Gotta Beef With the Obesity Report? Celebrate National Cheeseburger Day

Americans love cheeseburgers, evidenced by the number of burger joints in communities big and small. Tuesday is National Cheeseburger Day and what better excuse to bite into a juicy burger topped with American, cheddar or Swiss.

To celebrate National Cheeseburger Day, here are some fun facts to bite into:

• Huge cheeseburger: The largest cheeseburger ever made in the world weighed in at a whopping 777 pounds. Created June 2, 2011 at the Alameda County Fair in California by Juicy's, the giant burger also featured 50 pounds of cheese. The bun alone weighed in at 272 pounds. Fairgoers were able to purchase 99-cent portions of the estimated 1.375 million calorie burger to eat. Complete coverage of the event (including pictures) can be found here.
• Unique options: As we settle into fall weather, it's a great time to fire up the grill. Thirty new cheeseburger ideas like the "The Johnny Appleseed," which features aged Wisconsin cheddar, maple bacon, sauteed apples, whole grain mustard and red onions on sourdough, can be found here. But you don't have to eat meat to celebrate National Cheeseburger Day. If you want to make your own patties, here is a "Best of Everything" veggie burger recipe.
• A musical touch: The popular Jimmy Buffett song "Cheeseburger in Paradise" was inspired by a boat trip Buffett took. Hampered by bad weather and tired of the canned food and peanut butter stocked aboard, Buffett found himself continually craving a cheeseburger. When the boat finally docked on the island of Tortola, Buffett was able to order the cheeseburger he had been fantasizing about. Buffett fans who want a list of his top 10 places to get a cheeseburger should go here.
• Mayor McCheese? Anyone remember Mayor McCheese? The giant cartoon cheeseburger served as the bumbling mayor of McDonaldland from 1971-1985. A lawsuit against McDonalds over the character's resemblance to H.R. Pufnstuf was settled in 1977.

There are plenty of local options for a cheeseburger, check out Muskego Patch's restaurant directory, or stop at a local grocery store to grab some meat and grill your own.

And while you're enjoying that cheeseburger — keep moderation in mind. A recent study released on the same day we're honoring the sandwich of song says that Wisconsin is heading for a 56 percent adult obesity rate in 2030. Pass the ketchup!