Five Guys fries are unhealthy due to their large portion sizes, high calorie, fat (especially from being fried in peanut oil), and sodium content, plus the double-frying method and generous salting contribute to their indulgent, less-healthy profile, even though they use fresh potatoes and peanut oil. A small order can contain over 500 calories and significant fat, making them very calorie-dense fast-food fries, often considered among the unhealthiest options.
The problem is that Five Guys doesn't cook them correctly. French fries should be crispy on the outside and soft inside when they're finished cooking. At the very least, they should be dry. But because Five Guys fills paper bags with fries piled on top of each other, they steam themselves inside the bag.
The same study said that Five Guys has the unhealthiest fast food burger in the country, too. Five Guys' fries topped the list with 28 unhealthiness points based on their calories, sugar, saturated fat, and sodium content and how they stack up to the Department of Health's nutrient standards.
Neither Five Guys nor McDonald's offers truly "healthy" fast food, but studies often find Five Guys' burgers higher in calories, saturated fat, and sodium, making McDonald's a relatively better choice if you're watching those metrics, especially with simpler orders like a basic hamburger or chicken nuggets, though their fries and shakes are still high in unhealthy elements. Five Guys uses fresher ingredients (80/20 beef, no fillers), but their portion sizes and ingredient density (cheese, bacon, multiple patties) significantly increase nutritional downsides compared to McDonald's standard offerings.
Our potatoes are freshly cut, soaked in water and ONLY fried in refined peanut oil using fryers that cook absolutely nothing else. We also cook our fries twice to ensure they are firm on the outside and mimic a mashed potato on the inside.
A fast-food meal may feel incomplete without fries. But add fries at Five Guys (28 points), and you add 953 calories to your meal, and KFC's Secret Recipe Fries (17 points) add around 1,100 mg of sodium.
Do you use real potatoes for your Fries? Yep. The most common potatoes we use for McDonald's Fries include the Russet Burbank, Russet Ranger, Umatilla Russet and the Shepody—varieties known for producing a flavorful fry that's crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
1. Wendy's. Those who order a triple Baconator meal with large fries and a medium Frosty already exceed the daily recommended calorie intake by consuming 2,160 calories, WorldAtlas said after crunching the numbers. It also contains 54 grams of saturated fat and 3,400 milligrams of sodium.
There's no single "number 1" healthiest fast-food restaurant, as it depends on the meal, but Chipotle, Panera Bread, and Chick-fil-A frequently rank high for offering fresh, customizable options with good protein, though customization (like skipping sugary dressings) is key for health, with chains like Australia's Top Juice or Zambrero also scoring well for fresh juices and salads.
We source our potatoes from up north where the cool nights ensure they grow slowly and denser, ensuring a less starchy, better fry (in our opinion). They're never frozen and never pre-cut. Sure, it's a more difficult process and costs a bit more, but it's worth it.
1. Processed Meats Like Bacon, Hot Dogs, and Cold Cuts. Processed meats like bologna, ham, and bacon are high in calories and salt and are linked to increased risk of heart disease due to their impact on cholesterol and blood pressure, says Julia Zumpano, RD, registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
A 1000 calorie burger is a very large, calorie-dense meal, often found in fast food or made for "bulking" (muscle gain) by using large beef patties (250-350g), multiple slices of cheese, bacon, rich sauces, and substantial buns, totaling around 1000 calories or more, and is significantly more than a typical single-serving burger but common for some fast-food options or fitness-focused meals. These burgers provide substantial energy from fats, protein, and carbs but can leave you feeling very full or lethargic due to complex digestion, notes Reddit users.
#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.
While Shaquille O'Neal once owned a significant number (155) of Five Guys franchises, he sold them by the mid-2010s; currently, celebrity golfer Phil Mickelson is known for owning several Five Guys locations in Orange County, California, as part of his broader business ventures.
Wendy's. The honor of the best overall french fry goes to Wendy's. These fries were made with unpeeled potatoes, so there was a little bit of potato skin at the end of each fry for texture. The fries were crisped to perfection and perfectly salted.
Wendy's Jr hamburger, at 117 grams and 240 calories, has a caloric density of 2.05. McDonald's hamburger works out to 2.63; Sonic's Jr. hamburger comes in at 2.66; and Five Guys' Little Hamburger has a caloric density of 3.8 calories per gram. Strictly by calories, Wendy's wins out.
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In some cases, the results from inspectors are well below average. The chain has a long history of being unsanitary, as the chain topped Dateline's list of dirtiest fast food restaurants in 2003 (via NBC). The show looked at 100 locations, which had a combined total of 241 critical code violations.
Wendy's has been ranked as the most unhealthy fast food restaurant in the U.S., followed by Sonic, Taco Bell, and Dairy Queen, based on unhealthy ingredients in their menu items.
The following fast food chains are the 10 unhealthiest, the World Atlas report says:
The unhealthiest item at McDonald's is often cited as the Big Breakfast with Hotcakes, packing over 1,300 calories, nearly a full day's sodium, and significant saturated fat, making it a calorie and nutrient bomb, with other contenders including large shakes, certain Angus burgers, and large fries.
Lawsuits were brought against the McDonald's Corporation in the early 1990s for including beef in its US French fries despite claims that the fries were vegetarian. In fact, beef flavoring is added to the fries during the production phase.
McCain Family Favorite Fries are a delicious take on classic French fries. Made from 100% high-quality potatoes, each signature cut and seasoning bakes or fries to a light, fluffy interior with a crispy outside.