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McDonald's french fries vs. Caesar salad — In-Depth Nutrition Comparison

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A recap on differences between McDonald's french fries and Caesar salad

  • McDonald's french fries are higher in Potassium, yet Caesar salad is higher in Selenium, Calcium, Vitamin B2, Iron, Vitamin B1, Phosphorus, and Zinc.
  • Caesar salad covers your daily Selenium needs 56% more than McDonald's french fries.
  • McDonald's french fries contain 4 times more Potassium than Caesar salad. While McDonald's french fries contain 596mg of Potassium, Caesar salad contains only 170mg.
  • The amount of Saturated Fat in McDonald's french fries are lower.

Food varieties used in this article are McDONALD'S, french fries and LITTLE CAESARS 14" Original Round Cheese Pizza, Regular Crust.

Infographic

McDonald's french fries vs Caesar salad 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 26% 5.7% 53% 30% 38% 14% 54% 25% 32% 2.2%
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 20% 70% 15% 88% 42% 44% 99% 59% 42% 171%
Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +32.1%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium +250.6%
Contains less SodiumSodium -58.4%
Contains more CalciumCalcium +1126.3%
Contains more IronIron +192.5%
Contains more CopperCopper +10.5%
Contains more ZincZinc +215.7%
Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus +81.9%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +28.9%
Contains more SeleniumSelenium +7750%

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 19% 0% 28% 0% 45% 8.5% 60% 35% 88% 0% 40% 0% 22%
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% 22% 12% 0% 94% 69% 61% 27% 0% 50% 15% 0% 0%
Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +∞%
Contains more Vitamin E Vitamin E +126.2%
Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5 +32%
Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6 +∞%
Contains more Vitamin KVitamin K +171.2%
Contains more CholineCholine +∞%
Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +109.4%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +702.7%
~equal in Vitamin D ~0µg
~equal in Vitamin B3 ~3.237mg
~equal in Folate ~µg

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
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
13% 10% 32% 43% 2%
Protein: 13.39 g
Fats: 9.54 g
Carbs: 31.5 g
Water: 43.39 g
Other: 2.18 g
Contains more FatsFats +62.2%
Contains more CarbsCarbs +35.2%
Contains more ProteinProtein +292.7%
Contains more WaterWater +18.5%
Contains more OtherOther +14.1%

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
16% 51% 33%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 2.271 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 7.379 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 4.727 g
52% 30% 18%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 4.206 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 2.38 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 1.461 g
Contains less Sat. FatSaturated Fat -46%
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated Fat +210%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +223.5%

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
99%
Starch: 38.23 g
Sucrose: 0.21 g
Glucose: 0 g
Fructose: 0 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0 g
Galactose: 0 g
86% 3% 4% 6%
Starch: 25.29 g
Sucrose: 0 g
Glucose: 0.98 g
Fructose: 1.13 g
Lactose: 0.07 g
Maltose: 1.67 g
Galactose: 0.16 g
Contains more StarchStarch +51.2%
Contains more SucroseSucrose +∞%
Contains more GlucoseGlucose +∞%
Contains more FructoseFructose +∞%
Contains more LactoseLactose +∞%
Contains more MaltoseMaltose +∞%
Contains more GalactoseGalactose +∞%

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 french fries Caesar salad
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 McDonald's french fries Caesar salad Opinion
Calories 323kcal 265kcal McDonald's french fries
Protein 3.41g 13.39g Caesar salad
Fats 15.47g 9.54g McDonald's french fries
Vitamin C 5.6mg 0mg McDonald's french fries
Net carbs 38.68g 29.8g McDonald's french fries
Carbs 42.58g 31.5g McDonald's french fries
Cholesterol 24mg McDonald's french fries
Magnesium 37mg 28mg McDonald's french fries
Calcium 19mg 233mg Caesar salad
Potassium 596mg 170mg McDonald's french fries
Iron 0.8mg 2.34mg Caesar salad
Sugar 0.21g 4.02g McDonald's french fries
Fiber 3.9g 1.7g McDonald's french fries
Copper 0.114mg 0.126mg Caesar salad
Zinc 0.51mg 1.61mg Caesar salad
Starch 38.23g 25.29g McDonald's french fries
Phosphorus 127mg 231mg Caesar salad
Sodium 189mg 454mg McDonald's french fries
Vitamin A 0IU 360IU Caesar salad
Vitamin A RAE 0µg 78µg Caesar salad
Vitamin E 1.38mg 0.61mg McDonald's french fries
Manganese 0.249mg 0.321mg Caesar salad
Selenium 0.4µg 31.4µg Caesar salad
Vitamin B1 0.18mg 0.377mg Caesar salad
Vitamin B2 0.037mg 0.297mg Caesar salad
Vitamin B3 3.22mg 3.237mg Caesar salad
Vitamin B5 0.59mg 0.447mg McDonald's french fries
Vitamin B6 0.38mg McDonald's french fries
Vitamin B12 0.4µg Caesar salad
Vitamin K 16µg 5.9µg McDonald's french fries
Trans Fat 0.064g Caesar salad
Choline 39.8mg McDonald's french fries
Saturated Fat 2.271g 4.206g McDonald's french fries
Monounsaturated Fat 7.379g 2.38g McDonald's french fries
Polyunsaturated fat 4.727g 1.461g McDonald's french fries
Tryptophan 0.15mg Caesar salad
Threonine 0.393mg Caesar salad
Isoleucine 0.547mg Caesar salad
Leucine 1.137mg Caesar salad
Lysine 0.523mg Caesar salad
Methionine 0.3mg Caesar salad
Phenylalanine 0.717mg Caesar salad
Valine 0.7mg Caesar salad
Histidine 0.36mg Caesar salad
Fructose 0g 1.13g Caesar salad
Omega-3 - ALA 0.382g 0.155g McDonald's french fries
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.031g 0g McDonald's french fries
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.009g 0g McDonald's french fries
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 4.251g McDonald's french fries

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
McDonald's french fries Caesar salad
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%
McDonald's french fries
27%
Caesar salad
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
28%
McDonald's french fries
65%
Caesar salad

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
McDonald's french fries
McDonald's french fries is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 24mg)
Which food is lower in Sugar?
McDonald's french fries
McDonald's french fries is lower in Sugar (difference - 3.81g)
Which food contains less Sodium?
McDonald's french fries
McDonald's french fries contains less Sodium (difference - 265mg)
Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
McDonald's french fries
McDonald's french fries is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 1.935g)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
Caesar salad
Caesar salad is lower in glycemic index (difference - 20)
Which food is richer in minerals?
Caesar salad
Caesar salad 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. McDonald's french fries - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170721/nutrients
  2. Caesar salad - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/172047/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.