Introduction
Fast-food restaurants are a convenient option for busy people on the go, but not all value meals are created equal. Many fast-food value meals are loaded with unhealthy ingredients, such as sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars. In this article, we’ll take a look at the 10 worst fast-food value meals to stay away from right now. We’ll also provide healthier alternatives to these meals, so you can make better choices when you’re in a rush.
10 Worst Fast-Food Value Meals to Stay Away From Right Now
Fast-food value meals can be a great way to get a lot of food for a low price. But not all value meals are created equal. Some of them are loaded with calories, fat, and sodium, making them a poor choice for your health. Here are 10 of the worst fast-food value meals to stay away from right now.
1. Burger King Triple Whopper with Cheese
This meal packs a whopping 1,220 calories, 79 grams of fat, and 2,310 milligrams of sodium. That’s more than half of the daily recommended intake of calories, fat, and sodium.
2. McDonald’s Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese
This meal contains 760 calories, 45 grams of fat, and 1,450 milligrams of sodium. That’s more than a third of the daily recommended intake of calories, fat, and sodium.
3. Wendy’s Baconator Triple
This meal contains 1,090 calories, 69 grams of fat, and 1,820 milligrams of sodium. That’s more than half of the daily recommended intake of calories, fat, and sodium.
4. Taco Bell XXL Grilled Stuft Burrito
This meal contains 1,080 calories, 56 grams of fat, and 2,020 milligrams of sodium. That’s more than half of the daily recommended intake of calories, fat, and sodium.
5. KFC Double Down
This meal contains 920 calories, 60 grams of fat, and 2,080 milligrams of sodium. That’s more than half of the daily recommended intake of calories, fat, and sodium.
6. Arby’s Roastburger with Cheese
This meal contains 1,020 calories, 64 grams of fat, and 1,820 milligrams of sodium. That’s more than half of the daily recommended intake of calories, fat, and sodium.
7. Sonic SuperSonic Bacon Double Cheeseburger
This meal contains 1,040 calories, 64 grams of fat, and 1,820 milligrams of sodium. That’s more than half of the daily recommended intake of calories, fat, and sodium.
8. Jack in the Box Ultimate Cheeseburger
This meal contains 1,020 calories, 64 grams of fat, and 1,820 milligrams of sodium. That’s more than half of the daily recommended intake of calories, fat, and sodium.
9. Hardee’s Monster Thickburger
This meal contains 1,420 calories, 107 grams of fat, and 2,770 milligrams of sodium. That’s more than two-thirds of the daily recommended intake of calories, fat, and sodium.
10. Carl’s Jr. Double Six Dollar Burger
This meal contains 1,190 calories, 78 grams of fat, and 2,190 milligrams of sodium. That’s more than half of the daily recommended intake of calories, fat, and sodium.
If you’re looking for a fast-food value meal, make sure to check the nutrition facts before you order. Avoid these 10 worst fast-food value meals to stay away from right now and opt for healthier options instead.
A lot of us are looking to clean up our diets, but it’s hard to avoid the temptation of a drive-thru value meal at a fast-food restaurant. Inexpensive and fast, value meals can seem like you’re getting an affordable, quick lunch or dinner. However, there’s a difference between indulging and overindulging on value meals. The supersizing and double and triple patties can bring you over your recommended calories, sodium, fat, and sugar for the day before you’ve even finished your meal. “If you are eating these occasionally and you feel good, there’s nothing to worry about,” says holistic nutritionist Kristen Ciccolini. “The main thing I’d be concerned with if consuming these meals regularly is the sodium content.” Read on for the 10 worst fast-food value meals you should stay away from. (Plus, be sure to skip the 8 Worst Fast-Food Burgers to Stay Away From Right Now too.)
Per meal: 1,080 calories, 45 g fat (13 g saturated fat), 1,325 mg sodium, 144 g carbs (7 g fiber, 65 g sugar), 30 g protein
Steering clear of added sugar? You’ll want to skip this one, or opt for a diet soda, but that won’t solve everything. “This meal contains artery-clogging fat coming from the meat and cheese along with added sugar from the soda to make you want to skip it,” says Lisa Young, RDN. Not to mention the 1080 calories you’ll get at just one meal.
Per meal: 1,220 calories, 57 g fat (12 g saturated fat), 2,310 mg sodium, 140 g carbs (9 g fiber, 56 g sugar), 46 g protein
You’d think a chicken wrap would be relatively healthy, but not this meal! “With 1,220 calories, this meal contains more than half of your calories for the day so I suggest skipping it. And both the fries and soda provide virtually no health value; the fries are high in fat and the soda high in added sugar,” says Young. Plus, the above numbers are for a small fries and soda, if you opt for the large fries add an additional 240 calories to the meal.
Per meal: 1,260 calories, 57 g fat (22 g saturated fat), 1,685 mg sodium, 140 g carbs (7 g fiber, 63 g sugar), 53 g protein
This meal has way too much sodium (and it’s 1,260 calories!) Young weighs in: “This meal contains over 70 percent of the daily value for saturated fat and more than 60 percent of the daily value for sodium, making you want to skip it.”
Per meal: 1,380 calories, 57 g fat (13 g saturated fat), 3,360 mg sodium, 172 g carbs (10 g fiber, 60 g sugar), 51 g protein
At 1,380 calories for one meal, this sandwich combo would put some adults close to their recommended calories for the whole day! The insanely high sodium count isn’t great either. The CDC recommends people consume less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. “People with high blood pressure may want to avoid these foods,” says Ciccolini.
With a name like “Biggie Bag” you know this meal isn’t going to be the healthiest! Topping out at 1,350 calories, this meal contains a <a rel=”noopener noreferrer external nofollow” target=”_blank” href=”https://www.eatthis.com/news-worst-fast-food-value-meals/https
://order.wendys.com/product/31024/5-bacon-double-stack-biggie-bag”>double patty burger, sides of fries AND nuggets, and a soda. The burger alone clocks in at 480 calories and 260 of those are from fat. Steer clear if you’re watching your waistline![slidetitle num=”6″]Arby’s Half Pound Beef n Cheddar Meal[/slidetitle]
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[nutrinfo-black]Per meal
: 1,310 calories, 61 g fat (17 g saturated fat), 3,370 mg sodium, 141 g carbs (7 g fiber, 53 g sugar), 54 g protein
While a half-pound of beef piled with cheese and served with a large drink and curly fries may sound tempting, Ciccolini urges caution. “The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that the average person limit their consumption to 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day,” she says. “The Arby’s sandwiches alone exceed that and the combos skyrocket that intake—and keep in mind this is only one meal out of your day.”
Per meal: 1,310 calories, 61 g fat (17 g saturated fat), 3,370 mg sodium, 141 g carbs (7 g fiber, 53 g sugar), 54 g protein
One of the worst offenders on our list, we can’t believe how fast the additional calories stack up when you upsize this meal. The sandwich alone is 492 calories, but a large drink and side can take it all the way up to 1790 calories for one meal! Even the small sides add up to 1335 calories, so skip this combo and get the sandwich and a bottled water.
Per meal: 1,240 calories, 34 g fat (11 g saturated fat), 1780 mg sodium, 212 g carbs (13 g fiber, 125 g sugar), 27 g protein[/nutrinfo]
This is another sodium bomb and a hefty 1,240 calorie meal. This combo of a beefy five-layer burrito, crunchy taco, cinnamon twists, and a large soda, contains more than half the calories a man or woman should eat in a day, especially if it’s washed down with a regular soda. Also, the smattering a lettuce on the taco doesn’t count as a veggie.
This chain now offers a 4 for $4 deal, which means in addition to fries and a soda, you also get a side of nuggets with your sandwich (yikes!) This meal tops out at 1080 calories, with the nuggets adding 170 calories, 10 grams of carbs, and 11 grams of fat.
For only $5, this cheeseburger, fries, and soda meal may seem like a bargain, but you’ll be paying for this with your health. The big burger comes with a small fries and drink, but still clocks in at 860 calories.
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