The Best & Worst Menu Items at McDonald's
										For your next trip to McDonald's, here are the menu items to reach for and the ones to avoid.

The Best & Worst Menu Items at McDonald's For your next trip to McDonald's, here are the menu items to reach for and the ones to avoid.

So you’ve decided to treat yourself to a trip to McDonald’s. You’ve been dreaming of a juicy burger, craving their salty fries, and counting down the minutes to when you can get your hands on a McFlurry for dessert. But, when you finally make it there, you take a look at their enormous menu and find yourself overwhelmed by the amount of options. This may be especially difficult if you’re trying to stick to a somewhat “healthy” meal for yourself, or at least one that won’t completely derail your health goals. If this is the case, you’ll want to read to learn more about the nutrition found in the McDonald’s menu, to prepare yourself for what you’re getting into the next time you find yourself drawn to the Golden Arches.

Finding a healthier choice for yourself at McDonald’s is certainly possible, but it’s important to be aware of the fact that fast food by nature is more likely to contain certain unhealthy characteristics. Things like high levels of fat and saturated fat, calories, sodium, and added sugar make this ultra-processed food particularly harmful to your health if consumed consistently. In fact, some research has shown that consumption of fast food may increase risk of things like diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and even certain cancers.

With this in mind, knowing which menu options have lower levels of fat, calories, sodium, and sugar can help you make healthier choices next time you’re craving some fast food. For more on the McDonald’s menu nutrition information, read on to learn about what dietitians say are the best and worst items available. Then, make sure to check out the 21 Best Low-Sodium Fast-Food Orders.

The Worst Breakfast Menu Items at McDonald’s

“At 20 grams of protein, this Sausage McMuffin With Egg is one of the highest protein breakfast options at McDonalds,” says Goodson. “However, it also boasts almost two-thirds of your daily value for saturated fat and 480 calories, so remember to consume in moderation.” Also, the amount of sodium in this sandwich isn’t ideal, but compared to some of the other breakfast sandwiches at McDonald’s, this one isn’t as bad.

RELATED: The Wendy’s Breakfast Menu—Ranked by Nutrition

Goodson says “the sausage biscuit is higher in saturated fat than protein, and provides almost half your daily value of sodium,” which is what lands this sandwich on the list of worst breakfast options. “Biscuits will typically always be higher in calories than English muffins,” she adds. So, if you’re craving sausage, try something like the Sausage McMuffin instead.

The Best Breakfast Menu Items at McDonald’s

The Hotcakes and Sausage breakfast at McDonald’s has 13 grams of saturated fat, which, according to the American Heart Association, is your entire daily recommended amount. On top of the higher levels of saturated fat, you’ll also have to deal with the 46 grams of sugar and only 15 grams of protein, which could leave you feeling less satisfied and hungrier quickly after.

Speaking of saturated fat, the Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit also contains your entire daily recommended amount. According to Goodson, although this biscuit “has less total fat and more protein than its sausage counterpart, it is [also] the third-highest sodium breakfast item, providing over half of the daily recommended amount in one meal.”

The Worst Main Menu Items at McDonald’s

Even though the McDonald’s Hotcakes have less saturated fat than some of the other breakfast options, the 101 grams of carbohydrates, 45 grams of sugar, and only 9 grams of protein makes for an imbalanced meal that isn’t going to leave you feeling full or satiated.

Goodson says that the combination of sausage, egg, and biscuit leaves the calories, saturated fat, and sodium way too high in this meal. “If you’re craving eggs and sausage, nix the biscuit or opt for the McMuffin to cut down on sodium, saturated fat, and overall calories.”

“Combining the classic McGriddle with sausage, egg, and cheese packs on the calories, saturated fats, sodium, and even added sugars,” says Goodson. “For example, this breakfast provides a quarter of your daily allowance for added sugars, two-thirds for saturated fat, and over half for sodium. Not to mention, it clocks in at 550 calories.” Because of this, it may be best to leave this one behind.

Eating a big, nutrient-dense breakfast can be a great way to start your day, but even though this meal is “big,” it certainly misses the mark on nutrients. “At almost 800 calories, this breakfast platter is a quick way to overspend on your calorie budget for the day, with two-thirds of your daily allowance for sodium and almost all of your recommended daily intake for saturated fat,” says Goodson. “Nix the biscuit or hash browns to cut down on overall calories and fat.”

And just when you think it can’t get worse—it does. “The Big Breakfast with Hotcakes provides more than your daily value for saturated fat and almost your daily value for sodium, which can be a major concern for those watching their blood pressure or trying to reduce their risk of heart disease,” says Goodson. “Not to mention, it provides almost your daily amount of added sugars.”

It’s hard to find super healthy fast food breakfasts, but there are some choices that can harm you less than others. “The Sausage McGriddle keeps it simple with just sausage and cakes, and can be an option to satisfy your sweet-and-savory cravings without as much added sodium and saturated fats as the other McGriddle menu options,” says Goodson.

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