Fast Food Calories

This category of food is named for a popular style of quick-service restaurants, which prepare food in mere minutes and typically have a drive-thru window for cars. Fast food products tend to be very high in calories, and the serving sizes are often larger than what one would cook at home. The number of calories in fast food can be inflated by added fat and sugar, and as with most convenience foods, the products are also loaded with sodium and other preservatives. Fast food menus usually contain items with low nutritional value, or empty calories. French fries are a prime example as they have high calorie density in the form of fat and simple starches; a large order of fries can contain as many calories as the main meal. As shown on the calorie chart, fast food restaurants can also serve lighter fare, for example a salad with grilled chicken, although it’s still wise to check the nutrition facts for a high amount of sugar and fat, which can be hidden in salad dressing and other flavorful additions. Detailed nutritional information can often be found in a calorie chart within the restaurant or on the fast food company’s website.