McDonald’s is one among the foremost recognized franchises within the world. With over 37,000 locations globally, it’s also the foremost frequented nutriment restaurant.

In the quite 50 years the chain has been in business, it’s occasionally altered its menu offerings to stay up with the days also as plan to innovate new food fads. The menu at McDonald’s also varies from country to country, inspired by the culture and native tastes.

In general, though, there are some classic McDonald’s items you’ll encounter regardless of where within the world you place your order. the large Mac, McNuggets, and fries are among the foremost popular items on McDonald’s menu, but they’re far away from the healthiest.

Making nutritious choices at the drive-thru are often challenging, especially at nutriment restaurants with large and ever-changing menus. If you follow a particular diet, it are often even more of a challenge to seek out something safe and attractive . the great news is, McDonald’s makes the nutrition information of its menu readily available online. you'll even search consistent with specific ingredients or food allergens.

You may find it useful to review the complete nutrition content of a meal using McDonald’s online nutrition calculator. Knowing your options before you go can assist you plan an order that suits your tastes, dietary needs, also as your personal health and fitness goals.

There are some general tips for ordering nutriment that apply to McDonald’s also , like sticking to smaller portions, trying to find grilled options rather than fried, and avoiding carb-heavy extras.

What Experts Say“While McDonald’s offers sides of veggies and fruit also as salads, the bulk of their options are lower in veggies, whole grains, and fiber, and better in sodium. If you eat here on a daily basis, choosing meals that include whole grains and veggies and minimizing high sodium foods can help balance out overall nutrition for the day.”
— Willow Jarosh, MS, RD

Navigating the Menu

Most Nutritious Options


  • Fruit and Yogurt Parfait
  • Hamburger
  • McNuggets
  • Side Salad
  • Apple Slices
  • Vanilla Kiddie Cone
  • Bottled Water


Least Nutritious Options


  • Big Breakfast with Hotcakes
  • Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese
  • Buttermilk Crispy sandwich
  • Southwest Buttermilk Crispy salad
  • French Fries
  • Chocolate Shake
  • Blue Raspberry Slushie

Breakfast

You’ll find a variety of options on the McDonald’s Breakfast and every one Day Breakfast menus (which you'll order from any time of day). you'll choose between McDonald’s combat classic brunch items like egg sandwiches and pancakes (McMuffins and Hotcakes), standbys like yogurt parfaits and hash browns, also as a variety of McCafé Bakery treats and occasional drinks.

Most Nutritious Option

Fruit & Yogurt Parfait (No Granola)

180 calories, 2.5g fat, 1.5g saturated fat, 50 mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate, 26g sugar, and 5g protein.

Least Nutritious Option

Big Breakfast with Hotcakes

1340 calories, 64g fat, 25g saturated fat, 0.5g trans fat, 2090 mg sodium, 155g carbohydrate, 48g sugar, and 35g protein

Portion control is vital for selecting a lower-calorie breakfast which will still keep you satisfied. stick with individual menu items instead of breakfast platters, which are high in calories, fat, carbohydrates, and sodium.

You can also customize individual breakfast items to form them lower in calories and fat. for instance , a daily Egg McMuffin has 300 calories and 12 grams of fat. Without bacon, cheese, or butter, it's 210 calories and 6 grams of fat, but you continue to get 12 grams of protein.

Milk-based coffee drinks, like lattes and mochas, can add tons of additional calories, fat, and sugar to your breakfast—especially if you add syrup and topping . persist with a daily hot or ice coffee from the McCafé menu. Try a sugar-free, 0-calorie Flavor Shot like French Vanilla rather than cream and sugar.

Burgers


McDonald’s burgers range from simple single hamburgers to Quarter Pounders with cheese to the famous Big Mac. While most burgers are high in calories and fat, even the lighter options are often made into a high-carb, high-fat meal if you add an outsized side of fries and beverage .

Most Nutritious Option

Hamburger

250 calories, 8g fat, 3g saturated fat, 480 mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate, 6g sugar, and 13g protein

Least Nutritious Option


Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese

720 calories, 40g fat, 19g saturated fat, 2g trans fat, 1370 mg sodium, 43g carbohydrate, 10g sugar, and 49g protein

McDonald’s Big Mac is one among the very best calorie items on the menu with 540 calories and 28 grams of fat. If you would like the taste of the burger’s secret sauce, order it on a smaller burger or as a side for an additional charge.

Chicken & Sandwiches

From McNuggets and McChicken sandwiches to Filet o’ Fish, if you aren’t a lover of hamburgers, you’ll find other protein sources on the McDonald’s menu. Most of the chicken sandwiches are fried, but the Artisan Grilled sandwich is one option that's under 450 calories.

Most Nutritious Option


McNuggets (4 pieces)

170 calories, 10g fat, 1.5g saturated fat, 330 mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate, 0g sugar, and 9g protein

Least Nutritious Option


Buttermilk Crispy sandwich

600 calories, 29g fat, 5g saturated fat, 980 mg sodium, 58g carbohydrate, 9g sugar, and 27g protein

Salads

Fast food salads are often large, covered with high-calorie dressing , and topped with carb-heavy extras. McDonald’s salads are not any exception. In fact, they will be among the upper calorie items on the menu. you'll make a healthier salad, however, by ordering smaller portions, trying to find grilled instead of crispy protein options, and being choosy about dressing .

Most Nutritious Option


Side Salad (without dressing)

15 calories, 0g fat, 15 mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate, 1g sugar, and 1g protein

Least Nutritious Option


Southwest Buttermilk Crispy salad

500 calories, 25g fat, 6g saturated fat, 950 mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate, 9g sugar, and 27g protein

McDonald’s partnership with Newman’s Own means you’ll have a choice of lighter options. for instance , Newman’s Own Low-Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette has just 35 calories per serving.

Sides

McDonald’s iconic fries are the most side for any combo meal, but they’re a high-calorie, high-carb, and salty option. More nutritious options are often found on the kid’s menu and are regular additions to Happy Meals, like apple slices and yogurt.

Most Nutritious Option


Apple Slices

15 calories, 0g fat, 0 mg sodium, 4g carbohydrates, 3g sugar, and 0g protein

Least Nutritious Option


Fries (Large)

490 calories, 23g fat, 3g saturated fat, 400 mg sodium, 66g carbohydrate, 0g sugar, and 7g protein

If you’re trying to find a smaller portion of fries, you’ll also find a more sensible size on the kid’s menu: a cheerful Meal serving of fries has 110 calories, 5 grams of fat, 15 grams of carbs, and just 80 milligrams of sodium.

Dessert

The dessert options at McDonald’s combine favorites from other nutriment menus. You’ll find cool treats like milkshakes, soft serve, McFlurries, and sundaes also as warm bakery-style items like cookies and pie .

Most Nutritious Option


Vanilla Kiddie Cone

45 calories, 1g fat, 0.5g saturated fat, 20 mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate, 6g sugar, and 1g protein

Least Nutritious Option


Chocolate Shake (Large)

840 calories, 22g fat, 14g saturated fat, 1g trans fat, 420 mg sodium, 142g carbohydrate, 122g sugar, and 19g protein

Most McFlurry flavors are 500 calories or more within the standard size. for instance , a daily M&M McFlurry has 630 calories, 22 grams of fat, 96 grams of carbs, and 86 grams of sugar.

The smaller snack-size portion has 420 calories, 15 grams of fat, 64 grams of carbs, and 57 grams of sugar. While it’s still a high-calorie treat, you’ll save calories by enjoying one during a smaller size.

Beverages

You’ll find the standard selection of Coca-Cola fountain drinks at McDonald's and most meals accompany your choice of a beverage . Whether you’re dining out or making a meal reception , water is usually the healthiest drink choice. However, if you’re trying to find other beverages at McDonald’s that won’t add calories or sugar to your meal.

Most Nutritious Option


Dasani drinking water

0 calories, 0g fat, 0 mg sodium, 0g carbohydrate, 0g sugar, and 0g protein

Least Nutritious Option


Large Minute Maid Blue Raspberry Slushie

340 calories, 0g fat, 25 mg sodium, 92g carbohydrate, 89g sugar, and 0g protein

While diet soda, coffee, and ice tea might not add calories to your meal, confine mind that a lot of sugar-free, calorie-free beverages contain artificial sweeteners, like aspartame, which you'll like better to avoid.

Diet-Specific Options

If you follow a special diet, you'll find the massive menu at McDonald’s especially helpful. As is typically the case at nutriment or casual dining restaurants, cross-contamination of ingredients is tough to stop when all the food is ready during a shared kitchen space.

If you've got certain dietary needs or preferences, let the McDonald’s employee taking your order know. they'll be ready to accommodate your need for customizations.

Gluten-free

McDonald’s doesn’t designate any certified gluten-free options on its menu, but you'll find some items that don’t contain gluten or wheat. However, if you've got disorder , these choices might not be safe for you to consume, as they'll have inherit contact with allergens during the storage, prep, or cooking process.

Items at McDonald’s which will be suitable for gluten-free diets include:


  • M&M McFlurry
  • Fruit and Yogurt Parfait
  • Bacon Ranch Salad (no croutons)
  • Caesar Salad (no croutons or chicken)
  • Quarter Pounder, Hamburger, or Cheeseburger (no bun, invite lettuce wrap)

Low-carb


  • Side Salad
  • Chicken McNuggets
  • Sausage Breakfast Burrito
  • Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Tenders
  • Grilled Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad

Diabetes-Friendly


  • Hash Browns
  • Cheeseburger
  • Chicken McNuggets (4 pieces)
  • Bacon Ranch Salad (no chicken)
  • Side Salad (no croutons, light dressing)

Low-fat


  • Kid’s Fries
  • Hamburger
  • Fruit and Maple Oatmeal
  • Artisan Grilled sandwich
  • Side Salad (no croutons or dressing)

Low-sodium


  • Apple Slices
  • Fruit and Yogurt Parfait
  • Southwest Salad (no chicken)
  • Chicken McNuggets (4 pieces)
  • Vanilla Soft Serve (Kiddie Cone)

Vegetarian & Vegan

Depending on where you're within the world, you’ll find that some McDonald’s locations have more options for diners who don’t eat meat. within the us and Canada, vegan or vegetarian-friendly items might not work for all plant-based diets.

McDonald’s uses an equivalent equipment (such as fryers) to organize all its food. albeit you order an item from the menu that doesn’t contain animal products, it's going to are prepared alongside meat, dairy, or eggs.

The only vegan options at McDonald's are pre-packaged apple slices from the kid’s menu and therefore the chain’s famous Baked Apple Pies. Many beverage options, like black coffee and tea, also are vegan-friendly.

Vegetarian-friendly items at McDonald's may include:


  • Oatmeal
  • Side Salad
  • Smoothies and Shakes
  • Fruit and Yogurt Parfait or Go Gurt Yogurt
  • Hotcakes; Plain McGriddle, English muffin , Biscuit, or Bagel

McDonald’s french-fried potatoes and hash browns use beef flavoring, meaning that albeit they're made up of potatoes, they aren’t technically vegan and vegetarian-friendly options.

Food Allergies and Safety

If you've got a allergy , you'll want to review the ingredients list for McDonald’s menu which is out there online as a downloadable PDF. you'll also use a web tool to sort the menu consistent with certain ingredients or common allergens you'll got to avoid.

Common food allergens McDonald’s notes on its menu include:


  • Soy
  • Milk
  • Fish
  • Eggs
  • Sulfites
  • Wheat
  • Peanuts
  • Shellfish
  • Tree Nuts
  • Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

However, as all the food at McDonald’s is ready in shared kitchen space, the chain can’t guarantee your meal are going to be completely free from an allergen.

Cross-contamination of food allergens is feasible , so if you've got food allergies, always exercise caution when dining out.

With an outsized, varied, and ever-evolving menu of nutriment, McDonald's menu has something to suit many various tastes and diets. Most of the things, from breakfast and beyond, are high in calories, fat, and sodium—even the salads are often among the less-healthy choices. However, if you stick with smaller serving sizes, search for grilled options rather than fried, and devote most of your calories to the most a part of a protein-packed meal rather than carb-heavy sides or sugary desserts and drinks, it's possible to form a healthier choice at McDonald's.