Fast foods typically contain high quantities of calories and fat, including unhealthy trans fats and saturated fats. Learning more about the fat and calorie content of your favorite fast foods might help you to understand the impact these foods can have on your diet and health. Think of fast food items as an occasional indulgence rather than a regular part of your diet.
Burgers
Hamburgers and French fries, classic fast-food items, pack high-calorie punches complete with plenty of fat. A basic hamburger at McDonald's contains 260 calories and 9 g of fat, according to the "Washington Post." Larger burgers with extras such as cheese contain even more calories and fat. A McDonald's double cheeseburger contains 460 calories and 23 g of fat, and a Big Mac contains 560 calories and 30 g of fat.
Burger King Angus steak burgers have 570 calories and 22 g of fat, and the same restaurant's Angus bacon and cheese burgers have 710 calories and 22 g of fat. Adding a small serving of French fries to a fast food meal at either McDonald's or Burger King can increase the meal's calorie total by 230 and its fat content by 11 g. Large servings of French fries contain about 520 calories and 25 g of fat.
Chicken
Don't assume that fast food chicken items contain fewer calories than hamburgers. A traditional chicken breast at Kentucky Fried Chicken contains 380 calories and 19 g of fat, and the extra crispy chicken breast contains 460 calories and 28 g of fat, according to the "Washington Post." KFC's chicken pot pie packs 770 calories and 40 g of fat. A spicy chicken breast from Popeye's has 360 calories and 22 g of fat, and the Popeye's crispy chicken sandwich has 560 calories and 23 g of fat.
A Wendy's spicy chicken fillet sandwich contains 510 calories and 19 g of fat. Boston Market's rotisserie chicken provides a slightly lower-calorie alternative, with only 170 to 320 calories and 4 to 21 g of fat, depending on the preparation and extras. The Boston Market chicken carver with cheese and sauce, on the other hand, packs 640 calories and 29 g of fat.
Tacos
Soft tacos, burritos and quesadillas also have high calorie and fat content. A cheese quesadilla from Taco Bell typically contains 290 calories and 28 g of fat, while the chicken or steak quesadilla contains 540 calories and 30 g of fat. Burritos from Taco Bell contain 470 to 60 calories and 19 to 24 g of fat, while soft tacos contain 210 to 280 calories and about 10 to 15 g of fat.
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