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  6. Cereal vs. Fast food

Cereal vs. Fast food — In-Depth Nutrition Comparison

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A recap on differences between Cereal and Fast food

  • Cereal is higher in Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, Iron, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin A RAE, Zinc, and Vitamin C, yet Fast food is higher in Selenium.
  • Cereal covers your daily Vitamin B1 needs 498% more than Fast food.
  • The amount of Saturated Fat in Cereal is lower.

Food varieties used in this article are Cereals ready-to-eat, USDA Commodity Corn and Rice (includes all commodity brands) and Fast foods, hamburger; single, regular patty; plain.

Infographic

Cereal vs Fast food infographic
Infographic link

Mineral Comparison

Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
Cereal
Cereal
4
:
6
Fast food
Fast food
Contains more Iron +1013.1%
Contains more Zinc +201.6%
Contains more Copper +13.2%
Contains more Manganese +121.3%
Contains more Calcium +520%
Contains more Magnesium +42.1%
Contains more Phosphorus +74%
Contains more Potassium +87.6%
Contains less Sodium -58.4%
Contains more Selenium +222.2%
Cereal
Calcium Iron Magnesium Phosphorus Potassium Sodium Zinc Copper Manganese Selenium 3% 1278% 14% 33% 10% 104% 208% 46% 104% 35%
Fast food
Calcium Iron Magnesium Phosphorus Potassium Sodium Zinc Copper Manganese Selenium 19% 115% 20% 58% 18% 44% 69% 41% 47% 111%
Contains more Iron +1013.1%
Contains more Zinc +201.6%
Contains more Copper +13.2%
Contains more Manganese +121.3%
Contains more Calcium +520%
Contains more Magnesium +42.1%
Contains more Phosphorus +74%
Contains more Potassium +87.6%
Contains less Sodium -58.4%
Contains more Selenium +222.2%

Vitamin Comparison

Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
Cereal
Cereal
6
:
6
Fast food
Fast food
Contains more Vitamin A +5374.5%
Contains more Vitamin C +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B1 +1883.6%
Contains more Vitamin B2 +966.1%
Contains more Vitamin B3 +427.3%
Contains more Vitamin B6 +2723.6%
Contains more Vitamin E +375%
Contains more Vitamin B5 +134.5%
Contains more Vitamin K +∞%
Cereal
Vitamin A Vitamin E Vitamin D Vitamin C Vitamin B1 Vitamin B2 Vitamin B3 Vitamin B5 Vitamin B6 Folate Vitamin B12 Vitamin K 168% 2% 0% 129% 1572% 894% 556% 14% 1382% 0% 0% 0%
Fast food
Vitamin A Vitamin E Vitamin D Vitamin C Vitamin B1 Vitamin B2 Vitamin B3 Vitamin B5 Vitamin B6 Folate Vitamin B12 Vitamin K 4% 8% 3% 0% 80% 84% 106% 32% 49% 60% 112% 13%
Contains more Vitamin A +5374.5%
Contains more Vitamin C +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B1 +1883.6%
Contains more Vitamin B2 +966.1%
Contains more Vitamin B3 +427.3%
Contains more Vitamin B6 +2723.6%
Contains more Vitamin E +375%
Contains more Vitamin B5 +134.5%
Contains more Vitamin K +∞%

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
Cereal
Cereal
2
:
3
Fast food
Fast food
Contains more Carbs +175.7%
Contains more Other +46.7%
Contains more Protein +172.6%
Contains more Fats +1012%
Contains more Water +917.2%
Cereal
6% 87% 4% 2%
Protein: 6.06 g
Fats: 1.08 g
Carbs: 86.85 g
Water: 3.78 g
Other: 2.23 g
Fast food
17% 12% 32% 38%
Protein: 16.52 g
Fats: 12.01 g
Carbs: 31.5 g
Water: 38.45 g
Other: 1.52 g
Contains more Carbs +175.7%
Contains more Other +46.7%
Contains more Protein +172.6%
Contains more Fats +1012%
Contains more Water +917.2%

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
Cereal
Cereal
1
:
2
Fast food
Fast food
Contains less Saturated Fat -94.2%
Contains more Monounsaturated Fat +2270.1%
Contains more Polyunsaturated fat +374.6%
Cereal
32% 25% 43%
Saturated Fat: 0.26 g
Monounsaturated Fat: 0.204 g
Polyunsaturated fat: 0.354 g
Fast food
41% 44% 15%
Saturated Fat: 4.493 g
Monounsaturated Fat: 4.835 g
Polyunsaturated fat: 1.68 g
Contains less Saturated Fat -94.2%
Contains more Monounsaturated Fat +2270.1%
Contains more Polyunsaturated fat +374.6%

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
Cereal
Cereal
1
:
4
Fast food
Fast food
Contains more Sucrose +∞%
Contains more Starch +∞%
Contains more Glucose +659.3%
Contains more Fructose +773.1%
Contains more Maltose +533.3%
Cereal
94% 3% 3%
Starch: 0 g
Sucrose: 9.74 g
Glucose: 0.27 g
Fructose: 0.26 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0.09 g
Galactose: 0 g
Fast food
82% 7% 8% 2%
Starch: 22.87 g
Sucrose: 0 g
Glucose: 2.05 g
Fructose: 2.27 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0.57 g
Galactose: 0 g
Contains more Sucrose +∞%
Contains more Starch +∞%
Contains more Glucose +659.3%
Contains more Fructose +773.1%
Contains more Maltose +533.3%

Comparison summary table

Pay attention to the rightmost column. It displays the amounts side by side, giving a clearer understanding of the difference.
Cereal Fast food
Lower in Sugar ok
Lower in Sodium ok
Lower in Glycemic Index ok
Lower in Cholesterol ok
Lower in Saturated Fat ok
Lower in price Equal
Rich in minerals Equal
Rich in vitamins Equal

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient Cereal Fast food Opinion
Net carbs 85.45g 29.8g Cereal
Protein 6.06g 16.52g Fast food
Fats 1.08g 12.01g Fast food
Carbs 86.85g 31.5g Cereal
Calories 378kcal 297kcal Cereal
Starch 22.87g Fast food
Fructose 0.26g 2.27g Fast food
Sugar 10.35g 4.88g Fast food
Fiber 1.4g 1.7g Fast food
Calcium 10mg 62mg Fast food
Iron 34.06mg 3.06mg Cereal
Magnesium 19mg 27mg Fast food
Phosphorus 77mg 134mg Fast food
Potassium 105mg 197mg Fast food
Sodium 795mg 331mg Fast food
Zinc 7.6mg 2.52mg Cereal
Copper 0.137mg 0.121mg Cereal
Manganese 0.79mg 0.357mg Cereal
Selenium 6.3µg 20.3µg Fast food
Vitamin A 2792IU 51IU Cereal
Vitamin A RAE 814µg 9µg Cereal
Vitamin E 0.08mg 0.38mg Fast food
Vitamin D 2IU Fast food
Vitamin D 0.1µg Fast food
Vitamin C 38.5mg 0mg Cereal
Vitamin B1 6.288mg 0.317mg Cereal
Vitamin B2 3.87mg 0.363mg Cereal
Vitamin B3 29.62mg 5.617mg Cereal
Vitamin B5 0.226mg 0.53mg Fast food
Vitamin B6 5.986mg 0.212mg Cereal
Folate 80µg Fast food
Vitamin B12 0.89µg Fast food
Vitamin K 0µg 4.9µg Fast food
Tryptophan 0.066mg 0.144mg Fast food
Threonine 0.241mg 0.46mg Fast food
Isoleucine 0.26mg 0.642mg Fast food
Leucine 0.767mg 1.13mg Fast food
Lysine 0.113mg 0.785mg Fast food
Methionine 0.13mg 0.306mg Fast food
Phenylalanine 0.365mg 0.67mg Fast food
Valine 0.344mg 0.728mg Fast food
Histidine 0.162mg 0.402mg Fast food
Cholesterol 33mg Cereal
Trans Fat 0.514g Cereal
Saturated Fat 0.26g 4.493g Cereal
Omega-3 - DHA 0g 0.001g Fast food
Omega-3 - EPA 0g 0.005g Fast food
Omega-3 - DPA 0g 0.009g Fast food
Monounsaturated Fat 0.204g 4.835g Fast food
Polyunsaturated fat 0.354g 1.68g Fast food
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0g 0.003g Fast food
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 1.391g Fast food
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.004g Fast food
Omega-3 - ALA 0.121g Fast food
Omega-6 - Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid 0.009g Fast food

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
Cereal Fast food
Low Fats diet ok
Low Carbs diet ok
Low Calories diet ok
Low Glycemic Index diet ok

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Vitamins & Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score

The summary scores indicate the extent to which this food can fulfill your daily vitamin and mineral requirements if you consume 3 servings, consisting of 100 grams of each (an approximation of 3 serving sizes).
Vitamins Daily Need Coverage Score
393%
Cereal
46%
Fast food
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
183%
Cereal
54%
Fast food

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Sugar?
Fast food
Fast food is lower in Sugar (difference - 5.47g)
Which food contains less Sodium?
Fast food
Fast food contains less Sodium (difference - 464mg)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
Fast food
Fast food is lower in glycemic index (difference - 3)
Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
Cereal
Cereal is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 33mg)
Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
Cereal
Cereal is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 4.233g)
Which food is cheaper?
?
The foods are relatively equal in price ($)
Which food is richer in minerals?
?
It cannot be stated which food is richer in vitamins. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information.
Which food is richer in vitamins?
?
It cannot be stated which food is richer in vitamins. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information.

References

All the values for which the sources are not specified explicitly are taken from FDA’s Food Central. The exact link to the food presented on this page can be found below.

  1. Fast food - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170693/nutrients

All the Daily Values are presented for males aged 31-50, for 2000-calorie diets.

Data provided by FoodStruct.com should be considered and used as information only. Please consult your physician before beginning any diet.