Calories at Fast Food Restaurants — Complete Guide

A typical fast food combo meal (burger + medium fries + medium soda) totals 1,100-1,500 calories. A single cheeseburger is about 300 cal, medium fries are 380 cal, and a medium soda is 200 cal. The biggest calorie traps are upsizing, adding bacon and cheese, and choosing fried over grilled.

Fast food restaurants are convenient but calorie-dense. Knowing the calorie counts of common items helps you make smarter choices. Here is a calorie breakdown of typical fast food items.

Typical Items and Calorie Ranges

Item	Calories	Protein	Carbs	Fat	Notes
Cheeseburger (single)	300	15g	30g	14g	Basic burger
Big Mac	550	25g	45g	30g	Double patty, special sauce
Quarter pounder with cheese	530	30g	42g	27g	Heavier patty
Medium fries	380	4g	48g	19g	Fried, high fat
Small fries	230	2g	29g	11g	Save 150 cal
Grilled chicken sandwich	380	28g	40g	12g	Better than fried
Fried chicken sandwich	550	25g	48g	30g	Fried patty
Chicken nuggets (6 piece)	270	13g	16g	17g	Kids meal size
Medium soda (21oz)	200	0g	54g	0g	All sugar
Diet soda (21oz)	0	0g	0g	0g	Zero calories
Side salad (no dressing)	150	3g	10g	8g	With grilled chicken
Apple slices	15	0g	4g	0g	Kids side option

Ordering Tips to Cut Calories

Order a single burger instead of a double to save 200-300 calories
Choose small fries instead of medium to save 150 calories
Swap regular soda for diet or water to save 200+ calories
Choose grilled chicken over fried chicken to save 170 calories
Skip mayo and special sauce — each tablespoon adds 90 calories

Scan Any Meal for Exact Calories

Photo any dish and get instant calorie and macro breakdown — no app, no sign-up.

📷 Scan My Meal Free →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories in a fast food combo meal? ▼

What is the lowest calorie fast food meal? ▼

Are fast food salads healthy? ▼

How do I reduce calories at fast food restaurants? ▼

Medical Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only. This is not medical advice — talk to your doctor.