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These are the most unhealthy options at fast food restaurants in the U.S.
These are the most unhealthy options at fast food restaurants in the U.S.-October 2024
Oct 5, 2024 9:17 AM

  Fast food doesnt come close when it comes to options for healthy eating, but lately fast-food chains have scrambled to throw salads on the menu, dial back sodium and even roll out plant-based burgers. But make no mistakefast food is still far from nutritious. That said, if youre craving a quick bite and wondering which options are the least likely to derail your health kick, a new study by PlushCare reveals the worst offenders on fast food menus around the U.S.

  PlushCare took a deep dive into the most popular categories of fast-food items from Americas top chains, then scored them on a 50-point unhealthiness scale based on calories, sugar, saturated fat and sodium. The results? A ranking of the most unhealthyand least unhealthyburgers, chicken sandwiches, nuggets, fries and shakes you can order.

  Five Guys takes the greasy crown when it comes to cheeseburgers. With a gut-busting score of 50, its cheeseburger tops the charts as the most unhealthy, packing 73 percent more saturated fat than any of its fast-food competitors. Meanwhile, McDonalds and Burger King cheeseburgers arent exactly diet food, but they fare a lot betterthey each scored just 18 pointsas they both contain less than a quarter of the saturated fat found in a Five Guys burger and less than half of a Wendys cheeseburger.

  As for chicken sandwiches, McDonalds McChicken reigns supreme as the healthiest (well, the least unhealthy) with a score of 14 points. Thats almost half the score of Burger Kings chicken sandwich (31 points) and KFCs (27 points). On the flip side, the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Classic hits a whopping 39 points, making it the most unhealthy of the bunch.

  Craving nuggets? Brace yourself. Popeyes Nuggets (30 points) and Arbys Premium Nuggets (29 points) come out as the worst offenders, especially when it comes to sodium. And while McDonalds (18 Points) might not win gold medals for health, their nuggets are surprisingly less salty than the competition.

  A fast-food meal just doesnt feel right without fries, but beware: order fries at Five Guys, and youre tacking on 953 calories. KFCs Secret Recipe Fries dont just come with a side of saltthey serve up over 1,100 mg of sodium. If youre set on fries, McDonalds Medium Fries (7 points) and In-N-Outs (6 points) are your safest bets.

  If you think fries are bad, wait until you get to the shakes. Fatburgers Vanilla Shake is a sugary nightmare, scoring a hefty 63 points with 890 calories, 30 grams of saturated fat and a staggering 86 grams of sugarway over the recommended daily limits. McDonalds Vanilla Shake might not be a health drink, but at 26 points, its the least unhealthy in this sugar-packed category.

  In short, if youre hitting the drive-thru, some fast-food options are definitely worse than others. So, maybe think twice before indulging in that Five Guys cheeseburger-shake combo.

  Find the full breakdown of fast food faves here.

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