McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Calories | Is It Healthy?

McDonald’s quarter pounder is one of the best items on their menu that you can buy. Although it is famous for being meaty in bulk and has a good protein content, we cannot consider it healthy. In this article, I will tell you about McDonald’s quarter pounder calories and whether they are healthy.

McDonald’s Quarter Pounder has 520 calories in a single serving. Above that, it has 30 grams of protein and 1140 mg of sodium. These values are too high to call it healthy. However, you can have it as your lunch or dinner, at most twice a week. 

But that’s not all you need to know if you are conscious about your health. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need about McDonald’s quarter pounder burger calories and more. You can decide whether it is healthy after reading the whole article.

McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Ingredients

Let us look at the ingredient list of McDonald’s quarter pounder referred from the official website of McDonald’s.

1. Beef Patty

• 100% Pure USDA Certified Beef With No Added Extenders And Fillers.
• Prepared With Grill Seasoning (Salt, Black Pepper)
• Weighs 4 Oz 

2. Quarter Pound Bun (Wheat, Sesame)

• Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid) 
• Water
• Sugar
• Yeast
• Soybean Oil
• Contains 2% or Less: Sesame Seeds, Salt, Wheat Gluten, Dextrose, Guar Gum, Vinegar, Vegetable Proteins (Pea, Potato, Rice), Sunflower and/or Canola Oil, Maltodextrin, Natural Flavors, May Contain One or More Dough Conditioners (DATEM, Ascorbic Acid, Mono and Diglycerides, Enzymes), Modified Food Starch.

3. Pasteurized Processed American Cheese (Milk, Soy)

• Milk 
• Cream 
• Water
• Sodium Citrate
• Salt
• Cheese Cultures
• Citric Acid 
• Enzymes
• Soy Lecithin
• Colour Added.

4. Ketchup

• Tomato Concentrate From Red Ripe Tomatoes
• Distilled Vinegar
• High Fructose Corn Syrup
• Corn Syrup
• Water
• Salt
• Natural Flavors

5. Pickle Slices (Cucumber)

• Cucumbers
• Water
• Distilled Vinegar
• Salt
• Calcium Chloride
• Alum, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative)
• Natural Flavours
• Polysorbate 80 
• Extractives Of Turmeric (Colour)

6. Onions 
7. Mustard

• Distilled Vinegar
• Water
• Mustard Seed, Salt, Turmeric, Paprika, Spice Extractive.

How Many Calories Are In A McDonald’s Quarter Pounder?

One serving of McDonald’s quarter pounder will provide you with 520 calories. Below is the table you can refer to for all the nutritional values. 

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	520 cal
Carbohydrates	42 g
Proteins	30 g
Fats	26 g
Saturated fat	12 g
Trans fat	1.5 g
Cholesterol	95 mg
Sodium	1140 mg
Potassium	420 mg
Calcium	190 mg
Iron	4 mg
Total sugar	10 g
Added sugars	8 g

We have covered you with the complete nutritional guide of McDonald’s menu items. You will get everything regarding calories, carbs, and more on a single page.

Is McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Healthy?

No, McDonald’s quarter pounder is not healthy. The high levels of sodium and the presence of trans fat are why it is unhealthy. 

Per dieticians, one should consume at most 3000 mg of sodium daily. But this burger will serve you about 1140 mg of sodium in just one meal. High sodium in the diet can lead to various kidney issues, diabetes, and even hypertension.

Also, it has trans fat added. Doctors advise you to avoid trans fat in your diet. It can cause an increase in the risk of having heart attacks, a stroke, and type 2 diabetes as well. Trans fat also affects the cholesterol level.

Moreover, McDonald’s food is unsuitable for your body if taken excessively. After all, you cannot expect fast food to give you health benefits. 

Can You Make A Healthier Version Of The Quarter Pounder At Home?

Yes, you can make a healthier version of the quarter pounder at the ease of your home. We already have concluded that the McDonald’s quarter pounder is unhealthy for you.

Nevertheless, we can always figure things out. So here you go with the McDonald’s quarter pounder recipe if you wish to DIY at home.

Conclusion 

If you are looking for healthy meal options, McDonald’s quarter pounder cannot be your choice. No doubt it is filled with protein. However, the calorie count is too high to consider it healthy. So, you must leave this burger out of the breakfast meal. 

Therefore, McDonald’s quarter-pounder calories are too much for your body to assimilate. If you liked the above information, I suggest you also check out the calories of McDonald’s Hamburger, McDonald’s Big Mac, McDonald’s McChicken, and McDonald’s McDouble. 

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