One of the most beloved foods, chicken nuggets are perfect for almost any occasion. Unfortunately, we nugget-lovers realize these breaded bad boys aren’t exactly the healthiest. It’s no secret Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s dominate the chicken nugget industry. That being said, one of these places sells way healthier nuggets.
Chick-fil-A Nuggets
The famous tender Chick-fil-A Nuggets are served in either 8-count or 12-count entrées and contain 260 calories, 12 grams of fat, 9 grams of carbs and 28 grams of protein.
According to the USDA, the average active male between 19 to 20 years old should consume 2,800 calories per day to maintain calorie balance. Moderately active females between the same ages should consume 2,200 calories per day.
What exactly does that mean? That’s almost 11 servings of Chick-fil-A nuggets for guys and eight servings for girls.
To truly enjoy the full Chick-fil-A experience, it’s best to eat these nuggets with the holy grail of condiments: Chick-fil-A sauce. This magical sauce contains 140 calories and 13 grams of fat. If you smother every nugget in sauce, these nuggets become a 400 calorie meal (kudos to you if you can resist the heavenly extra calories).
Chicken McNuggets
The epitome of fast food: McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets make the perfect, grease-filled treat. McNuggets come in all sizes, ranging from a box of four pieces to 40 piece containers (for the extreme nugget-lover).
A 10 piece serving of these golden pick-me-ups contains 440 calories, 27 grams of fat, 26 grams of carbs and 24 grams of protein. A six piece serving of nuggets holds a similar nutritional value to Chick-fil-A nuggets, with 270 calories, 16 grams of fat and carbs and 15 grams of protein.
Fun fact: McNuggets appear in four shapes because “three would’ve been too few. Five would’ve been, like, wacky.” Be on the lookout for the familiar bell, bone, boot and ball-shaped nuggets next time you order a Happy Meal, or a 40 piece container (no judgement).
Drumroll Please…
Chick-fil-A! Although both options are the perfect late-night snack, McNuggets are higher in calories, fat and carbs. Here’s some more food for thought: The second ingredient listed in McNuggets is water, which makes you really think about what you’re eating.
The next time you’re craving these breaded bad boys, opt for the healthier option of Chick-fil-A (unless you just love McNuggets because water or not, they are damn good).