Many Americans will eat French fries as often as they eat at fast food restaurants, but they also don’t know what they’re putting into their bodies. After reading an article on Yahoo! Health, I decided to summarize their findings here and the link to the article will be provided at the end. The article also makes suggestions as to what you can eat instead of the sodium-filled, calorie-congested, and fat-loaded fries often consumed.
Nutrient: Fat: 65 grams (20 saturated)
Nutrient: Cholesterol: 300 milligrams
Nutrient: Sodium: 2400 milligrams
Nutrient: Potassium: 3500 milligrams
Nutrient: Carbohydrate: 300 grams
Nutrient: Fiber: 25 grams
Nutrient: Protein: 50 grams
I think it would be appropriate to begin with the worst of the worst. Packing a whopping 1,920 calories, 147 grams of fat (63 grams saturated fat), and 3,580 milligrams of sodium is Chili’s Texas Cheese Fries with Jalapeño Ranch. Basing this information on the suggested daily allowance for specific intake values in adults and children above 4 years of age on a 2,000 calorie diet, this would be enough calories in a single plate of these fries, and maybe some yogurt afterwards to meet calorie recommendations in a day. The fat content is nearly 2 and a half times as much is recommended for intake in a day, and the saturated is just over 3 times as much, with the sodium clocking in 1 and a half times as much as is recommend in a single day.
For the worst order of some plain ’ol regular fries? Try Five Guys fries, a restaurant chain that originated in Virginia, and their regular fries are packing 1,464 calories, 71 grams of fat- 14 grams of which is saturated- and 213 milligrams of sodium. Compare that to the suggested daily intake in the chart above, and you’ve exceeded your suggested fat intake, nearly reached the saturated fat intake, and are nearly ¾ of the way to your suggested daily calorie intake. Sodium on this one could be worse, but over 200 milligrams is plenty in one sitting. Add to that any burgers and/or hot dogs you may order, and you’re more than likely going to surpass everything.
For fans of Arby’s curly fries, you may be in for a big surprise, but what you’re putting into your body is even bigger. With 640 calories, 34 grams of fat (5 grams of which is saturated), and 1,460 milligrams of sodium, I’m sure these fries are delicious. Healthy? Not so much. As for wedge fries, Jack in the Box’s Bacon Cheddar Wedges are on the list at 715 calories, 45 grams of fat (13 grams saturated, 1 gram trans), and 905 milligrams of sodium.
I’m sure you’ve been waiting to learn what the “healthiest” French fries out there are, and you may or may not be surprised to learn they come from McDonalds. Their small French fries pack in 230 calories, 11 grams of fat- 5 grams saturated-, and 160 milligrams of sodium. Note that that is the small fries.
For alternatives to these unhealthy fry options, check out the original Yahoo! article, and especially try to read the last paragraph of their article for an interesting fact about the 3 largest fast food restaurant chains.
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/eatthis/46018/americas-worst-french-fries-and-what-you-should-eat-instead
Nutrient: Fat: 65 grams (20 saturated)
Nutrient: Cholesterol: 300 milligrams
Nutrient: Sodium: 2400 milligrams
Nutrient: Potassium: 3500 milligrams
Nutrient: Carbohydrate: 300 grams
Nutrient: Fiber: 25 grams
Nutrient: Protein: 50 grams
I think it would be appropriate to begin with the worst of the worst. Packing a whopping 1,920 calories, 147 grams of fat (63 grams saturated fat), and 3,580 milligrams of sodium is Chili’s Texas Cheese Fries with Jalapeño Ranch. Basing this information on the suggested daily allowance for specific intake values in adults and children above 4 years of age on a 2,000 calorie diet, this would be enough calories in a single plate of these fries, and maybe some yogurt afterwards to meet calorie recommendations in a day. The fat content is nearly 2 and a half times as much is recommended for intake in a day, and the saturated is just over 3 times as much, with the sodium clocking in 1 and a half times as much as is recommend in a single day.
For the worst order of some plain ’ol regular fries? Try Five Guys fries, a restaurant chain that originated in Virginia, and their regular fries are packing 1,464 calories, 71 grams of fat- 14 grams of which is saturated- and 213 milligrams of sodium. Compare that to the suggested daily intake in the chart above, and you’ve exceeded your suggested fat intake, nearly reached the saturated fat intake, and are nearly ¾ of the way to your suggested daily calorie intake. Sodium on this one could be worse, but over 200 milligrams is plenty in one sitting. Add to that any burgers and/or hot dogs you may order, and you’re more than likely going to surpass everything.
For fans of Arby’s curly fries, you may be in for a big surprise, but what you’re putting into your body is even bigger. With 640 calories, 34 grams of fat (5 grams of which is saturated), and 1,460 milligrams of sodium, I’m sure these fries are delicious. Healthy? Not so much. As for wedge fries, Jack in the Box’s Bacon Cheddar Wedges are on the list at 715 calories, 45 grams of fat (13 grams saturated, 1 gram trans), and 905 milligrams of sodium.
I’m sure you’ve been waiting to learn what the “healthiest” French fries out there are, and you may or may not be surprised to learn they come from McDonalds. Their small French fries pack in 230 calories, 11 grams of fat- 5 grams saturated-, and 160 milligrams of sodium. Note that that is the small fries.
For alternatives to these unhealthy fry options, check out the original Yahoo! article, and especially try to read the last paragraph of their article for an interesting fact about the 3 largest fast food restaurant chains.
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/eatthis/46018/americas-worst-french-fries-and-what-you-should-eat-instead
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