Follow These 9 Tips to Save Hundreds of Calories on Your Next Burger

Veggie burgers are usually around 150 calories a patty — a ground beef patty is just over 300. Go for ones found in the freezer like Dr Praeger's California Veggie Burgers, or if you want something that looks, smells, and cooks like beef, go for a Beyond Beef Beast Burger that offers 23 grams of plant-based protein. Want to make your own? Try these recipes:

If you can't go veggie, but you want to forgo the red meat, try this lighter, greener baked turkey burger made with spinach and scallions.

Just because a patty is traditionally served on a bun, doesn't mean you have to eat it that way. Go open-faced and ditch half the bun or ditch the bun altogether. Or try your hand at one of these low-carb veggie buns — the sweet potato looks amazing!

Save on saturated fat, cholesterol, and calories by added a few slices of fiber-rich avocado instead of 113-calories-a-slice cheddar cheese. One-quarter of an avocado is 80 calories.

For a juicy, meaty "burger" that's super easy to make, and saves on saturated fat and cholesterol, grill up some marinated portobello mushrooms to serve in between your buns.

Ditch the mayo to save on saturated fat and cholesterol by adding sliced avocado, guacamole, or this avocado-Greek yogurt spread instead. One tablespoon of mayo is 90 calories and one-quarter of an avocado is 80 calories and offers 3.4 grams of fiber to help prevent burger belly bloat.

Skip the bun to save on carbs and calories, and enjoy a cut-up patty (like this Hilary's veggie burger made with quinoa) in a bowl of salad or on top of a bed of grilled peppers, mushrooms, and onions.

If you love the sweetness ketchup adds to your burger, it's because storebought ketchup contains the sugar. One tablespoon is 20 calories and 4 grams of sugar. On the other hand, one slice of tomato is just four calories. It may not seem like much of a difference, but those calories add up over time.

It's not like you go to barbecues every day of the week, so go ahead and indulge in a burger however you like it, bun, three slices of cheese, and bacon in all. Just slice it down the middle and share it with a friend to cut your calories in half.