Introduction
Dog Haus is a California-based chain of fast casual restaurants specializing in gourmet hot dogs, sausages, burgers, plant-based proteins, and beer halls. The restaurants were founded in 2010 by partners Hagop Giragossian, André Vener and Quasim Riaz. As of 2022, Dog Haus had over 50 locations across 15 states.
One of Dog Haus’ signature menu items is the Hangover Burrito, which is a large burrito packed with sausage, bacon, french fries, scrambled eggs, cheese, and Haus sauce. With its indulgent combination of meats, carbs, cheese and rich sauces, the Hangover Burrito aims to satisfy customers looking for a hearty, decadent meal.
Calorie Count
The Hangover Burrito from Dog Haus contains a total of 1,120 calories. According to the nutrition information on Dog Haus’ website (https://doghaus.com/nutrition/), the burrito comes in at 1,120 calories for the whole burrito. This calorie count is based on the standard burrito recipe with eggs, potatoes, cheese, sausage, bacon, and sausage gravy inside a large flour tortilla.
To break it down further, a single Hangover Burrito contains about 560 calories from fat, 480 calories from carbohydrates, and 80 calories from protein. With the high amounts of fat, carbs, and protein packed into one burrito, it’s easy to see why the total calorie count ends up so high.
Ingredients
The main ingredients in the Dog Haus Hangover Burrito that contribute to its high calorie count include:
- Eggs – The burrito contains a scrambled egg, which adds 70 calories and 5 grams of fat.
- Sausage – It contains a smoked beef sausage patty and bacon strips, contributing 220 calories and 16 grams of fat.
- Cheese – Cheese like cheddar and pepper jack add 110 calories and 9 grams of fat.
- Potatoes – The burrito has crispy hash browns inside, which provide an additional 220 calories and 12 grams of fat.
- Sauces – The spicy queso and chimichurri sauces add creaminess plus 50 calories and 5 grams of fat.
- Tortilla – The large flour tortilla wraps everything together and packs in 300 calories and 10 grams of fat.
In total, these calorie-dense ingredients create a very filling but heavy burrito.
Portion Size
The average Dog Haus burrito weighs around 1 pound and contains approximately 1,000 calories. This large serving size is 2-3 times bigger than recommended portion sizes and contributes significantly to the high calorie count.
Typical portion sizes for a main entree are around 300-500 calories. However, restaurants have dramatically increased portion sizes over the past few decades. Oversized portions lead customers to consume more calories than they realize or need. Research shows that people eat more when served larger portions.
Reducing the portion size of the burrito to around 1/2 pound would cut the calorie count to approximately 500 calories. This more reasonable portion provides sufficient nutrition without overindulging. Customers can still enjoy the taste of an indulgent burrito but consume a more appropriate number of calories.
Comparison to Similar Items
The Dog Haus Hangover Burrito contains approximately 1,530 calories according to the nutrition information on their website (https://www.doghaus.com/nutritional-calculator). This makes it one of the highest-calorie burgers and burritos available at major fast food chains.
For comparison, here are some other high-calorie burgers and burritos:
- Wendy’s Loaded Nacho Triple Cheeseburger – 1,530 calories (https://www.eatthis.com/fast-food-burgers-over-1000-calories/)
- McDonald’s Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese – 770 calories
- Burger King Quad Stacker – 1,150 calories
- Taco Bell XXL Grilled Stuft Burrito – 870 calories (https://www.insider.com/highest-calorie-things-to-order-at-fast-food-places-2018-7)
As you can see, the Dog Haus Hangover Burrito has one of the highest calorie counts compared to similar menu items at other major fast food chains. Consuming this burrito in one sitting would pack a huge caloric punch.
Contribution of Individual Ingredients
The main ingredients that contribute calories in a Dog Haus Hangover Burrito are the tortilla, eggs, cheese, potatoes, and meat. Here is a breakdown of the calories from each ingredient:
Tortilla: A single 10-inch flour tortilla typically contains around 200 calories, with the majority coming from carbohydrates.
Eggs: One large egg contains about 70-80 calories, with about 5 grams of fat.
Cheese: An ounce of cheese like cheddar or Monterey jack can provide around 110 calories, the majority coming from fat.
Potatoes: A 6 oz potato contains around 160 calories, mostly from carbohydrates.
Meat: A 4 oz serving of ground beef can provide around 200 calories, with a high amount of fat and protein.
When combined in a large burrito, these calorie-dense ingredients can lead to a very high total calorie count, often over 1,000 calories for the entire burrito.
Health Impact
Consuming high calorie foods like the Dog Haus Hangover Burrito on a regular basis can have negative health impacts. Eating an excessive amount of calories regularly can lead to weight gain and obesity over time. Obesity is associated with many health risks like heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers (Firth et al., 2020).
Additionally, regularly eating foods high in saturated fat like those found in the burrito can raise LDL cholesterol levels which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (FEAST-ED.org). The sodium content (over 2000mg) is also very high and can contribute to high blood pressure and associated health risks when consumed regularly.
However, for some people with medical conditions causing rapid weight loss like cancer or eating disorders, the high calories may be appropriate as part of a treatment plan (FEAST-ED.org). For healthy individuals though, regular overconsumption of calorie-dense foods like the Dog Haus burrito can negatively impact health over time.
Tips for Healthier Options
The Dog Haus Hangover Burrito contains a lot of calories, so here are some tips for how to make a healthier version:
- Use a whole wheat tortilla instead of a flour tortilla – whole wheat has more fiber and nutrients.
- Load up on veggies like lettuce, tomatoes, onions, peppers – they provide volume and nutrients without a lot of calories.
- Use less fatty meats like grilled chicken or shrimp instead of bacon or sausage.
- Go easy on the cheese and sour cream – they add a lot of calories. Use just a sprinkle.
- Choose black beans, pinto beans or vegetarian crumbles instead of refried beans made with lard.
- Ask for light spread or no spread instead of regular spread on the tortilla.
- Opt for salsa, pico de gallo, or guacamole instead of queso.
- Skip the fried onion strings and opt for freshly chopped onions.
Making some simple swaps for lower calorie ingredients can reduce the calorie count substantially while still giving you great burrito flavor.
Nutrition Information Accuracy
Restaurant chain calorie counts are not always as accurate as you might think. Since there’s natural variation in portion sizes and ingredients from batch to batch, it can be difficult for restaurants to determine exact calorie counts. According to a Consumer Reports study, items can contain up to 18% more calories than stated on menus. Restaurants typically estimate calorie counts by working with nutritionists to determine standard recipes and average serving sizes.
While calorie counts won’t be perfect, they do provide a general guideline. Keep in mind that the number of calories listed for the Dog Haus Hangover Burrito is an estimate. The actual calorie count could be slightly higher or lower depending on that day’s prep. Overall, published calorie counts give consumers more information to make informed choices.
Conclusion
The Dog Haus Hangover Burrito contains a significant number of calories, with over 1,000 calories coming just from the tortilla, cheese, and bacon. While ocassionally enjoying indulgent foods is fine, consumers should be mindful of portion sizes. Splitting this burrito or selecting healthier ingredients like grilled chicken and fresh vegetables can reduce the calorie count. Overall, be aware of ingredients that pack a heavy caloric punch like cheese and fatty meats. Moderation and balance are key for an overall healthy diet.