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Fast food vs. Chicken McNuggets — In-Depth Nutrition Comparison

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What are the main differences between fast food and chicken McNuggets?

  • Fast food is richer in iron, vitamin B1,2, vitamin B2, zinc, vitamin B1, and manganese, while chicken McNuggets are higher in phosphorus, vitamin B6, and vitamin B3.
  • Fast food's daily need coverage for iron is 27% higher.
  • Chicken McNuggets have 4 times less zinc than fast food. Fast food has 2.52mg of zinc, while chicken McNuggets have 0.59mg.
  • Fast food is lower in sodium.
  • Fast food has a higher glycemic index (66) than chicken McNuggets (46).

We used Fast foods, hamburger; single, regular patty; plain and McDONALD'S, Chicken McNUGGETS types in this comparison.

Infographic

Fast food vs Chicken McNuggets 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.
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 19% 19% 17% 115% 40% 69% 57% 43% 47% 111%
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%
Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +12.5%
Contains more CalciumCalcium +463.6%
Contains more IronIron +243.8%
Contains more CopperCopper +146.9%
Contains more ZincZinc +327.1%
Contains less SodiumSodium -41.5%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +155%
Contains more SeleniumSelenium +∞%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium +27.9%
Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus +103%

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 0% 3% 7.6% 1.5% 79% 84% 105% 32% 49% 111% 12% 60% 19%
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%
Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A +∞%
Contains more Vitamin EVitamin E +∞%
Contains more Vitamin DVitamin D +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +98.1%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +230%
Contains more Vitamin B12Vitamin B12 +169.7%
Contains more Vitamin KVitamin K +∞%
Contains more FolateFolate +∞%
Contains more CholineCholine +∞%
Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +31.7%
Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5 +66%
Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6 +87.7%

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
17% 12% 32% 38%
Protein: 16.52 g
Fats: 12.01 g
Carbs: 31.5 g
Water: 38.45 g
Other: 1.52 g
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
Contains more CarbsCarbs +108.7%
Contains more FatsFats +64.9%
Contains more WaterWater +22.6%
Contains more OtherOther +43.4%
~equal in Protein ~15.79g

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
41% 44% 15%
Saturated fat: Sat. Fat 4.493 g
Monounsaturated fat: Mono. Fat 4.835 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 1.68 g
19% 48% 33%
Saturated fat: Sat. Fat 3.261 g
Monounsaturated fat: Mono. Fat 8.134 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 5.61 g
Contains less Sat. FatSaturated fat -27.4%
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated fat +68.2%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +233.9%

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
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
100%
Starch: 0 g
Sucrose: 0.08 g
Glucose: 0 g
Fructose: 0 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0 g
Galactose: 0 g
Contains more StarchStarch +∞%
Contains more GlucoseGlucose +∞%
Contains more FructoseFructose +∞%
Contains more MaltoseMaltose +∞%
Contains more SucroseSucrose +∞%
~equal in Lactose ~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.
Fast food Chicken McNuggets
Lower in Cholesterol ok
Lower in Sodium ok
Rich in minerals ok
Rich in vitamins ok
Lower in Sugar ok
Lower in Saturated fat ok
Lower in Glycemic Index ok
Lower in price Equal

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient Fast food Chicken McNuggets DV% diff.
Selenium 20.3µg 37%
Iron 3.06mg 0.89mg 27%
Polyunsaturated fat 1.68g 5.61g 26%
Vitamin B12 0.89µg 0.33µg 23%
Folate 80µg 20%
Phosphorus 134mg 272mg 20%
Vitamin B2 0.363mg 0.11mg 19%
Zinc 2.52mg 0.59mg 18%
Vitamin B6 0.212mg 0.398mg 14%
Vitamin B1 0.317mg 0.16mg 13%
Fats 12.01g 19.81g 12%
Vitamin B3 5.617mg 7.4mg 11%
Sodium 331mg 566mg 10%
Manganese 0.357mg 0.14mg 9%
Starch 22.87g 9%
Copper 0.121mg 0.049mg 8%
Monounsaturated fat 4.835g 8.134g 8%
Fiber 1.7g 7%
Vitamin B5 0.53mg 0.88mg 7%
Choline 34.4mg 6%
Saturated fat 4.493g 3.261g 6%
Calcium 62mg 11mg 5%
Carbs 31.5g 15.09g 5%
Cholesterol 33mg 44mg 4%
Vitamin K 4.9µg 4%
Vitamin E 0.38mg 3%
Fructose 2.27g 0g 3%
Potassium 197mg 252mg 2%
Vitamin D 0.1µg 1%
Vitamin A 9µg 1%
Protein 16.52g 15.79g 1%
Vitamin C 0mg 1.2mg 1%
Magnesium 27mg 24mg 1%
Calories 297kcal 302kcal 0%
Net carbs 29.8g 15.09g N/A
Vitamin D 2IU 0%
Sugar 4.88g 0.08g N/A
Trans fat 0.514g 0.114g N/A
Tryptophan 0.144mg 0%
Threonine 0.46mg 0%
Isoleucine 0.642mg 0%
Leucine 1.13mg 0%
Lysine 0.785mg 0%
Methionine 0.306mg 0%
Phenylalanine 0.67mg 0%
Valine 0.728mg 0%
Histidine 0.402mg 0%
Omega-3 - EPA 0.005g 0.001g N/A
Omega-3 - DHA 0.001g 0.003g N/A
Omega-3 - ALA 0.121g 0.296g N/A
Omega-3 - DPA 0.009g 0.004g N/A
Omega-3 - Eicosatrienoic acid 0g 0.001g N/A
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.004g 0.025g N/A
Omega-6 - Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid 0.009g 0.015g N/A
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.003g 0.014g N/A
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 1.391g 5.105g N/A

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
Fast food Chicken McNuggets
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
43%
Fast food
30%
Chicken McNuggets
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
54%
Fast food
32%
Chicken McNuggets

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
Fast food
Fast food is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 11mg)
Which food contains less Sodium?
Fast food
Fast food contains less Sodium (difference - 235mg)
Which food is richer in minerals?
Fast food
Fast food is relatively richer in minerals
Which food is richer in vitamins?
Fast food
Fast food is relatively richer in vitamins
Which food is lower in Sugar?
Chicken McNuggets
Chicken McNuggets is lower in Sugar (difference - 4.8g)
Which food is lower in Saturated fat?
Chicken McNuggets
Chicken McNuggets is lower in Saturated fat (difference - 1.232g)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
Chicken McNuggets
Chicken McNuggets is lower in glycemic index (difference - 20)
Which food is cheaper?
?
The foods are relatively equal in price ($)

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
  2. Chicken McNuggets - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/173297/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.