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Chicken McNuggets vs. McDonald's french fries — In-Depth Nutrition Comparison

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What are the differences between chicken McNuggets and mcDonald's french fries?

  • Chicken McNuggets are higher in vitamin B3, phosphorus, vitamin B5, vitamin B2, and polyunsaturated fat; however, mcDonald's french fries are richer in potassium and copper.
  • Chicken McNuggets' daily need coverage for vitamin B3 is 26% more.
  • McDonald's french fries contain 3 times less sodium than chicken McNuggets. Chicken McNuggets contain 566mg of sodium, while mcDonald's french fries contain 189mg.
  • Chicken McNuggets have a lower glycemic index (46) than mcDonald's french fries (70).

We used McDONALD'S, Chicken McNUGGETS and McDONALD'S, french fries types in this article.

Infographic

Chicken McNuggets vs McDonald's french fries infographic
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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.
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 17% 3.3% 22% 33% 16% 16% 117% 74% 18% 0%
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 26% 5.7% 53% 30% 38% 14% 54% 25% 32% 2.2%
Contains more IronIron +11.3%
Contains more ZincZinc +15.7%
Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus +114.2%
Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +54.2%
Contains more CalciumCalcium +72.7%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium +136.5%
Contains more CopperCopper +132.7%
Contains less SodiumSodium -66.6%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +77.9%

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.
Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 4% 0% 0% 0% 40% 25% 139% 53% 92% 41% 0% 0% 0%
Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 19% 0% 28% 0% 45% 8.5% 60% 35% 88% 0% 40% 0% 22%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +197.3%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +129.8%
Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5 +49.2%
Contains more Vitamin B12Vitamin B12 +∞%
Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +366.7%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +12.5%
~equal in Vitamin A ~0µg
~equal in Vitamin D ~µg
~equal in Vitamin B6 ~0.38mg
~equal in Folate ~µg

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
16% 20% 15% 47% 2%
Protein: 15.79 g
Fats: 19.81 g
Carbs: 15.09 g
Water: 47.13 g
Other: 2.18 g
3% 15% 43% 37% 2%
Protein: 3.41 g
Fats: 15.47 g
Carbs: 42.58 g
Water: 36.63 g
Other: 1.91 g
Contains more ProteinProtein +363%
Contains more FatsFats +28.1%
Contains more WaterWater +28.7%
Contains more OtherOther +14.1%
Contains more CarbsCarbs +182.2%

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
19% 48% 33%
Saturated fat: Sat. Fat 3.261 g
Monounsaturated fat: Mono. Fat 8.134 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 5.61 g
16% 51% 33%
Saturated fat: Sat. Fat 2.271 g
Monounsaturated fat: Mono. Fat 7.379 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 4.727 g
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +18.7%
Contains less Sat. FatSaturated fat -30.4%
~equal in Monounsaturated fat ~7.379g

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
100%
Starch: 0 g
Sucrose: 0.08 g
Glucose: 0 g
Fructose: 0 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0 g
Galactose: 0 g
99%
Starch: 38.23 g
Sucrose: 0.21 g
Glucose: 0 g
Fructose: 0 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0 g
Galactose: 0 g
Contains more StarchStarch +∞%
Contains more SucroseSucrose +162.5%
~equal in Glucose ~0g
~equal in Fructose ~0g
~equal in Lactose ~0g
~equal in Maltose ~0g
~equal in Galactose ~0g

Comparison summary table

Pay attention to the rightmost column. It displays the amounts side by side, giving a clearer understanding of the difference.
Chicken McNuggets McDonald's french fries
Lower in Cholesterol ok
Lower in Sodium ok
Lower in Saturated fat ok
Lower in Sugar ok
Lower in Glycemic Index ok
Lower in price Equal
Rich in minerals Equal
Rich in vitamins Equal

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient Chicken McNuggets McDonald's french fries DV% diff.
Vitamin B3 7.4mg 3.22mg 26%
Protein 15.79g 3.41g 25%
Phosphorus 272mg 127mg 21%
Starch 38.23g 16%
Sodium 566mg 189mg 16%
Fiber 3.9g 16%
Cholesterol 44mg 15%
Vitamin B12 0.33µg 14%
Vitamin K 16µg 13%
Potassium 252mg 596mg 10%
Vitamin E 1.38mg 9%
Carbs 15.09g 42.58g 9%
Copper 0.049mg 0.114mg 7%
Choline 39.8mg 7%
Fats 19.81g 15.47g 7%
Vitamin B5 0.88mg 0.59mg 6%
Polyunsaturated fat 5.61g 4.727g 6%
Vitamin B2 0.11mg 0.037mg 6%
Vitamin C 1.2mg 5.6mg 5%
Saturated fat 3.261g 2.271g 5%
Manganese 0.14mg 0.249mg 5%
Magnesium 24mg 37mg 3%
Monounsaturated fat 8.134g 7.379g 2%
Vitamin B1 0.16mg 0.18mg 2%
Calories 302kcal 323kcal 1%
Vitamin B6 0.398mg 0.38mg 1%
Selenium 0.4µg 1%
Zinc 0.59mg 0.51mg 1%
Iron 0.89mg 0.8mg 1%
Calcium 11mg 19mg 1%
Net carbs 15.09g 38.68g N/A
Sugar 0.08g 0.21g N/A
Trans fat 0.114g 0.064g N/A
Omega-3 - EPA 0.001g 0g N/A
Omega-3 - DHA 0.003g 0g N/A
Omega-3 - ALA 0.296g 0.382g N/A
Omega-3 - DPA 0.004g 0g N/A
Omega-3 - Eicosatrienoic acid 0.001g 0g N/A
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.025g 0.031g N/A
Omega-6 - Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid 0.015g 0g N/A
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.014g 0.009g N/A
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 5.105g 4.251g N/A

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
Chicken McNuggets McDonald's french fries
Low Calories diet ok
Low Fats diet ok
Low Carbs 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
30%
Chicken McNuggets
27%
McDonald's french fries
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
32%
Chicken McNuggets
28%
McDonald's french fries

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
McDonald's french fries
McDonald's french fries is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 44mg)
Which food contains less Sodium?
McDonald's french fries
McDonald's french fries contains less Sodium (difference - 377mg)
Which food is lower in Saturated fat?
McDonald's french fries
McDonald's french fries is lower in Saturated fat (difference - 0.99g)
Which food is lower in Sugar?
Chicken McNuggets
Chicken McNuggets is lower in Sugar (difference - 0.13g)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
Chicken McNuggets
Chicken McNuggets is lower in glycemic index (difference - 24)
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. Chicken McNuggets - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/173297/nutrients
  2. McDonald's french fries - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170721/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.