Home › Compare

Chick-fil-A vs McDonald's: nutrition compared

Which is healthier, Chick-fil-A or McDonald's? Calories, protein and sodium for every main meal on their 2026 menus, side by side.

2026Freshest menu data

The short answer

By the numbers, McDonald's is the easier place to eat light: it wins 4 of 6 rows. Chick-fil-A still has good picks, listed below.

	Chick-fil-A	McDonald's
Main meals in our data	74	36
Light, high protein meals (≤500 cal, 20 g+ protein)	29 (39%)	8 (22%)
Median meal	515 cal	505 cal
Median sodium	1,700 mg	1,130 mg
Most protein per calorie	Hash Brown Scramble Bowl with Grilled Filet-No Hash Browns: 270 cal, 30 g	Mccrispy Strips (3 Piece): 400 cal, 31 g
Lightest meal	Berry Parfait with Granola: 270 cal	6 Chicken McNuggets: 250 cal
Most protein	Cobb Salad with Chick-Fil-A Chick-N-Strips: 44 g	Spicy Chicken Mcnuggets (20 Piece): 52 g

Green marks the better number for weight loss. Main meals only: 12 g+ protein, no drinks, sides or desserts.

Best orders at Chick-fil-A

20 g+ protein, most protein per calorie first


Hash Brown Scramble Bowl with Grilled Filet-No Hash BrownsBreakfast · Grilled Filet-No Hash Browns	270	30 g	2 g	16 g	n/a
12 Chick Fil a NuggetsEntrées · 12	380	40 g	16 g	17 g	n/a
4 Chick n StripsEntrées · 4	410	39 g	22 g	19 g	n/a
3 Chick n StripsEntrées · 3	310	29 g	16 g	14 g	n/a
Egg White GrillBreakfast	300	27 g	29 g	8 g	n/a

Best orders at McDonald's

20 g+ protein, most protein per calorie first


Mccrispy Strips (3 Piece)Breakfast · 198 g	400	31 g	24 g	20 g	1,320 mg
Mccrispy Strips (4 Piece)Breakfast · 264 g	530	41 g	32 g	26 g	1,760 mg
Double Quarter Pounder w/ CheeseBurgers · 278 g	740	48 g	43 g	42 g	1,360 mg
Quarter Pounder w/ CheeseBurgers · Cheese	520	30 g	42 g	26 g	1,140 mg
Bacon Quarter Pounder with CheeseBurgers · 221 g	630	36 g	43 g	35 g	1,470 mg

Eat at Chick-fil-A or McDonald's. Still lose weight.

At both chains, the Hash Brown Scramble Bowl with Grilled Filet-No Hash Browns is 270 calories and the Double Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese is 740. MenuTrim builds your personal plan and shows which one fits today.

Daily calories for your goalFrom your weight, goal weight and pace.
A protein target and a per-meal limitSo one meal out doesn't take the whole day.
The date you'll reach your goalAn estimate from your pace, updated as you log.
both chains orders that fit, marked15,000+ dishes at 50 chains, all from 2026 menus.

Build your plan in the app.

Full menus: Chick-fil-A nutrition · McDonald's nutrition.