Fast food outlets aren’t a regular destination for the health-conscious.
The occasional treat now and then won’t break the bank or the waistline, and studies reckon cheating on your diet now and then might make it more successful in the long run, but let’s not pretend any fast food chain is giving you calorie-efficient nutrition.
That said, some invest more time, energy and money into limiting the harms of their menus than others, with many favourites offering healthier options along with their treat meals.
Anyway, to the matter at hand: if you’re picking between fast food chains for a quick meal out, which one stands to do the least for your health?
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Thanks to a study from WorldAtlas.com which examined nutrition data, menu quirks and marketing ploys from the biggest US fast food chains, we’ve now got the answer.
The article ranked 10 chains based on their relative healthiness, factoring in things like calorie counts and pricing strategies that subliminally encourage high-calorie grub consumption.
Ranked at 10th on the unhealthiness scale was Chick-Fil-A, Little Caesar’s was placed in 9th, and Smashburger came 8th. They each had pretty calorific menu options, but WorldAtlas writer Nour Berjawi saved the top spots for some pretty mega offenders on the high-calorie scale.
McDonald’s came 7th, Quiznos landed in 6th, the colonel’s KFC hit the top of the bell curve in 5th, and Dairy Queen came 4th.
The top three?
In 3rd it’s meme-magnet Taco Bell, and in 2nd it’s Sonic Burger.
Leaving top spot to none other than acerbic social media titan Wendy’s.
The iconic chain came in at number one thanks in part to its Triple Baconator meal with a large fries side and a medium frosty drink. This particular combo features a mind-bending 2,160 calories, which is enough to clear through the average person’s recommended daily calorie intake in one sitting. That particular monster meal also features 54 grams of saturated fat and an eye-watering 3,400 milligrams of sodium.
If that isn’t enough to satisfy your appetite, you could chase with the limited edition Pretzel Bacon Pub Triple at 1,500 calories.
In terms of recommended calorie intake, every individual’s is different. Your activity level, gender, age, body composition, and more all have an impact on your basal metabolic rate.
However, FDA generally uses 2,000 calories per day as a reference point for nutrition advice on food labels.
If that sodium content in the Triple Baconator meal seemed high, it’s because it is. The American Heart Association recommends a maximum daily inake of 2,300mg, along with 13g of saturated fat.
FOODBible has approached Wendy’s for comment.
Rachael Davis