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McDonald's hamburger vs. Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets — In-Depth Nutrition Comparison

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The main differences between McDonald's hamburger and Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets

  • McDonald's hamburger is richer in Iron, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B1, Zinc, Calcium, and Vitamin B2, yet Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets are richer in Phosphorus, and Vitamin B3.
  • Daily need coverage for Iron from McDonald's hamburger is 28% higher.
  • McDonald's hamburger contains 12 times more Calcium than Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets. McDonald's hamburger contains 127mg of Calcium, while Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets contain 11mg.
  • McDonald's hamburger contains less Sodium.

Food types used in this article are McDONALD'S, Hamburger and WENDY'S, Chicken Nuggets.

Infographic

McDonald's hamburger vs Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets 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 15% 38% 17% 108% 32% 53% 46% 64% 42% 143%
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 16% 3.3% 22% 23% 20% 17% 116% 92% 25% 136%
Contains more CalciumCalcium +1054.5%
Contains more IronIron +362.9%
Contains more CopperCopper +57.4%
Contains more ZincZinc +219.7%
Contains less SodiumSodium -30.2%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +69.5%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium +30.2%
Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus +153.3%
~equal in Magnesium ~22mg
~equal in Selenium ~25µg

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 2% 3.3% 0% 0% 62% 55% 85% 0% 0% 104% 0% 48% 0%
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 4.3% 0% 0% 0% 20% 28% 113% 54% 59% 41% 20% 0% 0%
Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +212.7%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +95.9%
Contains more Vitamin B12Vitamin B12 +151.5%
Contains more FolateFolate +∞%
Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +116.7%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +33%
~equal in Vitamin E ~mg
~equal in Vitamin D ~µg
~equal in Choline ~mg

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
13% 10% 30% 45% 2%
Protein: 12.92 g
Fats: 10.09 g
Carbs: 30.28 g
Water: 44.53 g
Other: 2.18 g
16% 23% 14% 44% 3%
Protein: 16.46 g
Fats: 22.55 g
Carbs: 14.31 g
Water: 44.15 g
Other: 2.53 g
Contains more CarbsCarbs +111.6%
Contains more ProteinProtein +27.4%
Contains more FatsFats +123.5%
Contains more OtherOther +16.1%
~equal in Water ~44.15g

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
40% 43% 16%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 3.504 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 3.768 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 1.42 g
23% 29% 48%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 4.787 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 6.138 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 10.117 g
Contains less Sat. FatSaturated Fat -26.8%
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated Fat +62.9%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +612.5%

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
35% 55% 10%
Starch: 0 g
Sucrose: 0 g
Glucose: 2.1 g
Fructose: 3.3 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0.63 g
Galactose: 0 g
100%
Starch: 0 g
Sucrose: 0 g
Glucose: 0 g
Fructose: 0 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0.08 g
Galactose: 0 g
Contains more GlucoseGlucose +∞%
Contains more FructoseFructose +∞%
Contains more MaltoseMaltose +687.5%
~equal in Starch ~0g
~equal in Sucrose ~0g
~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.
McDonald's hamburger Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Lower in Sugar ok
Lower in Cholesterol ok
Lower in Sodium ok
Lower in Saturated Fat ok
Lower in Glycemic Index Equal
Lower in price Equal
Rich in minerals Equal
Rich in vitamins Equal

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient McDonald's hamburger Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets Opinion
Calories 264kcal 326kcal Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Protein 12.92g 16.46g Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Fats 10.09g 22.55g Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Vitamin C 0.6mg 1.3mg Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Net carbs 28.98g 14.31g McDonald's hamburger
Carbs 30.28g 14.31g McDonald's hamburger
Cholesterol 27mg 50mg McDonald's hamburger
Magnesium 21mg 22mg Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Calcium 127mg 11mg McDonald's hamburger
Potassium 192mg 250mg Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Iron 2.87mg 0.62mg McDonald's hamburger
Sugar 6.03g 0.08g Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Fiber 1.3g McDonald's hamburger
Copper 0.096mg 0.061mg McDonald's hamburger
Zinc 1.95mg 0.61mg McDonald's hamburger
Phosphorus 107mg 271mg Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Sodium 494mg 708mg McDonald's hamburger
Vitamin A 55IU McDonald's hamburger
Manganese 0.322mg 0.19mg McDonald's hamburger
Selenium 26.2µg 25µg McDonald's hamburger
Vitamin B1 0.247mg 0.079mg McDonald's hamburger
Vitamin B2 0.239mg 0.122mg McDonald's hamburger
Vitamin B3 4.544mg 6.042mg Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Vitamin B5 0.905mg Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Vitamin B6 0.254mg Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Vitamin B12 0.83µg 0.33µg McDonald's hamburger
Vitamin K 8µg Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Folate 64µg McDonald's hamburger
Trans Fat 0.428g 0.161g Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Saturated Fat 3.504g 4.787g McDonald's hamburger
Monounsaturated Fat 3.768g 6.138g Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Polyunsaturated fat 1.42g 10.117g Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Fructose 3.3g 0g McDonald's hamburger
Omega-3 - EPA 0.002g 0.002g
Omega-3 - DHA 0g 0.003g Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Omega-3 - ALA 0.134g 0.765g Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Omega-3 - DPA 0.006g 0.006g
Omega-3 - Eicosatrienoic acid 0.001g 0.001g
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.004g 0.044g Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Omega-6 - Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid 0.011g 0.017g Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.004g 0.017g Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 1.135g 9.042g Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
McDonald's hamburger Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Low Calories diet ok
Low Fats diet ok
Low Carbs diet ok
Low Glycemic Index diet Equal

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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
28%
McDonald's hamburger
26%
Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
56%
McDonald's hamburger
47%
Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Sugar?
Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets is lower in Sugar (difference - 5.95g)
Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
McDonald's hamburger
McDonald's hamburger is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 23mg)
Which food contains less Sodium?
McDonald's hamburger
McDonald's hamburger contains less Sodium (difference - 214mg)
Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
McDonald's hamburger
McDonald's hamburger is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 1.283g)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
?
The foods have equal glycemic indexes ()
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. McDonald's hamburger - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170717/nutrients
  2. Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170725/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.