Americans are ordering this item as a side at McDonald's, and it's the best fast-food hack of 2016

The latest trend in fast-food: burgers with a side of McMuffin.

"Believe it or not, you may find some people order a lunch entree and ordering a Egg McMuffin sandwich as an add-on," said McDonald's CFO Kevin Ozan in a Tuesday conference hosted by Bank of America, reports Quartz.

As someone who has done exactly that, I believe it - and recommend it.

McDonald's breakfast offerings are the perfect companion to many of the chain's lunch and dinner dishes.

The classic McMuffin isn't going to provide a full lunch or dinner, but it is one of the most reliable items on the menu - far tastier, I would argue, than any McDonald's burger or grilled-chicken dish and healthier than any fried-chicken sandwich.

Ditching the Canadian bacon, the dish is actually one of the healthiest on the McDonald's menu, clocking in at 14 grams of protein and 280 calories.

While I realize that this may be a controversial opinion, I believe that McDonald's truly shines outside the burger category. Getting a little package of protein with the McMuffin frees you up to go wild with fries - McDonald's true star - a small serving of Chicken McNuggets, or shakes with less guilt and gastronomical struggles.

All-day breakfast additionally increases options for vegetarians trying to find something to order at the chain. Most of McDonald's protein options are meat-based, while a simple Egg McMuffin provides a new way to build a vegetarian meal.

Personally, in my week of vegetarianism, one of my best-structured meals was a McMuffin, hash brown, and Southwest salad from the chain.

And while we're on the topic of hash browns, let me take a moment to say that the inclusion of all-day breakfast in traditional lunches and dinners should not stop with the McMuffin.

McDonald's hash browns are a fantastic side substitute all day long. While they aren't packed with nutritional value, at 150 calories per serving, they're lower in calories than a small fries (230 calories) or mozzarella sticks (200 calories, pre-marinara sauce). McDonald's "healthy" sides are hit or miss, most hovering somewhere near "flavorless" on a good day. The hash brown hits a sweet spot between health and delicious fried potato.

Whether you're ordering a Big Mac with a hash brown or a Shamrock Shake with fries and a McMuffin, I encourage you to remember that meal-constraints are a mere social construct. All-day breakfast means not simply eating breakfast for dinner - it means eating dinner with a side of breakfast.