6 Ways To Make Burgers That Are Healthier Than Trump's Half Bun

Kristen Aiken
That's a portobello bun on that gorgeous burger. (Photo: Nom Nom Paleo)
That's a portobello bun on that gorgeous burger. (Photo: Nom Nom Paleo)

There are a ton of ways to make burgers healthier, but apparently no one has shared that information with our president.

According to Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump has made an effort to cut calories by eating his burgers with only half a bun. His burgers are, of course, still cooked his favorite way, well-done.

Though this is a slight improvement over the president’s fast-food-centric diet ― Trump’s typical McDonald’s order while on the campaign trail was two Big Macs, two Filet-o-Fish and a chocolate milkshake ― there are far more nutritious tweaks that can be made to a classic burger.

Cutting back on buns is a good first step. Bread, especially the white bread that most burger buns are made of, is made of simple carbohydrates that are quickly used by our body, causing our blood sugar and insulin levels to rise quickly. This leads to intense cravings later in the day and other negative health effects later in life, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

More nutritious results can be achieved by swapping the bun with leafy greens, which is now pretty common practice. But you can get creative and sandwich your burgers with other ingredients like nutrient-dense portobello mushrooms or sweet potatoes, or simply eat your burger patty with a big green salad.

But if you’re wholeheartedly trying to make a burger healthier, the first step is replacing the beef patty. A 2017 report concluded that the more red meat we eat, the greater our chances are of dying from one of eight diseases: cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke, diabetes, infections, kidney disease and liver disease.

Think about replacing your beef patty with proteins that contain less saturated fat. Wild-caught salmon is a great option, loaded with brain-boosting omega-3 fats and healthy protein. Or skip the meat altogether and go with a vegetarian option made from something like protein-rich quinoa or black beans.

Below, we’ve got five healthy bun swaps that’ll help you skip the carb-heavy buns: portobello buns, tomato buns, sweet potato buns, leafy green buns and no buns at all. A couple of the patties are made from beef, but the others are made from healthy alternatives like salmon and quinoa.

PORTOBELLO BUN: Big-O Bacon Burgers in a Portabello Bun

<strong>Get the <a href="https://nomnompaleo.com/post/107666997683/whole30-day-10-big-o-bacon-burgers-whole-foods" target="_blank">Big-O Bacon Burgers</a> recipe from NomNomPaleo</strong>
Get the Big-O Bacon Burgers recipe from NomNomPaleo

TOMATO BUN: Greek Quinoa Burgers

<strong>Get the <a href="https://www.thehealthymaven.com/2014/03/greek-quinoa-burgers.html" target="_blank">Greek Quinoa Burgers</a> recipe from The Healthy Maven</strong>
Get the Greek Quinoa Burgers recipe from The Healthy Maven

SWEET POTATO BUN: Pineapple-Stuffed Chorizo Burgers

<strong>Get the <a href="http://paleomg.com/pineapple-stuffed-chorizo-burgers/" target="_blank">Pineapple-Stuffed Chorizo Burgers</a> recipe from PaleOMG</strong>
Get the Pineapple-Stuffed Chorizo Burgers recipe from PaleOMG

LETTUCE BUN: Curried Salmon Burger Lettuce Wraps

<strong>Get the <a href="https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/curried-salmon-burger-lettuce-wraps-wcrispy-sweet-potato-straws-goat-cheese/" target="_blank">Curried Salmon Burger Lettuce Wraps</a> recipe from Half Baked Harvest</strong>

LETTUCE BUN: Middle Eastern Lamb Burgers

<strong>Get the <a href="https://notenoughcinnamon.com/middle-eastern-lamb-burgers/" target="_blank">Middle Eastern Lamb Burgers</a> recipe from Not Enough Cinnamon</strong>
Get the Middle Eastern Lamb Burgers recipe from Not Enough Cinnamon

LETTUCE BUN: Thai Peanut Salmon Burgers

<strong>Get the <a href="https://www.theleangreenbean.com/refreshed-thai-peanut-salmon-burgers/" target="_blank">Thai Peanut Salmon Burgers</a>&nbsp;recipe from The Lean Green Bean</strong>
Get the Thai Peanut Salmon Burgers recipe from The Lean Green Bean

LETTUCE BUN: Triple Protein Burgers

<strong>Get the&nbsp;<a href="http://paleomg.com/4th-of-july-triple-protein-burgers/" target="_blank">Triple Protein Burgers</a> recipe from PaleOMG</strong>
Get the Triple Protein Burgers recipe from PaleOMG

LETTUCE BUN: Avocado Bean Burgers

<strong>Get the <a href="https://www.hummusapien.com/avocado-bean-burgers/" target="_blank">Avocado Bean Burgers</a> recipe from Hummusapien</strong>
Get the Avocado Bean Burgers recipe from Hummusapien

NO BUN, NO BEEF: Kale and Broccoli Salmon Burgers

<strong>Get the <a href="https://www.hummusapien.com/kale-and-broccoli-salmon-burgers/" target="_blank">Kale and Broccoli Salmon Burgers</a> recipe from Hummasapien</strong>
Get the Kale and Broccoli Salmon Burgers recipe from Hummasapien

NO BUN, NO BEEF: Yummy Salmon Burgers With Slaw

<strong>Get the <a href="https://pinchofyum.com/yummy-salmon-burgers-slaw" target="_blank">Yummy Salmon Burgers With Slaw</a> recipe from Pinch Of Yum</strong>
Get the Yummy Salmon Burgers With Slaw recipe from Pinch Of Yum

Related Coverage

America Really Wants Veggie Burgers At In-N-Out

McDonald's Is Testing Out A Vegan Burger

Trump Changed His Burger Order To Make It A Little Healthier

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The Ultimate Wild Rice Burgers

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Easy Grillable Veggie Burgers

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Cauliflower Sweet Potato Burgers

<strong>Get the <a href="https://feedmephoebe.com/cauliflower-sweet-potato-burgers-avocado-sriracha-aioli-vegetarian-paleo/" target="_blank">Cauliflower Sweet Potato Burgers</a> recipe from Feed Me Phoebe</strong>
Get the Cauliflower Sweet Potato Burgers recipe from Feed Me Phoebe

Smoky BBQ Black Bean Burger

<strong>Get the<a href="https://minimalistbaker.com/smoky-bbq-black-bean-burger/" target="_blank"> Smoky BBQ Black Bean Burger</a> recipe from Minimalist Baker</strong>
Get the Smoky BBQ Black Bean Burger recipe from Minimalist Baker

Portobello Mushroom Burger with Avocado Chimichurri

<strong>Get the <a href="https://www.foodiecrush.com/portobello-mushroom-burger/" target="_blank">Portobello Mushroom Burger</a> recipe from Foodie Crush</strong>
Get the Portobello Mushroom Burger recipe from Foodie Crush

Smoky Black Bean Beet Burgers

<strong>Get the <a href="https://minimalistbaker.com/smoky-black-bean-beet-burgers/" target="_blank">Smoky Black Bean Beet Burgers</a> recipe from Minimalist Baker</strong>
Get the Smoky Black Bean Beet Burgers recipe from Minimalist Baker

Spicy Cauliflower Burgers

<strong>Get the <a href="https://pinchofyum.com/spicy-cauliflower-burgers" target="_blank">Spicy Cauliflower Burgers</a> recipe from Pinch of Yum</strong>
Get the Spicy Cauliflower Burgers recipe from Pinch of Yum

Thai Veggie Burgers With Peanut Sauce

<strong>Get the <a href="http://www.annies-eats.com/2014/03/03/thai-veggie-burgers-with-peanut-sauce/" target="_blank">Thai Veggie Burgers with Peanut Sauce recipe </a>from Annie's Eats</strong>
Get the Thai Veggie Burgers with Peanut Sauce recipe from Annie's Eats

Black Bean And Quinoa Veggie Burgers

<strong>Get the <a href="http://food52.com/recipes/19635-black-bean-and-quinoa-veggie-burgers" target="_blank">Black Bean and Quinoa Veggie Burgers recipe</a> from Sonali aka the Foodie Physician via Food52</strong>

BBQ Cheddar Chickpea Burgers

Get the <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/03/bbq-cheddar-chickpea-burgers/" target="_blank">BBQ Cheddar Chickpea Burgers recipe</a> from How Sweet It Is
Get the BBQ Cheddar Chickpea Burgers recipe from How Sweet It Is

Crispy Autumn Veg Burgers With Apple Cider Slaw

<strong>Get the <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2013/10/crispy-autumn-veg-burgers-with-apple-cider-slaw/" target="_blank">Crispy Autumn Veg Burgers with Apple Cider Slaw recipe</a> from How Sweet It Is</strong>

Roasted Red Pepper Quinoa Burgers

<strong>Get the <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2013/03/roasted-red-pepper-quinoa-white-bean-burgers/" target="_blank">Roasted Red Pepper Quinoa Burgers recipe </a>from How Sweet It Is </strong> Of course, leave off the bacon if you're a vegetarian.

Smoky Sweet Potato Burgers With Roasted Garlic Cream

<strong>Get the <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/09/smoky-sweet-potato-burgers-with-roasted-garlic-cream-and-avocado/" target="_blank">Smoky Sweet Potato Burgers with Roasted Garlic Cream and Avocado recipe</a> from How Sweet It Is</strong>

Beet Burgers

<strong>Get the <a href="http://www.macheesmo.com/2010/08/the-beet-burger/" target="_blank">Beet Burgers recipe</a> from Macheesmo</strong>
Get the Beet Burgers recipe from Macheesmo

Veggie Masala Burgers With Cilantro Chutney Aioli

<strong>Get the <a href="http://food52.com/recipes/20511-veggie-masala-burgers-with-cilantro-chutney-aioli" target="_blank">Veggie Masala Burgers with Cilantro Chutney Aioli recipe</a> from Madhuri Sharma via Food52</strong>

Bean Burgers With Grilled Corn, Pesto + Heirloom Tomatoes

<strong>Get the <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2013/09/end-of-summer-bean-burgers-with-grilled-corn-pesto/" target="_blank">Bean Burgers with Grilled Corn, Pesto + Heirloom Tomatoes recipe </a>from How Sweet It Is</strong>

Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burgers

<strong>Get the <a href="https://feedmephoebe.com/grilled-portobello-mushroom-burger-recipe/" target="_blank">Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burgers</a> recipe from Feed Me Phoebe</strong>
Get the Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burgers recipe from Feed Me Phoebe

Gluten-Free White Bean Zucchini Burgers

<strong>Get the <a href="https://feedmephoebe.com/gluten-free-white-bean-zucchini-burgers/" target="_blank">Gluten-Free White Bean Zucchini Burgers </a>recipe from Feed Me Phoebe</strong>
Get the Gluten-Free White Bean Zucchini Burgers recipe from Feed Me Phoebe

Sun-Dried Tomato Chickpea Burgers

<strong>Get the <a href="https://minimalistbaker.com/sun-dried-tomato-chickpea-burgers/" target="_blank">Sun-Dried Tomato Chickpea Burgers</a> recipe from Minimalist Baker</strong>
Get the Sun-Dried Tomato Chickpea Burgers recipe from Minimalist Baker

Really Good Veggie Burgers (Vegan and Gluten Free)

<strong>Get the <a href="https://umamigirl.com/really-good-veggie-burgers-vegan-gluten-free/" target="_blank">Really Good Veggie Burgers</a> recipe from Umami Girl</strong>
Get the Really Good Veggie Burgers recipe from Umami Girl

Sweet Potato Black Bean Burger

<strong>Get the <a href="https://minimalistbaker.com/sweet-potato-black-bean-burger/" target="_blank">Sweet Potato Black Bean Burger </a>recipe from Minimalist Baker</strong>
Get the Sweet Potato Black Bean Burger recipe from Minimalist Baker

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