Nutritional Values At Mcdonald's

Most items on the menu at McDonald's are high in calories, and this type of fast food is lacking in nutrients. The entrees and sides are generally high in saturated fat and salt, and the sodas and desserts are full of sugar. Eating junk food regularly leads to health problems and weight gain. You can eat a relatively low calorie meal at McDonald's, but the chain has been criticized for offering few healthy choices.

History

The brothers Dick and Mac McDonald ran a successful California hamburger stand in the 1950s. They were visited by a businessman, Ray Kroc, in 1954, and he was stunned by the effectiveness of their organization, which rapidly fed diners burgers and fries. He helped the brothers take the business nationwide and it became an international company in 1967. Tens of thousands of McDonald's restaurants now span the globe and serve millions of diners each day. The restaurants now offer healthier alternatives such as salads, but the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine says healthy options are scarce on a McDonald's menu dominated by fat, sugar and calories.

Entrees

Hamburgers are the staple of the McDonald's menu. A hamburger gives you 250 calories and a cheeseburger gives you 300, while the famous Big Mac is 540 calories, of which 260 come from fat. The Angus bacon and cheese burger is the fattiest, with 790 calories, and this includes 39 g fat, including 17 g saturated fat. This burger alone gives you more than your daily allowance of cholesterol. Chicken is generally a healthier, leaner meat than beef, but six McDonald's chicken nuggets still give you 17 g fat. However, at just 280 calories they are a better option than burgers, and they are low in saturated fat.

Sides, Beverages and Sodas

Fries come with every meal at McDonald's. A regular portion of McDonald's fries gives you 19 g fat. A much better choice is a side salad, which is just 20 calories, with no fat, and gives you nutritious vitamins and minerals, but avoid most dressings. The creamy Caesar dressing is 190 calories, of which 170 come from fat, while the vinaigrette is just 40 calories. Soda is liquid candy and equals empty calories with no nutrition, explains CNN Health. A regular soda is 210 calories and a large is 340. Instead, opt for water. Avoid milkshakes: A 32 oz. Chocolate Triple Thick Shake has 1,160 calories. All the desserts are high in sugar. Try the fruit salad instead. The American Heart Association advises you eat eight portions of fruits and vegetables a day, and the fruit salad counts as one.

Benefits

Protein is one nutrient hamburgers offer. The Big Mac offers 25 g protein. The USDA recommends a diet made up of 18 percent protein, 28 percent fat and 54 percent carbohydrates. Protein is important for muscle and cell growth, but Iowa State University recommends lean meats such as chicken for protein, because fatty meats such as those used in burgers contain too much saturated fat.

Considerations

The buns on the burgers give you carbohydrates, but they are refined carbohydrates with no nutritional value. Regular fries include 48 g carbohydrates, but again these are refined carbohydrates that turn to sugar. The American Heart Association recommends you avoid sides and only eat half the bun. It also advises you avoid super-sizes, anything with a double burger or bacon, and sauces such as mayonnaise and ketchup.