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- The Unhealthiest Fast-Food Chicken Nuggets, Ranked (cheapism.com)
Your Childhood Favorite Might Be a Health Hazard: Ranking Fast-Food Nuggets from Best to Worst
Let’s face it: for many of us, chicken nuggets were a cornerstone of childhood diets. Doused in sauce and devoured with gusto, they were a simple pleasure. But as grown-ups who now understand things like “blood pressure” and “saturated fat,” it’s time to ask the tough questions: which fast-food nugget is actually the unhealthiest?
A recent study by the telehealth platform PlushCare dove deep into the nutritional facts, ranking nine popular fast-food nuggets based on calories, saturated fat, sugar, and sodium. While most of these bite-sized delights pack a salty punch, one chain managed to stand head and shoulders above the rest in the saturated fat department, nearly doubling its closest competitor.
Here’s the countdown, from the “least offensive” to the true heavy-hitter of unhealthiness:
9. McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets (10 pc)
Unhealthiness Score: 18
- Energy: 5 points
- Saturated Fat: 4 points
- Sugar: 0 points
- Sodium: 9 points
Good news, millennials! Your beloved childhood McNuggets are surprisingly the least “unhealthy” on this list. While 430 calories and 750 milligrams of sodium aren’t exactly a health halo, they’re the best of the bunch when stacked against the competition.
8. KFC Kentucky Fried Nuggets (10 pc)
Unhealthiness Score: 19
- Energy: 4 points
- Saturated Fat: 0 points
- Sugar: 0 points
- Sodium: 15 points
A big surprise here: KFC’s nuggets boast zero saturated fat! We’re guessing the Colonel’s secret recipe involves a lot of magic (or maybe just really good oil management).
However, the sodium takes a dramatic leap, with 140 milligrams per nugget. It seems “brined” is the key to both flavor and a high sodium count.
7. Wendy’s Crispy Chicken Nuggets
Unhealthiness Score: 20
- Energy: 5 points
- Saturated Fat: 5 points
- Sugar: 0 points
- Sodium: 10 points
Wendy’s offers a middle-of-the-road nugget experience. They’re fine for that occasional drive-thru craving, delivering 180 calories and 12 grams of fat for a four-piece. Decent, but nothing that’ll have your cardiologist sending you a thank-you note.
6. Chick-fil-A Nuggets (8 pc)
Unhealthiness Score: 22
- Energy: 3 points
- Saturated Fat: 3 points
- Sugar: 0 points
- Sodium: 16 points
Chick-fil-A, often hailed as the “golden child” of fast food, takes a significant hit in the sodium department. An eight-piece serving packs a staggering 1,210 milligrams of sodium. Perhaps those cardiologists deserve their own cult following, after all.
5. Jack in the Box Chicken Nuggets (8 pc)
Unhealthiness Score: 22
- Energy: 5 points
- Saturated Fat: 4 points
- Sugar: 0 points
- Sodium: 13 points
Jack’s nuggets fly just under the radar, tying with Chick-fil-A in overall “unhealthiness” score. They’re a bit heavier on the fat than Chick-fil-A with 27 grams but slightly lighter on the salt.
4. Burger King Chicken Nuggets (8 pc)
Unhealthiness Score: 25
- Energy: 6 points
- Saturated Fat: 6 points
- Sugar: 0 points
- Sodium: 13 points
An eight-piece order from Burger King piles on 245 calories, 16 grams of fat, and 495 milligrams of sodium. These nuggets are like that greasy handshake you immediately regret accepting.
3. Shake Shack Chicken Bites
Unhealthiness Score: 26
- Energy: 6 points
- Saturated Fat: 6 points
- Sugar: 0 points
- Sodium: 14 points
Don’t let the “Shack” in the name fool you into thinking “upscale” means “healthy.” These chicken bites are bold in flavor, and equally bold in fat. Definitely not the lighter option by any stretch of the imagination.
2. Arby’s Premium Nuggets (9 pc)
Unhealthiness Score: 29
- Energy: 6 points
- Saturated Fat: 7 points
- Sugar: 0 points
- Sodium: 16 points
These purveyors of roast beef also pack a surprising punch in the nugget game. Just nine Arby’s nuggets deliver 370 calories, 25 grams of fat, a notable 7 grams of saturated fat, and 700 milligrams of sodium. That’s a lot of nutritional “damage” for something without a bun.
1. Popeyes Nuggets (8 pc)
Unhealthiness Score: 30
- Energy: 5 points
- Saturated Fat: 13 points
- Sugar: 0 points
- Sodium: 12 points
And the winner (or loser, depending on your perspective) is Popeyes! Their nuggets claim the top spot for most unhealthy, and it’s not even a close race.
An eight-piece serving brings 380 calories, 27 grams of total fat, a staggering 13 grams of saturated fat, and 590 milligrams of sodium. Simply put, these are delicious little grease grenades—and your arteries will definitely notice.
So, the next time you’re craving those crispy, golden-fried nuggets, you might want to consider the scoreboard. While delicious, some of our fast-food favorites come with a side of significant nutritional baggage.
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- The Unhealthiest Fast-Food Chicken Nuggets, Ranked (cheapism.com)