Mac and Cheese But this dairy-laden pasta is just as bad as French fries when you look at the numbers. The average side order at chain restaurants has 436 calories, 24 grams of fat, 12 grams of saturated fat and 1,082 milligrams of sodium.
Is mac and cheese healthy for a diet? No. Traditional mac is high in saturated fats and sodium due to the amount of butter, cheese and milk it contains, which makes it a relatively unhealthy dish.
Because of their starch content, french fries are a high-glycemic food, posing a cardiovascular and metabolic health risk. However, they are high in fibre, water, and nutrients, which are beneficial. Therefore, limiting them and viewing them as an unhealthy once-in-a-while treat rather than a staple may be wise.
French fries have a lot of fat and salt that could raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Unfortunately, there are no concrete numbers for what moderation means for different people. For some, having a plate of fries once a week might be fine. For others, twice a month may be a better idea. “Everyone should limit their intake of fried foods, but there is not a one-size-fits-all answer,” Cox says.
Similarly, eating fries everyday will increase your risk of experiencing negative health effects (not as much as smoking mind you), but doesn't guarantee you will experience any negative consequences. Another problem – yes, there are more problems – with nutrition is we don't eat in isolation.
Mac and cheese contain a high amount of fat that can increase your cholesterol level. Eating more amount of calorie-containing food can lead to weight gain. If you consume larger portions of this food then it can increase your sodium intake. As a result, you will suffer from high blood pressure.
But, alas, the fresh-cut potatoes, fried in peanut oil, were named the Worst Regular Order of Fries. The nutritional breakdown of a large order: 1,464 calories, 71 g fat (14 g saturated) and 213 mg sodium.
"Sweet potato fries are often thought of as a healthier alternative to regular french fries. And while sweet potatoes themselves can come with a few extra health benefits, this is subject to change based on how they're prepared and cooked," says Emma Willingham, clinical dietitian at Houston Methodist.
Americans eat an average of 46 slices of pizza per person each year, according to MayoClinic.com. While pizza can be healthy if you make it the right way, most of the pizza you buy counts as junk food because of the high amount of refined carbohydrates, fat and sodium it contains.
Depending on the type of crust, the amount of cheese and the toppings used, pizza can rank anywhere from nutritionally decent to a diet disaster. Even healthy pizzas deliver a good amount of sodium from tomato sauce and cheese, so if you are watching your salt intake, you should eat with caution.
Doughnuts will cost you 250 to 550 calories, but the 15 to 30 grams of sugar in each is the real problem. With such a huge amount of sugar in a small package, your body pumps out loads of insulin to try to accommodate. A huge blood sugar spike leads to an even bigger sugar crash.