Fast Food Burgers and Fries: Compare the Calories and Fat

 

I think I discovered why I’m fat. And why America is fat. And why our kids are growing up fat. It’s not just because they sit in front of a computer, a TV, or a video game in most of their spare time. It’s because we as a nation survive largely on fast food. Who has time to shop for healthy foods and prepare nutritious meals three times a day? Or even every evening for dinner? It’s a lot quicker and easier to pull through the drive-in on the way home from work. And besides, that salty, fat-laden grub tastes so darn good!

I’ll be honest. I knew fast foods, for the most part, were unhealthy, but I didn’t realize just how many calories and fat grams were in the most popular items – burgers and fries. Want a real eye opener? Check out the data below. Just think – a big burger, a large order of fries, and a big soft drink, and you’ve had just about your caloric needs for the entire day! And that doesn’t even take into account the other two meals you’re supposed to eat, or snacks. Or that mocha-choca-latte you drink on the way to work!

 

 

McDonald’s

Burger – 250 calories, 9 grams of fat

Quarter pounder – 410 calories, 19 grams of fat

Big Mac – 540 calories, 29 grams of fat

Large fries – 500 calories, 25 grams of fat

 

Burger King

Burger – 290 calories, 12 grams of fat

Whopper – 670 calories, 40 grams of fat

Steakhouse Burger – 950 calories, 59 grams of fat

Large fries – 580 calories, 28 grams of fat

 

Wendy’s

Junior burger – 230 calories, 8 grams of fat

¼-lb single – 430 calories, 20 grams of fat

Large fries – 540 calories, 26 grams of fat

 

Hardee’s

Burger – 310 calories, 12 grams of fat

Big Shef – 660 calories, 46 grams of fat

¼-lb Thickburger – 620 calories, 40 grams of fat

Large fries – 470 calories, 21 grams of fat

 

Checkers

Burger – 390 calories, 22 grams of fat

¼-lb Champ – 490 calories, 30 grams of fat

Large fries – 590 calories, 38 grams of fat

 

Krystal

Burger – 160 calories, 7 grams of fat (remember, these are small burgers)

BA Burger – 470 calories, 27 grams of fat

Regular fries – 470 calories, 20 grams of fat

 

Sonic

Junior burger – 310 calories, 15 grams of fat

Sonic Burger – 650 calories, 37 grams of fat

Super Sonic – 900 calories, 53 grams of fat

Large fries – 450 calories, 18 grams of fat

 

Okay, I’m making a vow to cook more often. Actually, hubby and I don’t get fast food that often. We probably eat it, on average, of once a week. My grandkids, on the other hand, eat it about five times a week. They’re all slim, but still, all that fat can’t be good for them. And all those calories could eventually catch up with them. Calories have a sneaky way of doing that. Our metabolisms slow down, but our appetites don’t. At least, that’s how it worked out for me.

To be fair, a lot of the fast food joints are now offering healthy salads. I’ve tried them, and they’re really tasty. But when you add all that fancy dressing, they end up with about the same amount of calories as a burger. I guess I’ll have to learn to eat them with fat-free dressing – you know – that stuff that tastes like watered-down latex paint. Kinda looks like it, too.