Ultimate Breakfast Tier List

Every Fast Food Breakfast ItemRanked

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"My body is completely confused," my friend Rachel said as she sat down in my office. "I had dinner for breakfast."

She'd tried one of Taco Bell's new Croissant Tacos, which are available in limited release in certain outlets in Ohiopart of Taco Bell's ongoing all-day breakfast menu experiment. They're competing head-to-head with McDonald's in the battle to make bacon and eggs a 24-hour affair.

As someone who grew up with an overworked mom who occasionally served "breakfast for dinner," I know the appeal of bacon and eggs at the end of a long day. And it seems to be working: Taco Bell registered about 20 percent more visits in the week following its all-day breakfast launch, while Mickey D's visits increased by 9 percent, according to an analysis by Foursquare.

But which of these breakfasts will start your dayor your afternoon or your eveningoff right? Our team at Eat This, Not That! magazine took every fast food breakfast into our food lab and uncovered the ingredients. And if you want to stay at home and cook, grab a copy ofZero Belly Breakfaststo get over 100 healthy breakfast ideas that help you lose weight and stay slim.

BK was the first chain to go after McDonald's crown, and they did so the old-fashioned way: by going bigger, greasier and Croissan'wich-ier. First, let's examine the least healthy menu items, ranked from worst to absolute worst.

430 calories, 23 g fat (15 g saturated, 0.5 trans), 1,630 mg sodium, 6 g sugar, 18 g protein

There's a reason this classic is on every fast food breakfast menuit tastes good. There's also a reason why you shouldn't eat too many: It tastes good because of the salt. Burger King's version has a full day's worth, thanks to biscuit soaked in it. Click here to discover how salt plays a role in the top reason you can't lose belly fat!

430 calories, 26 g fat (8 g saturated, 0 trans), 1,140 mg sodium, 3 g sugar, 20 g protein

Let's play a drinking game: Every time you see a sausage at in a Burger King, you have to swallow a full shot of salt. Each one is made of pork, salt, sugars and MSG, which increases appetite by blocking the message to the brain that you've eaten your fill. In fact, one group of researchers found that giving laboratory rats MSG increased their food intake by a whopping 40 percent!

440 calories, 27 g fat (16 g saturated, 0.5 trans), 1,490 mg sodium, 4 g sugar, 16 g protein

"Rise and shine with our Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit," crows Burger King. Then be prepared to fall right back asleep. The little sandwich features a full day's worth of sodium, thanks to the bacon and eggs, and the biscuit is full of trans-fatty palm oil and corn syrup. As a result, it has less calories than the same sandwich at McDonald's, but more sodium and sugar, and less protein.

500 calories, 33 g fat (12 g saturated), 930 mg sodium, 5 g sugar, 19 g protein

Remember what we said about this same sandwich when it was on a muffin? This one has 7 grams more fat thanks to the croissant. BK's signature morning roll may taste "buttery" but it's actually made with 32 ingredients, including white flour, margarine, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, artificial butter flavors and azodicarbonamide, the additive famously found in yoga mats. It's new name: The Croissan't.

540 calories, 36 g fat (19 g saturated, 0.5 g trans), 1,480 mg sodium, 4 g sugar, 20 g protein

You ever notice how fast food joints make as many meals as possible from the same ingredients? In this case, sausage, egg and cheese pair up (again), this time inside a biscuit, for yet another full's day's worth of saltand more fat than the Croissan'wich. Instead, balance salt and protein perfectly with these soups that burn fat!

570 calories, 38 g fat (16 g saturated), 1,330 mg sodium, 5 g sugar, 23 g protein

When was the last time you could say your breakfast was worse than a Big Mac? Order one of these and you'll have your chance. Compared to the King Croissan'Wich with Sausage & Bacon, a Big Mac has 7 less calories, 5 grams less fat (and 8 grams less saturated fat), 300 grams less sodium and three greams more belly-filling protein.

590 calories, 23 g fat (6 g saturated), 960 mg sodium, 36 g sugar, 13 g protein

You'd have to eat three and a half bowls of Frosted Flakes to equal the sugar count in these pancakesand top it with a Jimmy Dean sausage and a half to equal the fat and sodium. If you need something sweet before work, indulge in a French Toast stick and walk away. Got a sweet tooth? Indulge instead in these best chocolates for weight loss!

600 calories, 39 g fat (15 g saturated, 0.5 trans), 1,580 mg sodium, 7 g sugar, 27 g protein

"Twice the Satisfaction" for twice the fat, as this mouthful combines ham and sausage into one sandwich. Our tip: replace em both with bacon and save 10 g of fat.

640 calories, 42 g fat (16 g saturated), 1,740 mg sodium, 7 g sugar, 17 g protein

Loaded questions, loaded weapons, getting loadedthe word never leads to good things. Take this "fully loaded" disaster, which wedges three kinds of pork (ham, sausage, bacon) into some eggs and cheese, sandwiched between a croissant. Also hidden inside: More than a day's worth of sodium! That's as much as you'll find in 64 Rold Gold pretzels! Speaking of which, don't miss this list of the foods that aren't worth the calories!

680 calories, 48 g fat (19 saturated fat, .5 trans), 1,390 mg sodium, 5 g sugar, 27 g protein

If this were Game of Thrones, the King Croissan'Wich would be King Richard (spoiler alert: he doesn't make it past season one). Thanks to the two sausages, it has more fat than another other 'Wich on the menu. In general, avoid items with the word double in them, especially before 9am.

1,130 calories, 55 g fat (12 g saturated), 2,380 mg sodium, 38 g sugar, 27 g protein

Take the worst of BK's breakfast itemshash browns, a sausage, thee syrupy pancakes, a biscuit and eggsand put them all on one plate, and a new king is crowned: The Worst Breakfast at Burger King. Eat this, and you'll consume a day and a half's worth of sodium before work. Just be grateful it's not a Croissan'Platter. Skip it, and instead got for these healthiest fast food orders.

420 calories, 27 g fat (15 g saturated, 0.5 g trans), 1,090 mg sodium, 3 g sugar, 13 g protein

The two fattiest, saltiest items on the BK morning menu team up to make the least-best breakfast on the menu. Put that in the ad campaign.

380 calories, 23 g fat (9 g saturated, 0 g trans), 1,130 mg sodium, 2 g sugar, 17 g protein

It kills us to call a dish with more than 1,000 mg of sodium a best anything, but at Burger King, where every day's a sausage fest, that counts of OK.

390 calories, 20 g fat (8 g saturated, 0 g trans), 1,080 mg sodium, 7 g sugar, 17 g protein

Another sandwich that has ¾ a day's worth of sodium, this one gets a #6 spot simply becausehey, at least it doesn't have sausage. Instead, why not tryat least once a weekone of these best foods for muscle definition.

Per 3 pieces: 230 calories, 11 g fat (2 g saturated), 260 mg sodium, 8 g sugar, 3 g protein
A breakfast without at least 10 grams of protein is like The Last Witch Hunter or a MySpace relaunch: Just, why? But at least the sugar count is relatively low for a serving of three. Up it to 5 and you have 11 grams of sugar and 49 g of carbs, for a piddling 5 g of protein.

*370 calories, 21 g fat (9 g saturated), 770 mg sodium, 6 g sugar, 13 g protein

The Golden Rule the Golden Archesand here at BKis: Avoid the breakfast meats, except for bacon, which usually has less sodium than sausage or ham. Here, it adds a salty kick to the plan egg and cheese, and an extra 2 grams of muscle-building protein.

330 calories, 18 g fat (8 g saturated), 620 mg sodium, 5 g sugar, 11 g protein

The classic Egg and Cheese is the way to go any any breakfast joint.

170 calories, 19 fat (1.5 g saturated), 260 mg sodium, 12 g sugar, 4 g protein

Slow to digest and full of belly-filling fiber, oatmeal is one of the best breakfast on the planet. And while Eat This, Not That! normally advises against sugared varieties, this Quaker bowl is the lesser of many evils at Burger King. (Although you can make it yourself at home, in seconds, for just pennies a dayuse these overnight oat recipes.)

290 calories, 17 g fat (7 g saturated, 0g trans), 740 mg sodium, 1 g sugar, 14 g protein

It's ironic that America was shocked when Taco Bell started offering breakfastwhen in fact, the most famous breakfast at Burger King is one associated with "south of the border." By replacing a "buttery" croissant, trans-fatty biscuit and or marginal English muffin with a tortilla wrap, this sausage-and-egg delivery system cuts calories in half, and keep the sodium count decent. Bonus points for white onions and peppers. Believe it or not, they're the only vegetables on the BK morning menu! (And speaking of veggies, when you're in the produce aisleor any aislesave cash, money and calories thanks to these best supermarket shopping tips to lose weight!

With sodium counts nearly all over 1,000 mgnearly half a day's worthevery breakfast item at Hardee's or Carl's Jr is a Not That! Here they are, in order from least-worst to worst-worst.

Per small Hash Rounds: 260 calories, 15 g fat (3 g saturated), 320 mg sodium, 1 g sugar, 2 g protein
Per Biscuit: 340 calories, 15 g fat (3.5 g saturated), 680 mg sodium, 26 g sugar, 3 g protein

Nutritionally void, both the Hash Rounds and the Biscuit feel like leftovers from a bad 1980's school cafeteria. But even you in your Z Cavariccis would turn them down: A large Hash Rounds has 510 calories, more than the Loaded Omelet Biscuit!

450 calories, 19 g fat (8 g saturated), 1,570 mg sodium, 5 g sugar, 24 g protein

San Franciscans love their sourdough. But true San Franciscans wouldn't toast it in salty, buttery-flavored oil, and wedge fatty ham inside. (It took you 5 seconds to read this blurb. Now read how to lose weight in 5 seconds!)

460 calories, 26 g fat (7 g saturated), 1,390 mg sodium, 2 g sugar, 9 g protein

Photo. Look at the photo. This plate of bread and hot sausage gravy has more calories than a Quarter Pounder with Cheese!

480 calories, 27 g fat (9 g saturated), 1,350 mg sodium, 3 g sugar, 19 g protein

The fat count is high here because the Hardee's biscuit is made with liquid margarine, along with the gooey cheese and bacon.

490 calories, 28 g fat (10 g saturated), 1,310 mg sodium, 3 g sugar, 18 g protein

Just because they've crumbled up the sausage, ham, bacon and cheese doesn't mean it's any less bad for youespecially when it's in between a biscuit. This sandwich has more fat than two servings of Pop Secret butter-flavored popcorn! Just don't pair it with any of these 36 Top Diet SodasRanked!

510 calories, 27 g fat (9 g saturated), 1,430 mg sodium, 3 g sugar, 28 g protein

You don't have to have a Food Lab to determine where the fat and salt come from here. Then again, if you're eating a pork chop from Hardee's for breakfast, perhaps you don't care.

With Sausage: 560 calories, 31 g fat (12 g saturated), 1,140 mg sodium, 16 g sugar, 21 g protein
With Bacon: 390 calories, 14 g fat (6 g saturated), 880 mg sodium, 16 g sugar, 17 g protein
With Ham: 400 calories, 14 g fat (6 g saturated), 1,130 mg sodium, 16 g sugar, 20 g protein

Take one Big Mac. Add half a bag of Skittles. Consume for breakfast. That's what you'd be doing if you eat the Sausage version of this dessert-for-breakfast. If you gotta do it, do it with bacon.

560 calories, 37 g fat (12 g saturated), 1,230 mg sodium, 3 g sugar, 17 g protein

The sausage party continues. RSVP in the negative. But if you think this is bad, wait until you see the Top 3 Worst! Keep reading!

580 calories, 30 g fat (12 g saturated), 1,320 mg sodium, 2 g sugar, 30 g protein

Oh, that poor tortilla wrap. It's got to be hurting, stuffed with eggs, sausage, ham, bacon bits, hash brown nuggets, two types of cheese and salsa! And people think Taco Bell's breakfast is gross.

730 calories, 49 g fat (18 g saturated), 2,190 mg sodium, 3 g sugar, 31 g protein

"It starts with bacon," is usually a sentence we can get behind, but then this sandwich adds a sausage patty, folded egg, ham slices and cheese into a fatty biscuit. The result is a monster indeed, with a day and a half's worth of sodium!!!

830 calories, 50 g fat (13 g saturated), 2,160 mg sodium, 4 g sugar, 24 g protein

If you saw that sausage with gravy earlier and thought, This needs an egg, bacon and hash browns, then congrats: You've just invented the Worst Breakfast at Hardee's. You're also craving something that has nearly a full stick of margarine's worth of fat.

The Bell has a reputation for committing serious dietary sins: They invented the "taco waffle," almost single-handedly making morning the most nutritionally hazardous time of day. And then they tried to sell us on the idea that we needed a "fourth meal," as if we hadn't gained enough weight from the first three. Here, we concentrate on their morning meals, and try to find the best of the worst.

"Taco Bell breakfast" is sort of like "Fritos Pizza." It's an inherently bad idea, proven by the insane products the Bell brought out in its attempt to start charging you money earlier and earlier. Generally, we're fans of the Belljust limit yourself to lunch and dinner, and keep the wee hours sacred.

370 calories, 23 g fat (10 g saturated), 650 mg sodium, 29 g carbs, <1 g fiber, 7 g sugars, 11 g protein

Surprisingly, adding sausage to the Biscuit Taco cuts 60 calories and 5 grams of fat.

430 calories, 28 g fat (11 g saturated), 740 mg sodium, 30 g carbs, <1 g fiber, 7 g sugars, 14 g protein

The Biscuit Taco is heavy on the fat and skimpy on size. And with 7 grams of processed sugar, it won't take long for blood sugar levels to take a dive, leading to mid-morning cravings.

490 calories, 28 g fat (11 g saturated), 1090 mg sodium, 37 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 3 g sugars, 23 g protein

A BLT burrito sounds pretty boss (we admit it), until you consider the saturated fat content. At least it has a hefty 26 grams of protein and provides 35% of your DV for calcium.

630 calories, 30 g fat (8 g saturated), 1460 mg sodium, 65 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 4 g sugars, 26 g protein

The highest in sodium and carbs. If you want to uncover that six pack, steer clear.

630 calories, 38 g fat (11 g saturated), 1400 mg sodium, 52 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 3 g sugars, 21 g protein

Taco Bell's first Crunchwrap includes cheddar, egg, hash browns and guacamole. Refrain from asking for extra. You're already consuming as much fat as one-and-a-quarter Big Macs.

660 calories, 41 g fat (13 g saturated), 1290 mg sodium, 54 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 5 g sugars, 21 g protein

The country version of the A.M. Crunchwrap adds gravy and substitutes a sausage patty for the bacon. The first three ingredients are bleached enriched wheat flour, whey and modified corn starch.

670 calories, 42 g fat (12 g saturated), 1300 mg sodium, 51 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 21 g protein

Fried potatoes topped with creamy jalapeno cheese and cheddarit's no shock that the Crunchwrap is by far the worst breakfast option. Consuming a full day's allowance of sodium and saturated fat at breakfast is the worst possible way to start your day. Avoid these even on cheat daysand start losing weight for pennies a day thanks to these best foods for abs under $1.

440 calories, 23 g fat (7 g saturated), 930 mg sodium, 45 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 5 g sugars, 14 g protein

Gravy, crispy potato bites, a sausage patty and empty processed carbs. Yum?

400 calories, 22 g fat (7 g saturated), 790 mg sodium, 37 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 3 g sugars, 13 g protein

Just an egg, "nacho cheese sauce," and a sausage patty inside a soft flour tortilla. If this sounds appetizing to you, take comfort in the fact that it's 400 calories.

230 calories, 14 g fat (5 g saturated), 590 mg sodium, 15 g carbs, <1 g fiber, 1 g sugars, 12 g protein

The best-of-the-worst of Taco Bell's breakfast lineup has the lowest saturated fat and sugar content. Small victory: It contains cheddar cheese, not a cheese sauce. And to blast even more belly fat, start your morning with tea. A study published in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism showed that white tea can simultaneously boost lipolysis (the breakdown of fat) and block adipogenesis (the formation of fat cells). The tea's combination of caffeine and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) seems to set fat cells up for defeat.

in McDonaldLand, a chicken sandwich can pack twice as many calories as a double hamburger, and a salad can deliver more sodium than a Big Mac. Fortunately, their breakfasts are a little easier to read, although you won't guess which shocker is the worst.

Sausage Biscuit: 430 calories, 27 g fat (12 g saturated), 1,080 mg sodium, 34 g carbs, 11 g protein
Sausage McMuffin with Egg: 450 calories, 28 g fat (10 g saturated fat), 860 mg sodium, 30 g carbs, 21 g protein

Imagine putting five Jimmy Dean Fully Cooked Original Pork Sausage Links between a big ol' slab of greasy bread, and holding the whole shebang. Because that's the saturated fat equivalent you're getting with this Biscuit and that is no way to lose belly fat. At least the McMuffin has 10 more grams of protein (yet is still a bit high in calories).

For the Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddles: 460 calories, 21 g fat (9 g saturated), 1,250 mg sodium, 48 g carbs, 19 g protein
For the Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit: 460 calories, 26 g fat (13 g saturated), 1,300 mg sodium, 38 g carbs, 19 g protein

It doesn't matter if it's wrapped between a pancake or a biscuit, the ooey, gooey goodness of a bacon, egg and cheese ain't good for you. The McGriddle features more than half a day's sodium and nearly half a day's saturated fatthat's as much saturated fat as 117 Funyuns! Meanwhile, the Biscuit has 83% of the day's cholesterol, or as much as you'd find in 28 slices of baconand also more than a half day's of sodium. You'll need a drink after all that saltjust don't make it a Coke. Learn more about the health benefits of giving up soda.

460 calories, 19 g fat (9 g saturated), 370 mg sodium, 66 g carbs, 6 g protein

Mickey D's calls this "the best part of a cinnamon roll" but it's the worst thing for your waistline. You want to start each day with belly-filling protein, not a bowl full of cake topped with cream cheese icing. The Cinnamon Melts have 32 grams of sugar, far more than a Hershey's Milk Chocolate bar.

510 calories, 33 g fat (14 g saturated), 1,170 mg sodium, 36 g carbs, 18 g protein

Like the sandwiches above, these have way too much sodium (half a day's) and almost three-quarters of your daily allowance of saturated fat. Unless you're getting your McDonald's sausage from a burrito, run. Looking for a breakfast that will help you lose weight? Try one of these best breakfast foods for weight loss.

520 calories, 24 g fat (7 g saturated), 930 mg sodium, 61 g carbs, 15 g protein

Sugary bread and salty meat? You probably thought this would be #1. And with as many carbs as four slices of white bread, it could be, especially if you add the whipped margarine and hotcake syrup. Then you're looking at 740 calories and 106 g carbs, which is the carb equivalent of nearly seven slices of white bread. And yet there is one meal even worse coming up next. (Rather than eat either, stay home and whip up one of the quick 5-minute breakfasts among the 150+ weight-loss recipes in the Zero Belly Cookbook, based on the New York Times-bestselling Zero Belly Diet!)

670 calories, 35 g fat (13 g saturated, 1.5 trans fat) 1,510 mg sodium, 56 g carbs, 33 g protein

Like most of the sandwiches here, the Steak, Egg & Cheese Bagel has more than half a day's fatbut more sodium than the rest. In fact, it has as much sodium as 16 Chicken McNuggets! Start your day instead with our top pickthe Egg McMuffinand a cup of warm tea. It worked for Tracy Durst, age 45, of Lewistown, PA, when she bought our Tea Diet book. "I went from a size 20 to a size 16, and I'm alive with energy," she told Eat This, Not That! For the complete planwhich includes delicious weight-loss smoothiesclick on The 7-Day Flat-Belly Tea Diet and Cleanse!

150 calories, 2 g fat (1 g saturated), 80 mg sodium, 30 g carbs, 4 g protein

Not really a full meal as much as a grab-and-go starter, this relatively new addition to McDonald's menu does what it's meant to do: offer a light and lively choice on a menu otherwise devoted to bacon and eggs. "With 4 grams of protein, it's a good snack," says Gina Consalvo, MA, RD, LDN, emphasis on snack. And if you're looking to make your own at home, turbocharge your fat burn with one of these best yogurts for weight loss!

300 calories, 16 g fat (7 g saturated), 790 mg sodium, 26 g carbs, 12 g protein

Unlike the Mexican mierda you'll find at Taco Bellhome of the "Biscuit Taco"McDonald's spin on the breakfast burrito won't have you running for the border (or the bathroom). Theirs is made with peppers, onions, eggs, sausage and cheese all wrapped in a soft tortilla, and it contains 15% of your day's calcium, which is about what you'll find in a Greek yogurt (albeit with far more sodium).

290 calories, 4 g fat (1.5 g saturated), 160 mg sodium, 58 g carbs, 5 g protein

"If you feel that you're low on energy and McDonald's is your only bet, try getting the fruit and maple oatmealjust skip the calorie-laden brown sugar, cream, raisins and Craisins," advises Jim White, RD, ACSM HFS, owner of Jim White Fitness and Nutrition Studios. "This will most likely curb your appetite until your next meal because the carbohydrates will take longer to digest than your typical high-sugar donut or pastry." We agree.

250 calories, 8 g fat (3 g saturated), 770 mg sodium, 30 g carbs, 18 g protein

Made with grilled egg whites, white cheddar and extra-lean Canadian bacon on a muffin made with eight grams of whole grain, this is McDonald's living up to its own marketing hype. It's healthy, tastes fresh and only misses out on #1 because of a technicality. Order one. Then brush up and the best and worst breakfast sandwiches out there.

300 calories, 13 g fat (5 g saturated), 750 mg sodium, 31 g carbs, 17 g protein

Yup, the classic. "Not only do I eat guilt-free at McDonald's," says Christine M. Palumbo, MBA, RDN, FAND, a Chicago area registered dietitian and nutrition communications consultant, "I think they get a bad rap all too often." She recommends a staple Eat This, Not That! has approved for yearsmore so now that they're being made with real butter, in some locations: "When I'm flying in the morning, I typically get an Egg McMuffin and a coffee," she says. "The sandwich only has 300 calories and it offers 17 grams of satiety-providing protein." And it beats the Egg White Delight because.? "I stick with the whole egg sandwich because the yolk contains carotenoids, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals," says Palumbo. Eggs also boast choline, a potent flab-fryer, which is why eggs are one of our 14 Ways to Lose Your Belly in 14 Days!

1,130 calories, 55 g fat (12 g saturated), 2,380 mg sodium, 38 g sugar, 27 g protein

With 50% more calories than McDonald's or Taco Bell's worst nightmaresand 300 more than Hardee's monster breakfastthe BK Ultimate Breakfast Platter is the Ultimate something alright. Thanks for reading Eat This, Not That's ultimate list of Every Fast Food BreakfastRanked. To discover more of the best and worst, click here to see every menu item at McDonald'sranked!