Fast food is not necessarily bad for your health.
But it’s definitely better when it is.
And unfortunately, some of the tastiest foods are, as Ice Cube would say, “unhealthy.”
Pricelisto, a price tracking site, did the research for us. They analyzed more than 1,000 fast food items from five of the country’s top fast food restaurants: McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, and KFC.
The rating (from 1 to 100) is based on the number of calories, grams of fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, and sugars as a percentage of the recommended daily intake for an adult male, according to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines.
McDonalds
McDonald’s only has two products on its list, but they’re the top two. The worst product on the list is the Big Breakfast with Hotcakes (large biscuits). It scores 70.08. Right behind it is the roughly identical product, the Big Breakfast with Hotcakes (regular biscuits), which scores 66.43. Let’s be honest, if you’re going to break your diet, you might as well get the big one!
To slow down:A Healthy Breakfast at McDonald’s Is Possible: Top Picks for Diet-Conscious Mornings
Burger King
Apparently your approach right now isn’t very good for you, because BK has six of the top 10 worst articles, according to this list.
At Burger King, the Cheddar Bacon King sandwich comes in third with a score of 65.96. Not far behind, in order, are the Bacon King sandwich (65.96), the Bacon King sandwich (64.57), the Triple Whopper cheese sandwich (64.26) and the Double Stacker King (57.25).
Burger King also has the 8th and 9th worst items on the list with the Triple Whopper sandwich (55.46) and the BK Ultimate Breakfast Platter (53.81).
At Wendy’s
Wendy’s entered the top 10 with its Dave’s Triple (57.15) and Two Sausage Biscuits (53.39).
KFC
Who knew KFC was healthy? Okay, let’s not go that far, but its most popular item on the list comes in at #11, and I think that’s cheating. The family-sized potato salad scored 49.84. But who eats an entire family-sized plate all by themselves? The next most popular item falls in at #33 (the secret recipe fries, 33.07).
Taco Bell
Run to the border if you’re looking for healthy food. You have to go all the way down to 28 for Taco Bell’s first item, and it’s a 12-pack of Cinnabon Delights, with a score of 35.75. Again, who would eat 12 Cinnabons? Okay, maybe I would.
You won’t find a lot of healthy options when you stop at a fast food drive-through, but if you’re looking to avoid certain foods, this would be a good place to start.
“Many American fast food options are high in calories, saturated fat and sodium, which can contribute to a variety of health problems,” Pricelisto said in a press release. “While fast food can be enjoyed in moderation, regular consumption can likely exceed the recommended dietary allowance, so it’s important for consumers to make informed decisions when dining out.”
“These findings highlight the need for greater awareness and education regarding the nutritional impact of fast food consumption. Furthermore, they underscore the broader responsibility of the industry to provide more nutritious choices to help mitigate the adverse health effects associated with fast food.”
