Foodstruct Nutrition Search | Diet Analysis | Food Comparison | Glycemic Index Chart | Insulin Index Chart | Blog | Subscribe | Sign Up

McDonald's Big Mac vs. Cheese — In-Depth Nutrition Comparison

Compare

What are the main differences between mcDonald's Big Mac and cheese?

  • McDonald's Big Mac is richer in iron, vitamin B3, and vitamin B1, while cheese is higher in calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, vitamin B2, and zinc.
  • Cheese's daily need coverage for saturated fat is 75% higher.
  • Cheese has 57 times less vitamin B3 than mcDonald's Big Mac. McDonald's Big Mac has 3.384mg of vitamin B3, while cheese has 0.059mg.
  • McDonald's Big Mac is lower in cholesterol.
  • McDonald's Big Mac has a higher glycemic index (66) than cheese (0).

We used McDONALD'S, BIG MAC and Cheese, cheddar types in this comparison.

Infographic

McDonald's Big Mac vs Cheese 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 14% 35% 16% 75% 33% 52% 52% 60% 27% 0%
Cheese
5
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 19% 213% 6.7% 5.3% 10% 99% 195% 85% 3.5% 155%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium +138.2%
Contains more IronIron +1328.6%
Contains more CopperCopper +226.7%
Contains less SodiumSodium -29.6%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +663%
Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +35%
Contains more CalciumCalcium +512.1%
Contains more ZincZinc +90.6%
Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus +273%

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 1.3% 0% 0% 0% 44% 48% 63% 0% 0% 110% 0% 35% 0%
Cheese
9
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% 110% 14% 9% 7.3% 99% 1.1% 25% 15% 138% 6% 20% 9%
Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +506.9%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +5635.6%
Contains more FolateFolate +70.4%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +104.8%
Contains more Vitamin B12Vitamin B12 +25%

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
12% 15% 20% 51% 2%
Protein: 11.82 g
Fats: 14.96 g
Carbs: 20.08 g
Water: 51.3 g
Other: 1.84 g
Cheese
3
23% 33% 3% 37% 4%
Protein: 22.87 g
Fats: 33.31 g
Carbs: 3.09 g
Water: 37.02 g
Other: 3.71 g
Contains more CarbsCarbs +549.8%
Contains more WaterWater +38.6%
Contains more ProteinProtein +93.5%
Contains more FatsFats +122.7%
Contains more OtherOther +101.6%

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
50% 46% 4%
Saturated fat: Sat. Fat 3.803 g
Monounsaturated fat: Mono. Fat 3.474 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 0.306 g
Cheese
2
64% 31% 5%
Saturated fat: Sat. Fat 18.867 g
Monounsaturated fat: Mono. Fat 9.246 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 1.421 g
Contains less Sat. FatSaturated fat -79.8%
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated fat +166.1%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +364.4%

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
12% 26% 42% 8% 12%
Starch: 0 g
Sucrose: 0.46 g
Glucose: 1.04 g
Fructose: 1.69 g
Lactose: 0.32 g
Maltose: 0.49 g
Galactose: 0 g
Cheese
1
54% 25% 21%
Starch: 0 g
Sucrose: 0 g
Glucose: 0.26 g
Fructose: 0 g
Lactose: 0.12 g
Maltose: 0 g
Galactose: 0.1 g
Contains more SucroseSucrose +∞%
Contains more GlucoseGlucose +300%
Contains more FructoseFructose +∞%
Contains more LactoseLactose +166.7%
Contains more MaltoseMaltose +∞%
Contains more GalactoseGalactose +∞%
~equal in Starch ~0g

Comparison summary table

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

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient McDonald's Big Mac Cheese DV% diff.
Saturated fat 3.803g 18.867g 68%
Calcium 116mg 710mg 59%
Selenium 28.5µg 52%
Phosphorus 122mg 455mg 48%
Vitamin A 330µg 37%
Fats 14.96g 33.31g 28%
Iron 2mg 0.14mg 23%
Protein 11.82g 22.87g 22%
Cholesterol 36mg 99mg 21%
Vitamin B3 3.384mg 0.059mg 21%
Vitamin B2 0.209mg 0.428mg 17%
Zinc 1.91mg 3.64mg 16%
Monounsaturated fat 3.474g 9.246g 14%
Vitamin B1 0.176mg 0.029mg 12%
Vitamin B12 0.88µg 1.1µg 9%
Vitamin B5 0.41mg 8%
Manganese 0.206mg 0.027mg 8%
Copper 0.098mg 0.03mg 8%
Sodium 460mg 653mg 8%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.306g 1.421g 7%
Calories 257kcal 404kcal 7%
Carbs 20.08g 3.09g 6%
Fiber 1.6g 0g 6%
Vitamin B6 0.066mg 5%
Folate 46µg 27µg 5%
Vitamin E 0.71mg 5%
Vitamin D 0.6µg 3%
Potassium 181mg 76mg 3%
Vitamin D 24IU 3%
Choline 16.5mg 3%
Fructose 1.69g 0g 2%
Magnesium 20mg 27mg 2%
Vitamin K 2.4µg 2%
Vitamin C 0.4mg 0mg 0%
Net carbs 18.48g 3.09g N/A
Sugar 3.97g 0.48g N/A
Trans fat 0.588g 0.917g N/A
Tryptophan 0.547mg 0%
Threonine 1.044mg 0%
Isoleucine 1.206mg 0%
Leucine 1.939mg 0%
Lysine 1.025mg 0%
Methionine 0.547mg 0%
Phenylalanine 1.074mg 0%
Valine 1.404mg 0%
Histidine 0.547mg 0%
Omega-3 - EPA 0.01g N/A
Omega-3 - DHA 0.001g N/A
Omega-3 - DPA 0.017g N/A
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.007g N/A

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
McDonald's Big Mac Cheese
Low Calories diet ok
Low Fats diet ok
Low Carbs diet ok
Low Glycemic Index diet ok

People also compare

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
23%
McDonald's Big Mac
35%
Cheese
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
36%
McDonald's Big Mac
79%
Cheese

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
McDonald's Big Mac
McDonald's Big Mac is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 63mg)
Which food contains less Sodium?
McDonald's Big Mac
McDonald's Big Mac contains less Sodium (difference - 193mg)
Which food is lower in Saturated fat?
McDonald's Big Mac
McDonald's Big Mac is lower in Saturated fat (difference - 15.064g)
Which food is cheaper?
McDonald's Big Mac
McDonald's Big Mac is cheaper (difference - $2)
Which food is lower in Sugar?
Cheese
Cheese is lower in Sugar (difference - 3.49g)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
Cheese
Cheese is lower in glycemic index (difference - 66)
Which food is richer in vitamins?
Cheese
Cheese is relatively richer in vitamins
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.

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. McDonald's Big Mac - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170720/nutrients
  2. Cheese - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/173414/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.