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  6. Fast food vs. Cereal

Fast food vs. Cereal — In-Depth Nutrition Comparison

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A recap on differences between Fast food and Cereal

  • Fast food is higher in Selenium, yet Cereal is higher in Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, Iron, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin A RAE, Zinc, and Vitamin C.
  • Cereal covers your daily Vitamin B1 needs 498% more than Fast food.
  • Fast food contains 17 times more Saturated Fat than Cereal. While Fast food contains 4.493g of Saturated Fat, Cereal contains only 0.26g.

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

Infographic

Fast food vs Cereal 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.
Fast food
Fast food
6
:
4
Cereal
Cereal
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%
Contains more Iron +1013.1%
Contains more Zinc +201.6%
Contains more Copper +13.2%
Contains more Manganese +121.3%
Fast food
Calcium Iron Magnesium Phosphorus Potassium Sodium Zinc Copper Manganese Selenium 19% 115% 20% 58% 18% 44% 69% 41% 47% 111%
Cereal
Calcium Iron Magnesium Phosphorus Potassium Sodium Zinc Copper Manganese Selenium 3% 1278% 14% 33% 10% 104% 208% 46% 104% 35%
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%
Contains more Iron +1013.1%
Contains more Zinc +201.6%
Contains more Copper +13.2%
Contains more Manganese +121.3%

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.
Fast food
Fast food
6
:
6
Cereal
Cereal
Contains more Vitamin E +375%
Contains more Vitamin B5 +134.5%
Contains more Vitamin K +∞%
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%
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%
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%
Contains more Vitamin E +375%
Contains more Vitamin B5 +134.5%
Contains more Vitamin K +∞%
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%

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
Fast food
Fast food
3
:
2
Cereal
Cereal
Contains more Protein +172.6%
Contains more Fats +1012%
Contains more Water +917.2%
Contains more Carbs +175.7%
Contains more Other +46.7%
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
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
Contains more Protein +172.6%
Contains more Fats +1012%
Contains more Water +917.2%
Contains more Carbs +175.7%
Contains more Other +46.7%

Fat Type Comparison

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

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
Fast food
Fast food
4
:
1
Cereal
Cereal
Contains more Starch +∞%
Contains more Glucose +659.3%
Contains more Fructose +773.1%
Contains more Maltose +533.3%
Contains more Sucrose +∞%
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
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
Contains more Starch +∞%
Contains more Glucose +659.3%
Contains more Fructose +773.1%
Contains more Maltose +533.3%
Contains more Sucrose +∞%

Comparison summary table

Pay attention to the rightmost column. It displays the amounts side by side, giving a clearer understanding of the difference.
Fast food Cereal
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 Fast food Cereal Opinion
Net carbs 29.8g 85.45g Cereal
Protein 16.52g 6.06g Fast food
Fats 12.01g 1.08g Fast food
Carbs 31.5g 86.85g Cereal
Calories 297kcal 378kcal Cereal
Starch 22.87g Fast food
Fructose 2.27g 0.26g Fast food
Sugar 4.88g 10.35g Fast food
Fiber 1.7g 1.4g Fast food
Calcium 62mg 10mg Fast food
Iron 3.06mg 34.06mg Cereal
Magnesium 27mg 19mg Fast food
Phosphorus 134mg 77mg Fast food
Potassium 197mg 105mg Fast food
Sodium 331mg 795mg Fast food
Zinc 2.52mg 7.6mg Cereal
Copper 0.121mg 0.137mg Cereal
Manganese 0.357mg 0.79mg Cereal
Selenium 20.3µg 6.3µg Fast food
Vitamin A 51IU 2792IU Cereal
Vitamin A RAE 9µg 814µg Cereal
Vitamin E 0.38mg 0.08mg Fast food
Vitamin D 2IU Fast food
Vitamin D 0.1µg Fast food
Vitamin C 0mg 38.5mg Cereal
Vitamin B1 0.317mg 6.288mg Cereal
Vitamin B2 0.363mg 3.87mg Cereal
Vitamin B3 5.617mg 29.62mg Cereal
Vitamin B5 0.53mg 0.226mg Fast food
Vitamin B6 0.212mg 5.986mg Cereal
Folate 80µg Fast food
Vitamin B12 0.89µg Fast food
Vitamin K 4.9µg 0µg Fast food
Tryptophan 0.144mg 0.066mg Fast food
Threonine 0.46mg 0.241mg Fast food
Isoleucine 0.642mg 0.26mg Fast food
Leucine 1.13mg 0.767mg Fast food
Lysine 0.785mg 0.113mg Fast food
Methionine 0.306mg 0.13mg Fast food
Phenylalanine 0.67mg 0.365mg Fast food
Valine 0.728mg 0.344mg Fast food
Histidine 0.402mg 0.162mg Fast food
Cholesterol 33mg Cereal
Trans Fat 0.514g Cereal
Saturated Fat 4.493g 0.26g Cereal
Omega-3 - DHA 0.001g 0g Fast food
Omega-3 - EPA 0.005g 0g Fast food
Omega-3 - DPA 0.009g 0g Fast food
Monounsaturated Fat 4.835g 0.204g Fast food
Polyunsaturated fat 1.68g 0.354g Fast food
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.003g 0g 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
Fast food Cereal
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
46%
Fast food
393%
Cereal
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
54%
Fast food
183%
Cereal

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.