McDonald’s might not be best known for having low-calorie food, but it’s remained one of the most popular fast-food chains for decades. Like many fast-food restaurants, McDonald’s has plenty of high-calorie items that might not bode well for the calorie-conscious diner.
That’s not to say that McDonald’s doesn’t have lower-calorie options, though! (There are even low-sodium choices if you’re watching your blood pressure.) While these menu items might not all be considered as low-calorie as spinach or other true low-calorie foods, they pack fewer calories compared to the other menu choices.
Some of the lowest-calorie items at McDonald’s include:
- Hash Browns
- Certain side dishes and sauces
- Iced latte
- Hamburger
Which items made the lower-calorie lists for each category? We’ve grouped them in easy-to-read charts so you can choose the lowest-calorie menu items (if you want – we’re not here to judge).
Lowest-Calorie McDonald’s Breakfast Items
The calories for McDonald’s breakfast items range from 140-1340. We’re including breakfast items with 400 calories or less per serving.
| Name | Calories |
| Egg McMuffin | 310 |
| Sausage McMuffin | 400 |
| Sausage Burrito | 310 |
| Hash Browns (2) | 140 |
| Fruit & Maple Oatmeal | 320 |
Lowest-Calorie McDonald’s Burgers
The calories of McDonald’s burgers range from 250-740. We’re including burgers with 450 calories or less.
| Name | Calories |
| McDouble | 400 |
| Cheeseburger | 300 |
| Double Cheeseburger | 450 |
| Hamburger | 250 |
Lowest-Calorie McDonald’s Chicken & Fish Sandwiches
The calories for McDonald’s chicken and fish sandwiches range from 390-530. The sandwiches with 470 calories or less are:
| Name | Calories |
| McCrispy | 470 |
| Filet-O-Fish | 390 |
| McChicken | 400 |
Lowest-Calorie McDonald’s Sides
The calories of side dishes at McDonald’s (fries, apple slices, sauces, etc) range from 0-230. The sides with 50 calories or less are below:
| Name | Calories |
| Apple Slices | 15 |
| Tangy Barbeque Sauce | 45 |
| Spicy Buffalo Sauce | 30 |
| Honey | 50 |
| Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce | 50 |
| Ketchup Packet | 10 |
| Mustard Packet | 0 |
Lowest-Calorie McDonald’s Coffees
The calories in coffee at McDonald’s range from 0 to as high as 430. The lowest-calorie coffees at McDonald’s have 210 calories or less:
| Name (standard=size small) | Calories |
| Cappuccino | 110 |
| Caramel Cappuccino | 210 |
| French Vanilla Cappuccino | 210 |
| Americano | 0 |
| Premium Roast Coffee | 5 |
| Iced Coffee | 140 |
| Iced Caramel Coffee | 140 |
| Iced French Vanilla Coffee | 150 |
| McCafe Latte | 140 |
| Iced Latte | 80 |
| Iced Caramel Latte | 180 |
| Iced French Vanilla Latte | 180 |
Lowest-Calorie McDonald’s Sweets & Treats
Most of the lowest-calorie McDonald’s sweet treats are ice cream-based. The treats with the lowest calories (the range is 170-640 for the current menu) have 230 calories or less per serving — but beware, most aren’t gluten-free unless you have the skip the cone part of the vanilla cone).
| Name (standard=size small) | Calories |
| Vanilla Cone | 200 |
| Baked Apple Pie | 230 |
| Chocolate Chip Cookie | 170 |
Lowest-Calorie McDonald’s Beverages
The beverage options at McDonald’s include sodas, frozen drinks, smoothies, and more. If you want a beverage at McDonald’s, the calorie range is from 0-370. The lowest-calorie drinks have 100 calories or less per serving.
| Name (standard=size small) | Calories |
| Diet Coke | 0 |
| Frozen Fanta Blue Raspberry | 60 |
| Frozen Coca-Cola Classic | 60 |
| Sweet Tea | 100 |
| Unsweetened Iced Tea | 0 |
| Hot Tea | 10 |
| Honest Kids Appley Ever After Organic Juice Drink | 35 |
| 1% Low Fat Milk Jug | 100 |
| Dasani Water | 0 |
FAQs:
While the definition of “healthy” is a bit subjective, the Fruit & Maple Oatmeal is higher in fiber than many breakfast options at McDonald’s, which makes it a decent heart-healthy choice. It’s a bit higher in sugar than is ideal, so skip the packet of sweetened dried fruit to slash 70 calories and 14 grams of sugar.
The Mocha Frappe is the highest-calorie McCafe item with 430 calories for a small (17 grams of fat and 51 grams of sugar). Consider brewed coffee, a latte, or an Americano for a much lower-calorie option.
Fast food is often higher in fat and sugar than foods you’d prepare at home. If you’re trying to be more health-conscious, it’s ideal to eat most of your meals at home and save eating out for special occasions. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a trip to Mickey D’s, though!
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