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McDonald's Quarter Pounder vs. Chicken McNuggets — In-Depth Nutrition Comparison

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Summary of differences between McDonald's Quarter Pounder and Chicken McNuggets

  • McDonald's Quarter Pounder has more Vitamin B12, Zinc, Iron, Vitamin B2, Calcium, and Copper, however, Chicken McNuggets are higher in Phosphorus, and Vitamin B3.
  • McDonald's Quarter Pounder covers your daily need of Vitamin B12 40% more than Chicken McNuggets.
  • McDonald's Quarter Pounder has 8 times more Calcium than Chicken McNuggets. While McDonald's Quarter Pounder has 84mg of Calcium, Chicken McNuggets have only 11mg.
  • Chicken McNuggets have less Saturated Fat.

These are the specific foods used in this comparison McDONALD'S, QUARTER POUNDER and McDONALD'S, Chicken McNUGGETS.

Infographic

McDonald's Quarter Pounder 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 16% 25% 20% 90% 36% 73% 53% 56% 26% 0%
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 CalciumCalcium +663.6%
Contains more IronIron +170.8%
Contains more CopperCopper +118.4%
Contains more ZincZinc +355.9%
Contains less SodiumSodium -24.6%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +42.1%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium +11%
Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus +119.4%
~equal in Magnesium ~24mg
~equal in Selenium ~µg

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 3% 3.4% 0% 0% 46% 79% 83% 0% 0% 160% 0% 42% 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% 0% 0% 0% 40% 25% 139% 53% 92% 41% 0% 0% 0%
Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +14.4%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +212.7%
Contains more Vitamin B12Vitamin B12 +287.9%
Contains more FolateFolate +∞%
Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +33.3%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +66.2%
~equal in Vitamin E ~mg
~equal in Vitamin D ~µg
~equal in Vitamin K ~µg
~equal in Choline ~mg

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
14% 12% 22% 50% 2%
Protein: 14.1 g
Fats: 11.55 g
Carbs: 22.17 g
Water: 50.37 g
Other: 1.81 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 +46.9%
Contains more ProteinProtein +12%
Contains more FatsFats +71.5%
Contains more OtherOther +20.4%
~equal in Water ~47.13g

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
47% 49% 3%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 4.008 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 4.202 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 0.283 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 -18.6%
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated Fat +93.6%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +1882.3%

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
4% 37% 43% 14%
Starch: 0 g
Sucrose: 0.22 g
Glucose: 1.91 g
Fructose: 2.2 g
Lactose: 0.07 g
Maltose: 0.73 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 SucroseSucrose +175%
Contains more GlucoseGlucose +∞%
Contains more FructoseFructose +∞%
Contains more LactoseLactose +∞%
Contains more MaltoseMaltose +∞%
~equal in Starch ~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 Quarter Pounder Chicken McNuggets
Lower in Cholesterol ok
Lower in Sodium ok
Lower in Glycemic Index ok
Lower in Sugar ok
Lower in Saturated Fat ok
Lower in price Equal
Rich in minerals Equal
Rich in vitamins Equal

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient McDonald's Quarter Pounder Chicken McNuggets Opinion
Calories 244kcal 302kcal Chicken McNuggets
Protein 14.1g 15.79g Chicken McNuggets
Fats 11.55g 19.81g Chicken McNuggets
Vitamin C 0.9mg 1.2mg Chicken McNuggets
Net carbs 20.57g 15.09g McDonald's Quarter Pounder
Carbs 22.17g 15.09g McDonald's Quarter Pounder
Cholesterol 39mg 44mg McDonald's Quarter Pounder
Magnesium 22mg 24mg Chicken McNuggets
Calcium 84mg 11mg McDonald's Quarter Pounder
Potassium 227mg 252mg Chicken McNuggets
Iron 2.41mg 0.89mg McDonald's Quarter Pounder
Sugar 5.13g 0.08g Chicken McNuggets
Fiber 1.6g McDonald's Quarter Pounder
Copper 0.107mg 0.049mg McDonald's Quarter Pounder
Zinc 2.69mg 0.59mg McDonald's Quarter Pounder
Phosphorus 124mg 272mg Chicken McNuggets
Sodium 427mg 566mg McDonald's Quarter Pounder
Vitamin A 56IU McDonald's Quarter Pounder
Manganese 0.199mg 0.14mg McDonald's Quarter Pounder
Vitamin B1 0.183mg 0.16mg McDonald's Quarter Pounder
Vitamin B2 0.344mg 0.11mg McDonald's Quarter Pounder
Vitamin B3 4.452mg 7.4mg Chicken McNuggets
Vitamin B5 0.88mg Chicken McNuggets
Vitamin B6 0.398mg Chicken McNuggets
Vitamin B12 1.28µg 0.33µg McDonald's Quarter Pounder
Folate 56µg McDonald's Quarter Pounder
Trans Fat 0.724g 0.114g Chicken McNuggets
Saturated Fat 4.008g 3.261g Chicken McNuggets
Monounsaturated Fat 4.202g 8.134g Chicken McNuggets
Polyunsaturated fat 0.283g 5.61g Chicken McNuggets
Fructose 2.2g 0g McDonald's Quarter Pounder
Omega-3 - EPA 0.001g Chicken McNuggets
Omega-3 - DHA 0.003g Chicken McNuggets
Omega-3 - ALA 0.296g Chicken McNuggets
Omega-3 - DPA 0.004g Chicken McNuggets
Omega-3 - Eicosatrienoic acid 0.001g Chicken McNuggets
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.025g Chicken McNuggets
Omega-6 - Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid 0.015g Chicken McNuggets
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.014g Chicken McNuggets
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 5.105g Chicken McNuggets

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
McDonald's Quarter Pounder 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
32%
McDonald's Quarter Pounder
30%
Chicken McNuggets
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
40%
McDonald's Quarter Pounder
32%
Chicken McNuggets

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
McDonald's Quarter Pounder
McDonald's Quarter Pounder is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 5mg)
Which food contains less Sodium?
McDonald's Quarter Pounder
McDonald's Quarter Pounder contains less Sodium (difference - 139mg)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
McDonald's Quarter Pounder
McDonald's Quarter Pounder is lower in glycemic index (difference - 46)
Which food is lower in Sugar?
Chicken McNuggets
Chicken McNuggets is lower in Sugar (difference - 5.05g)
Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
Chicken McNuggets
Chicken McNuggets is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 0.747g)
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 Quarter Pounder - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170321/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.