Big Mac vs. Whopper

I can't escape my cravings. I'll admit, I am challenged on a regular basis by the intoxicating smells of the a fire grill from Burger King or the occasion waft of french fries from McDonalds. I had a writing assignment for a composition class I'm taking and here's what I came up with.

Big Mac vs. Whopper

They're a guilty pleasure filled with massive amounts of gratuitous calories and fat, but they've evolved into American icons. I'm talking about McDonald's Big Mac and Burger King's Whopper hamburgers. Both burgers provide a quick and convenient source of nourishment but in reality, how different are they? From the inside out, we'll highlight some of the nutritional, physical, and yes, even the emotional allure of both of these All-American favorites.

For many, it was indeed love at first bite. From the moment you peeled back the wrapper of your first McDonald's Big Mac, the smell drew you in closer. The steam rolling from beneath the alternate layers of beef and bun brings your salivary glands to a frenzied froth. Greeting you next were sesame seeds. They were like little granules of gold. Slowly and methodically, your teeth sink lower into the cavernous confection of, "two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions." But like most mechanics like to do, let's see what's under the hood of our first burger contender, McDonald's Big Mac, and see what this "baby's" made of. An astounding 540 calories, 30 grams of fat, 80 mg of cholesterol and 47 grams of carbohydrates, this former McDonald Land character, Chief of Police, should be locked up and the key thrown away. What would "Big Mac" be guilty of? Tasting just too darn good to resist. He's guilty as charged! It would take an average sized man running 5 mph for 45 minutes to burn all the calories "locked up" in this sandwich. Is it worth it? Millions of people everyday would sing in mighty McChorus the praises of this legendary burger as McDonald's is number 108 in the list of Fortune 500 companies.

Now before you jump to conclusions about who packs the greatest punch in the "burger-hood" you might want to step into the kingdom of Burger King's Whopper. His majesty's sandwich is far from dainty and at first glance appears colossal in size when compared to the Chief of Police in McDonald Land! Dimensionally speaking, the exterior of the Whopper is wider and so too are the subsequent ingredients between His Majesty's buns, metaphorically speaking of course. Not to be out done, the Whopper greets its guest with a similar array of sesame seeds but as the diner's teeth sink into the toasted bun the similarities cease to exist. Fire grilled, not fried, mayo, not a "special sauce," coupled with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, ketchup, and a slice of onion, all coagulate in your taste buds to supply you with a unique culinary experience. A peak under the king's hood, again metaphorically, will reveal a considerable difference in nutritional values that may come as a surprise to even His Majesty's most loyal subjects. With a "whopping" 670 calories, 39 grams of fat, 51 mg of cholesterol, and 51 grams of carbohydrates, it may just be time to declare anarchy in the land of big beef. Physically superior in weight, the Whopper is 10 oz. vs. McDonald's 7.8 oz. Where does Burger King compare to McDonald's number 108 on the list of Fortune 500 Companies? Burger King's crown tips much lower on the list at number 842.

All similarities and differences aside, what this comparison really boils down to is personal preference and taste. Both burgers provide for a nostalgic visit to our past. A visit to either restaurant brings with it a flood of childhood memories of simpler days when calorie and fat content didn't matter. You just ate what tasted good. Unfortunately, that legacy has caught up to us and we owe it to ourselves to not forget the Big Mac and Whopper completely, but rather, on occasion "relish" in the flavor of either. Whether you pay homage to the Burger King or get your buns locked up by Chief of Police, Big Mac, no one can fault you for a visit down memory lane. I will say I think the King decreed it best, "Have it your way!"