The Best Choices For Healthy Dining at McDonald’s

McDonald’s has come a long way since 1940 when brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald opened the first store in San Bernadino, California. Today, McDonald’s is one of the most recognizable brands in the world, with more than 40,000 locations in 120 countries and more than $6 billion in sales during the first quarter of 2024. The fast food giant is primarily known for it’s burgers and while it offers a variety of other options, they aren’t typically known for their healthy dining.

French fries, cheeseburgers, crispy chicken sandwiches, and other calorie-laden items aren’t exactly enticing to calorie-conscious diners, and McDonald’s isn’t exactly the first choice for those focused on healthy dining. However, there are menu items that do qualify as healthy dining (or perhaps healthy-ish depending on your definition). By researching each item, we’ve made it easy, and listed the top picks for you.

To determine the best choices for healthy dining at McDonald’s, MomsWhoThink.com reviewed data on nutrition for menu items from MenuStat, a program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute. McDonald’s food menu items with at least 50 calories were ranked based on the ratio of combined protein and dietary fiber to calories.

50. Honey Mustard Snack Wrap (Crispy)

• Protein: 14g
• Dietary fiber: 1g
• Calories: 330g
• Carbohydrates: 34g

49. Southern Style Chicken Biscuit (Regular Size Biscuit)

• Protein: 17g
• Dietary fiber: 2g
• Calories: 410g
• Carbohydrates: 41g

48. Bacon, Egg & Cheese Bagel

• Protein: 24g
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Calories: 560g
• Carbohydrates: 56g

47. Mac Snack Wrap

• Protein: 15g
• Dietary fiber: 1g
• Calories: 330g
• Carbohydrates: 26g

46. McSkillet™ Burrito with Sausage

• Protein: 27g
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Calories: 610g
• Carbohydrates: 44g

45. Chicken McNuggets (6 piece)

• Protein: 13g
• Dietary fiber: 1g
• Calories: 280g
• Carbohydrates: 18g

44. McRib

• Protein: 22g
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Calories: 500g
• Carbohydrates: 44g

43. Chicken McNuggets (10 piece)

• Protein: 22g
• Dietary fiber: 2g
• Calories: 470g
• Carbohydrates: 30g

42. Sausage McMuffin with Egg

• Protein: 21g
• Dietary fiber: 2g
• Calories: 450g
• Carbohydrates: 30g

41. Big Mac

• Protein: 25g
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Calories: 540g
• Carbohydrates: 45g

40. Chicken McNuggets (4 piece)

• Protein: 9g
• Dietary fiber: 1g
• Calories: 190g
• Carbohydrates: 12g

39. Premium Crispy Chicken Classic Sandwich

• Protein: 24g
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Calories: 510g
• Carbohydrates: 56g

38. Angus Deluxe Snack Wrap

• Protein: 20g
• Dietary fiber: 2g
• Calories: 410g
• Carbohydrates: 27g

37. Steak, Egg & Cheese Bagel

• Protein: 33g
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Calories: 660g
• Carbohydrates: 56g

36. Premium Crispy Chicken Club Sandwich

• Protein: 31g
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Calories: 620g
• Carbohydrates: 57g

35. Angus Chipotle BBQ Bacon Snack Wrap

• Protein: 21g
• Dietary fiber: 1g
• Calories: 400g
• Carbohydrates: 30g

34. Premium Crispy Chicken Ranch BLT Sandwich

• Protein: 27g
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Calories: 540g
• Carbohydrates: 56g

33. Angus Mushroom & Swiss Snack Wrap

• Protein: 22g
• Dietary fiber: 2g
• Calories: 430g
• Carbohydrates: 27g

32. Hamburger

• Protein: 12g
• Dietary fiber: 2g
• Calories: 250g
• Carbohydrates: 31g

31. Angus Bacon & Cheese Snack Wrap

• Protein: 21g
• Dietary fiber: 1g
• Calories: 390g
• Carbohydrates: 28g

30. Cheeseburger

• Protein: 15g
• Dietary fiber: 2g
• Calories: 300g
• Carbohydrates: 33g

29. Chicken Selects Premium Breast Strips (3 pc)

• Protein: 23g
• Dietary fiber: 0g
• Calories: 400g
• Carbohydrates: 23g

28. Chicken Selects Premium Breast Strips (5 pc)

• Protein: 38g
• Dietary fiber: 0g
• Calories: 660g
• Carbohydrates: 39g

27. Angus Deluxe

• Protein: 40g
• Dietary fiber: 4g
• Calories: 750g
• Carbohydrates: 61g

26. Big N’ Tasty With Cheese

• Protein: 24g
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Calories: 460g
• Carbohydrates: 37g

25. Big N’ Tasty

• Protein: 27g
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Calories: 510g
• Carbohydrates: 38g

24. Angus Chipotle BBQ Bacon

• Protein: 45g
• Dietary fiber: 4g
• Calories: 800g
• Carbohydrates: 66g

23. Double Cheeseburger

• Protein: 25g
• Dietary fiber: 2g
• Calories: 440g
• Carbohydrates: 34g

22. McDouble

• Protein: 22g
• Dietary fiber: 2g
• Calories: 390g
• Carbohydrates: 33g

21. Angus Bacon & Cheese

• Protein: 45g
• Dietary fiber: 4g
• Calories: 790g
• Carbohydrates: 63g

20. Angus Mushroom & Swiss

• Protein: 44g
• Dietary fiber: 4g
• Calories: 770g
• Carbohydrates: 59g

19. Southern Style Crispy Chicken Sandwich

• Protein: 24g
• Dietary fiber: 1g
• Calories: 400g
• Carbohydrates: 39g

18. Quarter Pounder with Cheese

• Protein: 29g
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Calories: 510g
• Carbohydrates: 40g

17. Egg McMuffin

• Protein: 18g
• Dietary fiber: 2g
• Calories: 300g
• Carbohydrates: 30g

16. Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese

• Protein: 48g
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Calories: 740g
• Carbohydrates: 40g

15. Ranch Snack Wrap (Grilled)

• Protein: 18g
• Dietary fiber: 1g
• Calories: 270g
• Carbohydrates: 26g

14. Honey Mustard Snack Wrap (Grilled)

• Protein: 18g
• Dietary fiber: 1g
• Calories: 260g
• Carbohydrates: 27g

13. Chipotle BBQ Snack Wrap (Grilled)

• Protein: 18g
• Dietary fiber: 1g
• Calories: 260g
• Carbohydrates: 28g

12. Premium Southwest Salad with Crispy Chicken

• Protein: 26g
• Dietary fiber: 6g
• Calories: 430g
• Carbohydrates: 38g

11. Premium Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich

• Protein: 35g
• Dietary fiber: 4g
• Calories: 460g
• Carbohydrates: 43g

10. Premium Bacon Ranch Salad (without chicken)

• Protein: 9g
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Calories: 140g
• Carbohydrates: 10g

9. Premium Southwest Salad (without chicken)

• Protein: 6g
• Dietary fiber: 6g
• Calories: 140g
• Carbohydrates: 20g

8. Premium Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich

• Protein: 27g
• Dietary fiber: 4g
• Calories: 360g
• Carbohydrates: 41g

7. Premium Bacon Ranch Salad with Crispy Chicken

• Protein: 29g
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Calories: 370g
• Carbohydrates: 20g

6. Premium Caesar Salad with Crispy Chicken

• Protein: 26g
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Calories: 330g
• Carbohydrates: 20g

5. Premium Grilled Chicken Ranch BLT Sandwich

• Protein: 31g
• Dietary fiber: 4g
• Calories: 380g
• Carbohydrates: 41g

4. Premium Caesar Salad (without chicken)

• Protein: 7g
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Calories: 90g
• Carbohydrates: 9g

3. Premium Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken

• Protein: 30g
• Dietary fiber: 6g
• Calories: 320g
• Carbohydrates: 30g

2. Premium Bacon Ranch Salad with Grilled Chicken

• Protein: 33g
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Calories: 260g
• Carbohydrates: 12g

1. Premium Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken

• Protein: 30g
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Calories: 220g
• Carbohydrates: 12g

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