Healthy Living

Fast Food Fries: The Best and the Worst

by Kim Conte February 24, 2010 at 11:20 AM

fries

This might just be the best day of my life. The Eat This, Not That! guys have deemed McDonald's Small French Fries the "Best Fast Food Fries in America," at least as far as nutrition is concerned. These are, in fact, the very same fries that I once in a while reward myself with, say after a particularly hard, productive day of work or if I'm feeling a little cranky (but not if I'm trying to eat like an Olympic athlete).

With 230 calories, 11 grams of fat, and 160 milligrams of sodium (I feel so healthy!), McDonald's small fries are the most nutritious choice when compared with other fast food fries including:

Dairy Queen Chili Cheese Fries

1,240 calories
71 grams of fat (28 g saturated, 0.5 g trans)
2,550 milligrams sodium

And (gasp!):

Chili’s Texas Cheese Fries w/Jalapeno Ranch

1,920 calories
147 grams of fat
3,580 milligrams of sodium

Check out which other fast food chains made it on the worst French fries in America list.

Do you have a favorite fast food fry?

Healthy Fast Food Guide

Fast Food Nutrition Website

Add Comment 6

Filed Under: eating healthy, nutrition

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kim Conte

has shoes that make people stop her on the street and ask "Where did you get those?" but it doesn't work for taxi cabs as she was hit by one ... and lived to tell the tale. She has more freckles than Lohan but way less attitude. And she's a fierce cook with tons of recipes to share -- and wishes she could share some with Bourdain.

Extra Sugar

Tasty Treats from Our Partners

Man Jumps Off Empire State Building & What Happens Next Is Unbelievable

Partner Headlines

Man Jumps Off Empire State Building & What Happens Next Is Unbelievable - Newser
Jennifer Aniston Strips for the Camera - Celebuzz
Man Dead for 40 Minutes Shockingly Comes Back to Life - Wetpaint Moms
Kendall Jenner Shares Revealing Photo - ET Online
Proof That Kardashian Wedding Was Staged - Newser

Featured Videos

Add Comment

Comments 6

Peajewel

February 24, 2010 at 11:53 AM

There is a small chain her in Ohio, actually just a very small portion of Ohio but it is called Hamburger Station and they make the best french fries in the world! They are cut fresh all day and cooked! They also make fresh onion rings too! Okay, now I have to go, off to Hamburger Station! hee hee

Report this comment

Nonmember comment from Katrina

February 24, 2010 at 3:53 PM

I'm sorry, but i don't get how you can compare a small non covered fry to two fries smothered in chili and cheese. OBVIOUSLY they are going to be way higher in fat and calories - there are more ingredients and the portion size is most likely larger. You should be comparing the exact same types of foods if you're going to do something like this. Im sure there are lots of other fry places that are lower then mcdonalds if you aren't loading them with chili and ranch dressing.

Report this comment

wheresthewayout

February 27, 2010 at 2:38 AM

When I came to this story I thought it was going to be about all the PLAIN fries out there, not one set of plain fries compared to fries coverd with food. I wanted to know the difference between Wendy's,Burger King and Mcdonalds PLAIN fries. Did you know the reason why Mcdonalds fries are so addicting is that they have sugar added to the salt shaker, our brain senses the sweetness and wants more

Report this comment

pagirl71

February 27, 2010 at 9:46 AM

there's a big difference than regular fries and fries loaded with cheese and chili. Make you comparison to others for the same product.

Report this comment

2MonstersxMommy

March 1, 2010 at 12:57 PM

It's funny because McDonalds french fries have sheep bowels in them. They aren't JUST potatoes. That's what makes them so much more delicious--they add a bunch of crap. How's that for healthy??

God Bless

Report this comment