While ignorance is bliss, knowledge is power. In this case, ignorance is eating a large order of fries without knowing the calorie count. It doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in fries from time to time; it just means you might want to hit a different drive-thru when your craving strikes. Some fast food fries are a lot worse for you than others.
According to a recent study conducted by PlushCare, Five Guys fries are leading the industry in being bad for you. The same study said that Five Guys has the unhealthiest fast food burger in the country, too. Five Guys’ fries topped the list with 28 unhealthiness points based on their calories, sugar, saturated fat, and sodium content and how they stack up to the Department of Health’s nutrient standards.
Steak and Shake, Bojangles, and Smashburger trailed shortly behind. However, the next closest chain on the list was nine points under Five Guys. In fact, the fries are actually 50% more unhealthy than any other chain, with 953 calories in total.
“French Fries have high salt and fat levels, which can tip an already unhealthy fast-food main into the danger zone,” the healthcare platform PlushCare explains. “If they feel indispensable, try opting for the smallest portion, sharing with a companion, or simply not finishing them.”
McDonald’s and In-N-Out scored the lowest unhealthiness scores, with just seven and nine points. It should hardly come as a surprise too, considering the fact that McDonald’s scored pretty well across the board, tying for the second healthiest cheeseburger with Burger King (Culver’s was the healthiest). The McChicken and the Chicken McNuggets both earned the number one spot for healthiest chicken sandwich and healthiest chicken nuggets.
There’s always a but, though. Even the McChicken, which ranked well on the health scale according to PlushCare, is not exactly a “healthy” choice. It’s just healthy in comparison.
“While the McChicken is significantly less unhealthy than other fast-food chicken burgers, it is still high in sodium, fat, and calories. Because it is made of ground chicken patty, the nutrients it does contain are not high-quality,” the report states.
Megan Schaltegger is an NYC-based writer. She loves strong coffee, eating her way through the Manhattan food scene, and her dog, Murray. She promises not to talk about herself in third person IRL.
