We all know that fast food places aren’t the healthiest places to eat. We go there either because we’re in a hurry and need a quick meal, are looking for something cheap to grab, or even because the kids are just dieing for that special toy in the kid’s meal.
Here we’ll compare just a few of the more popular fast food restaurants’ nutritional values on the most popular meal choices. We’ll look at carbohydrates, calories and fat content. A comparison of a chicken item, fish item and a hamburger item will be compared. Meals will include the main course, a medium fry, and a medium Coke.
We’ll compare the three top fast food restaurants: McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s.
McDonald’s
Hamburger Meal
Let’s look at a simple hamburger meal. The single hamburger has 250 calories, 9 grams of fat and 31 grams of carbs. The fries add 380 calories, 20 grams of fat and 47 grams of carbs. Add in a Coke for 210 calories, 0 grams of fat, and 58 grams of carbs for a grand total of 840 calories, 29 grams of fat and 131 grams of carbs!
Double Quarter Pounder With Cheese
For those of you who are a bit hungrier, we’ll take a look a bigger burger meal. The values above will still apply as we are comparing medium sides and beverages. This sandwich comes to you with 740 calories, 42 grams of fat and 40 grams of carbs. The total for this meal: 1160 calories, 62 grams of fat and 129 grams of carbs. Wow.
Filet-O-Fish
Fish lovers, this one is for you. The Filet-O-Fish Sandwich comes with 380 calories, 18 grams of fat and 38 grams of carbs for a meal total of 970 calories, 38 grams of fat and 143 grams of carbs.
Premium Crispy Chicken Club Sandwich
This sandwich is packed full of 660 calories, 28 grams of fat and 63 grams of carbs for a meal total of: 1250 calories, 48 grams of fat and 168 carbs.
Burger King
Hamburger Meal
The hamburger has 290 calories, 12 grams of fat and 30 grams of carbohydrates. A medium fry has 360 calories, 20 grams of fat and 41 grams of carbs. The medium coke will have 200 calories, 0 grams of fat and 53 grams of carbs. The total for a Burger King Hamburger Meal is 850 calories, 32 grams of fat and 124 grams of carbs!
Double Whopper With Cheese
The burger has 990 calories, 64 grams of fat and 52 grams of carbs. The total for this meal with a medium fry and drink is 1550 calories, 84 grams of fat and 146 grams of carbs.
BK Big Fish
The BK Big Fish sandwich has 630 calories, 30 grams of fat and 67 grams of carbohydrates. Add this with the medium fries and coke and you’ve got a total of 1190 calories, 50 grams of fat and 161 grams of carbs.
Original Chicken Sandwich
This sandwich comes to you with 660 calories, 40 grams of fat and 52 grams of carbs for a meal total of 1220 calories, 60 grams of fat and 146 grams of carbs.
Wendy’s
Hamburger Meal
The Jr. Hamburger comes along with 230 calories, 8 grams of fat and 26 grams of carbs. The Wendy’s medium fry has 420 calories, 20 grams of fat and 53 grams of carbs. A medium Coke has 220 calories, 0 grams of fat and 60 grams of carbs for a grand total of 860 calories, 28 grams of fat and 138 grams of carbs.
1/4 Pound Deluxe Double Stack
This big burger has 410 calories, 22 grams of fat and 28 grams of carbs. The total for this meal ends up at 1040 calories, 42 grams of fat and 140 grams of carbs.
Fish Sandwich
With the Fish Sandwich, you’ll take in 440 calories, 23 grams of fat and 43 grams of carbs for a meal total of 1080 calories, 44 grams of fat and 155 grams of carbs.
Spicy Chicken Sandwich
This tasty treat is packed with 440 calories, 16 grams of fat and 46 grams of carbs giving a meal total of 1070 calories, 37 grams of fat and 158 grams of carbohydrates.
When you look at the numbers it can seem horrifying. If you’re simply craving fast food but want the one that is the least bad, it looks like they are all pretty much the same. But if you’re going for fewer calories in particular, the numbers are there. Fat content or carbohydrates may be more important to some and they can compare the results as well.
Better yet, why not make a salad or a healthy sandwich at home? Not only is it healthier for the body, but it’s cheaper as well! Although Value Meals are fairly cheap, they do add up!
