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Starbucks has added a new plant-based breakfast sandwich to their menu, called the Impossible™ Breakfast Sandwich. At stores nationwide, Starbucks is now offering this sandwich, which features plant-based sausage, a cage-free fried egg, and aged cheddar cheese on a ciabatta roll.
Although this plant-based breakfast option sounds like a healthy addition to Starbucks’ menu and a step in the right direction when it comes to sustainability, the nutrition facts of this particular breakfast sandwich could mean trouble for those trying to eat healthier.
Keep reading for all the details!
Michael Kobori, Starbucks' chief sustainability officer, explained the new menu item in a press release, , "We’re pleased to add the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich, made with Impossible plant-based sausage, to Starbucks menu in the U.S., to meet the growing customer-interest in plant-based options."
This addition to the Starbucks menu is part of a larger trend for the coffee chain, which is working to include more plant-based items on the menu. Kobori continued, "Over the years, in response to customer interest, we've added plant-based milk alternatives such as soy, coconut, almond, and oat milk."
Although the Impossible Breakfast sandwich is an exciting menu addition for any plant-based eaters and vegetarians, it is not the best addition to your diet--especially if you are hoping to lose weight.
Just because the Impossible sandwich is plant-based does not necessarily make it a healthy option.
According to Yahoo! Life, there's not a huge difference in terms of nutrition between the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich and Starbucks' classic sausage sandwich: "You'll only save about 50 calories: the new Impossible sandwich contains 430 calories, 830mg of sodium, and 8 grams of saturated fat, which is about 40% of how much you should be eating in a day."
There is a slight improvement in terms of protein, however. The Impossible sandwich has 22 grams of protein compared to the classic's 18 grams.
Stefani Sassos, MS, RDN, the Good Housekeeping Institute's registered dietitian, explained the nutrition facts of the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich to Yahoo! Life: "One sandwich is worth almost half a days' worth of saturated fat, not to mention over 800mg of sodium, so this isn't a heart-healthy breakfast."
That's not all. Sassos explains. "It packs in only 3 grams of fiber and the carbohydrates are all white and refined; plus, the cholesterol is 63% of your daily value."
Instead, Sassos recommends opting for Starbucks' spinach feta and cage-free egg white wrap: "It's under 300 calories, only has 3.5g of saturated fat, about 20mg of cholesterol, and 20g of protein."
This healthier option is also more diet-friendly, making it a much better alternative to starting your day compared to the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich.
