fat and carbs..this recipe isn't too much different from the original fast food version.

http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/getnutrition/nutritionfacts.pdf

Zoe2901

I was just about to say the same thing a big mac is 490 cals according to the uk website so your version is not less than that whats the point?

jtbaddison

I was just about to say the same thing a big mac is 490 cals according to the uk website so your version is not less than that whats the point?

^^^This^^^

jdelisle

The calories as compared to the original (in Canada and the US) are pretty par, but in my version you do save over 5 grams of fat compared to the orginal. The difference is that you are using fresh, real ingredients, not chemically altered "foods". McDonald's uses many harsh chemical additives in their beef as well as preservatives (even the onions are actually dehydrated and soaked in water overnight before being placed on your burger).

In the original post I stated if you want a lower calorie (as opposed to simply just healthier) omit the middle bun and use half the sauce and the calories will reduce by over 100.

You could also use leaner meat (mine is based on 10% lean). For example, a simple switch to 95% lean would save you almost another 100 calories per serving.

I actually only replicated the Big Mac "exactly" the first time, every time I have made it since I've only used a single bun/half the sauce whenever a craving strikes.

jdelisle

I just typed in the recipe and changed the beef to "95% lean" rather than "90% lean", no middle bun, and half the sauce and I come up with:

My version
Calories - 350 Fat - 16 Carbs - 20 Protein - 34 Iron - 40 Fibre - 3

McDonald's version (Canada)
Calories - 540 Fat - 29 Carbs - 44 Protein - 24 Iron - 35 Fibre - 3

Difference:
Calories - 190 Fat - 13 Carbs - 24 Protein - (10) Iron - (5) Fibre - 0

jdelisle

I added this into the database here and got well over 600 calories for the whole thing. Most of my products come from whole foods or trader joe's and to be honest alot of them i used the low fat version and I made this to serve 4 people instead of two (hence taking out the extra patty and bun bottom). Since I only allot mself 1200 a day that's pushing my calories a bit but it looks delishious. One day I will have to work my butt off at the gym so I can have one

My recipe actually serves 6, not 2, so that should cut your recipe's calories by 1/3 right there!

fireman300

wow..sounds great!

mrsfortune

I definitely have to try this! BUMP!

sare_sweetheart

bump!

sunkisses

Nicely done! I could get away with a bottom bun only, 1 patty, and sauce. The sauce is a big deal. Thanks for sharing!

Alexdur85

I added this into the database here and got well over 600 calories for the whole thing. Most of my products come from whole foods or trader joe's and to be honest alot of them i used the low fat version and I made this to serve 4 people instead of two (hence taking out the extra patty and bun bottom). Since I only allot mself 1200 a day that's pushing my calories a bit but it looks delishious. One day I will have to work my butt off at the gym so I can have one

My recipe actually serves 6, not 2, so that should cut your recipe's calories by 1/3 right there!

Ok. I didn't read the ingredients right. Thank you. Now it makes a whole lot more sense. Will have to add it back in and see the cals and see what day we will be having this lol

jdelisle

I added this into the database here and got well over 600 calories for the whole thing. Most of my products come from whole foods or trader joe's and to be honest alot of them i used the low fat version and I made this to serve 4 people instead of two (hence taking out the extra patty and bun bottom). Since I only allot mself 1200 a day that's pushing my calories a bit but it looks delishious. One day I will have to work my butt off at the gym so I can have one

My recipe actually serves 6, not 2, so that should cut your recipe's calories by 1/3 right there!

Ok. I didn't read the ingredients right. Thank you. Now it makes a whole lot more sense. Will have to add it back in and see the cals and see what day we will be having this lol

No problem! I can see why you were surprised at the calories, lol!

MommyLyssa

I think the best thing about this is that you dont have the nasty additives. I mean, I have the calories some days for McD's, but I feel ill if I eat anything! Thanks!

Meant to say I plan on doing a few modifications of my own A wheat bun, and some veggienaise instead of mayo. Don't think it will change the taste much at all! The rest you could substitute (spinach instead of lettuce, etc), but I mean- change it too much and you are just making a burger! Ha (Which is also delish, but won't help a craving at all

jdelisle

I think the best thing about this is that you dont have the nasty additives. I mean, I have the calories some days for McD's, but I feel ill if I eat anything! Thanks!

Meant to say I plan on doing a few modifications of my own A wheat bun, and some veggienaise instead of mayo. Don't think it will change the taste much at all! The rest you could substitute (spinach instead of lettuce, etc), but I mean- change it too much and you are just making a burger! Ha (Which is also delish, but won't help a craving at all

I know exactly what you mean about feeling ill when you eat McDonalds! After finally nailing down this recipe, I didn't go back for a really long time! The other day while travelling I grabbed a Big Mac, and thought it was the grossest thing ever! I will never go back to McDonald's again.

Rosbrook1985

bump

e_stone

bump

jdelisle

*

missmamselle

A big mac isn't something most people here at MFP eat regularly anyway. If I can and want to, I'll eat a real one. It's not he sort of thing I would make at home because it isn't a big calorie savings. Eating well 80% of the time is good enough. It won't harm you to have some additives infrequently. What's bad is when it's all the time.

jdelisle

A big mac isn't something most people here at MFP eat regularly anyway. If I can and want to, I'll eat a real one. It's not he sort of thing I would make at home because it isn't a big calorie savings. Eating well 80% of the time is good enough. It won't harm you to have some additives infrequently. What's bad is when it's all the time.

Sometimes it's not about calories, it's about putting healthier food into your body. I'd chose real meat and real vegetables over the chemicals that McDonalds serves any day. The onions they use on the Big Mac's aren't even fresh, they are re-hydrated after soaking in a bucket of water all night. YUM.

bethinagain

Just went to the link and saw the recipe......WOW! This is great! Can't wait to make it with a low fat bun, minus middle bun, fat free mayo and low fat cheese. Thanks for posting!

jdelisle

Enjoy!