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French fries vs. Fast food — In-Depth Nutrition Comparison

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A recap on differences between French fries and Fast food

  • French fries are higher in Vitamin B6, and Potassium, yet Fast food is higher in Vitamin B12, Selenium, Iron, Vitamin B2, Zinc, Vitamin B3, Folate, and Vitamin B1.
  • Fast food covers your daily Vitamin B12 needs 37% more than French fries.
  • French fries contain 3 times more Potassium than Fast food. While French fries contain 579mg of Potassium, Fast food contains only 197mg.

Food varieties used in this article are Fast foods, potato, french fried in vegetable oil and Fast foods, hamburger; single, regular patty; plain.

Infographic

French fries 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.
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 25% 5.4% 51% 30% 41% 14% 54% 27% 32% 4.9%
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%
Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +29.6%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium +193.9%
Contains less SodiumSodium -36.6%
Contains more CalciumCalcium +244.4%
Contains more IronIron +277.8%
Contains more ZincZinc +404%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +44.5%
Contains more SeleniumSelenium +2155.6%
~equal in Copper ~0.121mg
~equal in Phosphorus ~134mg

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 16% 0% 33% 0% 43% 9% 56% 35% 86% 0% 28% 23% 20%
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% 3.1% 7.6% 3% 79% 84% 105% 32% 49% 111% 12% 60% 19%
Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +∞%
Contains more Vitamin EVitamin E +339.5%
Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6 +75.5%
Contains more Vitamin KVitamin K +128.6%
Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A +∞%
Contains more Vitamin DVitamin D +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +86.5%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +830.8%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +87%
Contains more Vitamin B12Vitamin B12 +∞%
Contains more FolateFolate +166.7%
~equal in Vitamin B5 ~0.53mg
~equal in Choline ~34.4mg

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
3% 15% 41% 39% 2%
Protein: 3.43 g
Fats: 14.73 g
Carbs: 41.44 g
Water: 38.55 g
Other: 1.85 g
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 FatsFats +22.6%
Contains more CarbsCarbs +31.6%
Contains more OtherOther +21.7%
Contains more ProteinProtein +381.6%
~equal in Water ~38.45g

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
17% 44% 39%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 2.336 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 5.969 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 5.398 g
41% 44% 15%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 4.493 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 4.835 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 1.68 g
Contains less Sat. FatSaturated Fat -48%
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated Fat +23.5%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +221.3%

Comparison summary table

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

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient French fries Fast food Opinion
Calories 312kcal 297kcal French fries
Protein 3.43g 16.52g Fast food
Fats 14.73g 12.01g French fries
Vitamin C 4.7mg 0mg French fries
Net carbs 37.64g 29.8g French fries
Carbs 41.44g 31.5g French fries
Cholesterol 0mg 33mg French fries
Vitamin D 0IU 2IU Fast food
Magnesium 35mg 27mg French fries
Calcium 18mg 62mg Fast food
Potassium 579mg 197mg French fries
Iron 0.81mg 3.06mg Fast food
Sugar 0.3g 4.88g French fries
Fiber 3.8g 1.7g French fries
Copper 0.124mg 0.121mg French fries
Zinc 0.5mg 2.52mg Fast food
Starch 22.87g Fast food
Phosphorus 125mg 134mg Fast food
Sodium 210mg 331mg French fries
Vitamin A 0IU 51IU Fast food
Vitamin A 0µg 9µg Fast food
Vitamin E 1.67mg 0.38mg French fries
Vitamin D 0µg 0.1µg Fast food
Manganese 0.247mg 0.357mg Fast food
Selenium 0.9µg 20.3µg Fast food
Vitamin B1 0.17mg 0.317mg Fast food
Vitamin B2 0.039mg 0.363mg Fast food
Vitamin B3 3.004mg 5.617mg Fast food
Vitamin B5 0.58mg 0.53mg French fries
Vitamin B6 0.372mg 0.212mg French fries
Vitamin B12 0µg 0.89µg Fast food
Vitamin K 11.2µg 4.9µg French fries
Folate 30µg 80µg Fast food
Trans Fat 0.06g 0.514g French fries
Choline 36.8mg 34.4mg French fries
Saturated Fat 2.336g 4.493g French fries
Monounsaturated Fat 5.969g 4.835g French fries
Polyunsaturated fat 5.398g 1.68g French fries
Tryptophan 0.144mg Fast food
Threonine 0.46mg Fast food
Isoleucine 0.642mg Fast food
Leucine 1.13mg Fast food
Lysine 0.785mg Fast food
Methionine 0.306mg Fast food
Phenylalanine 0.67mg Fast food
Valine 0.728mg Fast food
Histidine 0.402mg Fast food
Fructose 2.27g Fast food
Omega-3 - EPA 0g 0.005g Fast food
Omega-3 - DHA 0g 0.001g Fast food
Omega-3 - ALA 0.407g 0.121g French fries
Omega-3 - DPA 0g 0.009g Fast food
Omega-3 - Eicosatrienoic acid 0.001g 0g French fries
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.029g 0.004g French fries
Omega-6 - Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid 0g 0.009g Fast food
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.007g 0.003g French fries
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 4.898g 1.391g French fries

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
French fries Fast food
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
27%
French fries
43%
Fast food
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
28%
French fries
54%
Fast food

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
French fries
French fries is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 33mg)
Which food is lower in Sugar?
French fries
French fries is lower in Sugar (difference - 4.58g)
Which food contains less Sodium?
French fries
French fries contains less Sodium (difference - 121mg)
Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
French fries
French fries is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 2.157g)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
Fast food
Fast food is lower in glycemic index (difference - 4)
Which food is richer in minerals?
Fast food
Fast food is relatively richer in minerals
Which food is cheaper?
?
The foods are relatively equal in price ($)
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. French fries - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170698/nutrients
  2. 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.