McDonald's Big Mac or Burger King Whopper: Which is Healthier?

If given the option, fast food is not generally the healthiest choice. Burgers tend to be some of the least healthy options on fast food restaurant menus. Burger King is known for its Whoppers, while McDonald's is well known for its Big Macs. Which is the healthiest option? Here are some of the things that you should know about the nutritional value of both Big Macs and Whoppers so that you can make the healthiest choice.

Big Mac vs. Whopper - Calories

The McDonald's Big Mac has a total of 540 calories. 260 of those are from fat. The Burger King Whopper has 670 calories. The online Burger King nutritional menu does not list how many of those are from fat. If you are trying to watch your daily calorie intake, the McDonald's Big Mac is clearly the smarter option, as it contains 130 calories less than the Burger King Whopper.

Big Mac vs. Whopper - Fat

The McDonald's Big Mac contains 29 grams of total fat. 10 grams of that are saturated. Burger King chose the right name for their leading burger, as the Whopper has a whopping 40 grams of total fat. 11 grams of that are saturated. The McDonald's Big Mac has 1.5 grams of trans fat, while the Burger King Whopper only has 1 gram of trans fat. The Big Mac is still the healthier of the two options, as it contains less total fat and slightly less saturated and trans fat.

Big Mac vs. Whopper - Sodium

The McDonald's Big Mac contains 1,040 mg of sodium. The Burger King Whopper only has 970 mg of sodium. If you're trying to watch your sodium intake, it is important to keep in mind that neither of these fast food burgers are the healthiest options. That said, the Burger King Whopper is slightly healthier in terms of sodium.

Big Mac vs. Whopper - Protein

Some fast food options tend to be better choices because they contain more protein than others. The McDonald's Big Mac contains 25 grams of protein, while the Burger King Whopper contains 28 grams of protein. These amounts are very close, though the Whopper does take the lead in terms of protein.

Big Mac vs. Whopper - Carbohydrates

The McDonald's Big Mac contains 45 grams of carbohydrates. The Burger King Whopper contains 51 grams of carbohydrates. It is always ideal to opt for fewer unrefined carbohydrates whenever possible. The Big Mac takes the lead in terms of fewer carbohydrates.

Overall, the McDonald's Big Mac is a healthier option than the Burger King Whopper. Though the Whopper contains more protein and less sodium, the Big Mac has less calories, total grams of fat, saturated fat, trans fat, and carbohydrates. Remember that both McDonald's and Burger King offer healthier options on the menu than these burgers.

Sources:

McDonalds Nutritional Value Information

Burger King Nutritional Value Information