The Healthiest Fast Food Fries You Can Order In The U.S. Right Now
While you might not often spot the words "healthy" and "fries" in the same sentence, every fast food chain prepares the fan-favorite starchy side differently—and some are better than others. Five Guys, for example, has some of the most alarming nutritional stats in the industry. Just a single serving of the restaurant's Five Guys Style Fries has 953 calories. Steak and Shake, Bojangles, and Smashburger similarly landed on the list of unhealthiest fries.
This doesn't mean you have to (or even should) avoid them altogether (everything in moderation!). But you might just want to prioritize a healthier chain and consider portion sizes if you make fries a regular thing, registered dietitian and nutritionist Lauren Manaker tells Delish.
"The most significant issue with fast food can vary depending on your individual health needs. However, sodium often ranks as a key concern, as fast food meals tend to be very high in salt, which can impact heart health," she explains. "Saturated fats are another common factor to watch, as too much can contribute to cholesterol levels."
She adds that calories and carbs come down to portions and meal balance, which luckily, you can control. "If your fast food meal fits into your overall day of eating, they might be less of an issue," Manaker adds. "For fast food fries, focusing on keeping sodium and saturated fat levels in check would likely be prioritizing for most people."
Fortunately, we did the dirty greasy work for ya and pored over the calorie, fat, sodium, and carb facts from our favorite chains. We pulled stats for "regular" or "medium" orders only and these are the healthiest fast food French fries money can buy, better to best:
#6. Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen might fly a little more under-the-radar for its non-ice cream menu items (like fries), but they're actually on the healthier end of the spectrum—in comparison, at least—with 280 calories, 36 grams of carbs, 13 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, and 614 grams of sodium. The main thing to watch out for here is the sodium quantity.
#5. Sonic
While Sonic's fries are also a big high on the sodium scale (at 470 mg), the rest of its nutrition facts were more impressive, fries-wise: 290 calories, 38 grams of carbs, 13 grams of fat, and 2.5 grams of saturated fat. As with DQ fries, you'll just want to be mindful of your sodium intake for the rest of the day.
"Intake needs vary depending on your age, activity level, and health goals, but general recommendations include limiting saturated fat to less than 10% of your daily calories, keeping sodium to below 2,300 mg per day, and managing your total calories to align with your energy needs," Manaker explains.
#4. McDonald's
Micky D's reputation might not strike you as "healthy," but the chain's fries actually aren't too bad in the scheme of things, with 320 calories, 43 carbs, 15 grams of total fat, 2 grams of saturated fats, and 260 mg of sodium.
#3. Burger King
Burger King's French fries similarly clocked in at under 300 calories for a regular size. They have 287 calories in total, 38 grams of carbs, 12.9 grams of fat, 4.8 grams of saturated fat, and 210 mg of sodium. These stats are neck-and-neck with McD's, and though it's slightly higher in saturated fat, we give BK a the slight edge for being lower in calories, overall fat, and sodium.
#2. In-N-Out
While In-N-Out was slightly higher in calories and carbs, those key indicators Manaker said to look out for (sodium and saturated fat) were among the lowest. A "regular" order of fries clocks in at 360 calories, 49 grams of carbs, 15 total grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, and 150 mg of sodium.
#1 Healthiest Fast Food Fries: Wendy's
And finally, in our number one slot is Wendy's with the healthiest fries in the U.S. today. Their overall stats were impressive with just 239 calories, 31 grams of carbs,.8 grams of saturated fat, and 155 mg of sodium.
According to Manaker, these stats are "lighter" compared to your typical side of fast food fries. "With under 1 gram of saturated fat and 155 mg of sodium, they’re a more balanced option if you’re in the mood for fries," she says "That said, it’s still always a good idea to consider portion size and what else you’re eating that day. Having more moderate stats like these can make it easier to enjoy your meal without it significantly impacting your overall balance for the day."
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