Fast Food Salad Nutrion

In this paper, we will be analyzing the nutritional facts of three fast food chains (McDonalds, Chick-fil-a, and Taco Bell.) We will be answering the question as to whether a salad or a combo meal is a healthier option and why it is so. Which fast-food chain is the healthiest of the three and lastly whether it is better to order a combo meal or a salad at a fast-food restaurant?

The first chain we will be analyzing is McDonalds. We will be comparing the Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad and the Cheeseburger Combo. At McDonalds, the healthier option is definitely the salad. The fries alone from the combo meal are almost enough to match both the amount of calories and the amount of fat contained in the salad, add the cheeseburger and you can almost double those numbers. Not only that but surprisingly there is more protein in the salad, and you are getting considerably more vitamins into your diet with the salad than you would have gotten from the cheeseburger combo.

At Chick-fil-a, we compared the Chargrilled Chicken and Fruit Salad with a Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich and waffle fry combo. The findings were very similar to that of McDonalds. The salad once again being the better option, being half the amount of calories as well as half the amount of fat as the sandwich and fries, and again much higher in daily vitamin intake.

At Taco Bell our findings were the opposite. The Three Taco Combo ended up being a healthier option than the Fiesta Taco Salad. The salad was actually higher in calories and in fat.

From these findings we gathered that Chick-fil-a was the healthiest of the three fast-food chains having the lowest amount of calories and fat and also ranking the highest in daily vitamin value. We cannot say with certainty that a salad will always be the healthier option as this does not align with our Taco Bell comparison, but it appears to be so more often than not from the other two comparisons.