We all know fast food is bad for our health. Alas, many of us love it anyway.
If you simply can’t kick your fast-food habit, you can at least make it more healthful. Recently, telehealth platform PlushCare looked at five fast-food items at 24 chains and determined which restaurants offer the best option for your health — and the worst.
They rated each product based on its values for:
- Calories
- Sugar
- Saturated fat
- Sodium
PlushCare then scored the items based on the U.K. Department of Health’s nutrient profiling method. After adding up each product’s total “unhealthiness score” at each fast-food chain, the products were ranked across the restaurants.
Here are the worst fast-foods for your health — followed by a few that aren’t so bad.
The worst cheeseburger
Worst in class: Five Guys Cheeseburger
Unhealthiness Score: 50 points
Five Guys makes this burger with American-style cheese that is melted between two patties. It is placed on a toasted sesame seed bun and comes with as many toppings as you choose.
The worst chicken sandwich
Worst in class: Popeyes Classic Chicken Sandwich
Unhealthiness Score: 39
Popeyes says this sandwich is marinated in seasonings and hand-battered and breaded using the restaurant’s buttermilk system. It is then fried until it’s golden brown. Two buttery toasted brioche buns cover the meat, and the sandwich also gets a dollop of classic mayo.
The worst chicken nuggets
Worst in class: Popeyes Nuggets (eight-piece)
Unhealthiness Score: 30
Although PlushCare refers to them as “nuggets,” it appears they are describing Popeyes eight-piece Classic Signature Chicken Box. This chicken is marinated for 12 hours in herbs and seasonings before being battered and fried.
The worst fries
Worst in class: Regular Five Guys Style Fries
Unhealthiness Score: 28
Five Guys says these are boardwalk-style fries that are cooked twice in pure, cholesterol-free, 100% peanut oil. Cooking them twice leaves them firm on the outside and like a mashed potato on the inside, it says.
The worst vanilla shake
Worst in class: Fatburger Vanilla Milkshake
Unhealthiness Score: 63
Fatburger describes this beverage as “very vanilla and naturally thick.” It’s made with hand-scooped ice cream.
Healthier fast foods
If you are looking for better fast-food alternatives, the following might fit the bill. It would probably be wrong to call them “healthy,” but they can at least be considered the best choices in a bad bunch.
The best cheeseburger
Best in class: Culver’s ButterBurger
Unhealthiness Score: 17
Culver’s says this family specialty is made with fresh beef that is seared on a grill once you order. It is covered in a lightly buttered and toasted bun.
The best chicken sandwich
Best in class: McDonald’s McChicken
Unhealthiness Score: 14
McDonald’s tops this sandwich’s chicken patty with shredded lettuce and “just the right amount of creamy mayonnaise.” It is served on a toasted bun.
The best chicken nuggets
Best in class: McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets (10-piece)
Unhealthiness Score: 18
McDonald’s famously pairs its McNuggets with a variety of dipping sauces. McDonald’s says the McNuggets are made with “all white meat chicken and no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.”
The best fries
Best in class: In-N-Out Burger French Fries
Unhealthiness Score: 6
In-N-Out Burger says its fries come from the freshest potatoes and are cut individually in their stores. Fries are then cooked in 100% sunflower oil.
The best vanilla shake
Best in class: McDonald’s Vanilla Shake
Unhealthiness Score: 26
This McDonald’s shake combines vanilla soft serve with whipped light cream. The ice cream itself is reduced fat.
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