Nutrition and Wellness: Fast Food Comparison Analysis Report

This assignment involves a detailed nutritional analysis and comparison of Wendy's Grilled Chicken Sandwich and McDonald's McChicken. The student begins by calculating their Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), total daily calorie requirements, and BMI based on personal data. They then determine their daily protein intake, and the percentage of calories from protein, carbohydrates, and fats. The core of the assignment focuses on comparing the two fast food products, examining their nutritional information (calories, macronutrients, sodium, cholesterol, fiber, and allergens), and comparing them to the student's dietary needs. The student assesses the number of servings from each food group according to Canada's Food Guide. The assignment concludes with a comparison of the two products, including observations about fat, vitamins, and allergens, and a reasoned conclusion about whether either product is a good dietary choice for the student based on their calculated needs and current health status. The student concludes that neither product is a good choice due to high sodium, calorie, and trans-fat content, as well as undesirable fat and cholesterol levels, especially given the student's obese BMI.

Written Assignment 3: Fast Food Comparisons -1
1. Complete the following table:
Your height in centimeters 163
Your weight in kilograms 80
Your activity level 1.2 (sedentary)
Your BMR 1603 kilocalories
Total calories required per day 2292.29 kilocalories
Your BMI 30.11
Your BMI category Class I obese
Using the information that you reported above: (5 marks)
a) Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) using Mifflin-St Jeor equation:
BMR= (10xweight in kgs) + (6.25xheight in cms) - (5xage in years)-161
= (10x80) + (6.25x163)-(5x25)-161 = 1603 kcal
b) Calorie requirement for dietary thermogenesis
= (10% of sum of BMR and calorie required for physical activity)
= 10% x (1603+480.9) = 208.39 kcal
c) Calorie requirement for physical activity: 30% of BMR= 480.9 kcal
d) Total calorie requirement for a day
= (208.39+480.9+1603) kcal
= 2292.29 kcal
e) BMI – 30.11 (class I obese)
If the Acceptable Macronutrient range for Fats is between 20-35%, determine
how much of your daily calorie requirements this represents.
Complete the table:
Daily protein intake required in grams 64
% of total calories from protein 11.2
% of total calories from carbohydrate 60
% of total calories from fat 28.8
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Written Assignment 3: Fast Food Comparisons -1
Note: the sum of your protein, carbohydrate and fat % should total to 100%
and be equal to the total calories that you require on a daily basis based on
your BMR.(5 marks)
3. Product information
A. Wendy's Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Marinated in a blend of herbs, this juicy all-white meat chicken breast is
topped with smoky honey mustard, a spring green mix, tomato and a
premium bun. It just might be the best grilled chicken sandwich in town.
Provides 188 grams of chicken per serving.
Nutrition
Calories 370 calories Cholesterol 90 mg
Fiber 2 grams Sodium 780 mg
Protein 33 grams Sugar 8 grams
Carbohydrates 36 grams Vitamin A 2 % DV
Fat 10 grams Vitamin C 6 % DV
Saturated Fat 2 grams Calcium 4 % DV
Trans Fat 0.1 grams Iron 15 % DV
Smoky Honey Mustard
Soybean Oil, Dijon Mustard (Water, White Vinegar, Mustard Seed, Salt, White Wine, Sugar,
Spices, Pectin, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid), Water, Sugar, Honey, Tomato Paste, Brown Sugar,
Cider Vinegar, Liquid Egg Yolk, White Vinegar, Salt, Mustard Seed, Corn Syrup, Dehydrated
Garlic, Dehydrated Onion, Oleoresin Rosemary, Tamarind, Spices, Natural Flavour,
Oleoresin Turmeric, Xanthan Gum, Soy Lecithin.
Spring Mix
Baby Lettuces (Red & Green Romaine, Red & Green Oak, Red & Green Leaf, Lolla Rosa,
Tango), Spinach, Mizuna, Arugula, Tatsoi, Red Chard, Green Chard. The Ingredients in Each
Package May Vary.
Tomato
Tomato
Grilled Chicken Breast
Chicken Breast, Water, Seasoning (Salt, Natural Flavours, Corn Maltodextrin, Dextrose,
Spices, Dehydrated Garlic Powder, Dehydrated Onion Powder, Paprika, Gum Arabic, Yeast
Extract, Canola Oil, Sodium Citrate, Sugar), Potato Starch, Carrageenan, Xanthan Gum.
Premium Bun
Premium Bun: Enriched Wheat Flour (Barley), Water, Glucose-Fructose, Yeast, Soybean Oil,
Salt, Calcium Sulphate, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl-2-Lactylate, Isolated Protein (Pea,
Rice and Potato), Sunflower Oil, Dextrose, Maltodextrin, Corn Starch, Monoglycerides,
Calcium Propinate, Amylase, Glucoamylase, Glucose Oxidase, Lipase, Pentosanase.
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Written Assignment 3: Fast Food Comparisons -1
B. McChicken
Breaded seasoned chicken and crisp lettuce, topped with our Mayo-Style
Sauce. Some ingredients are just meant to be together. Provides 173 grams
of chicken per serving.
Nutrition
Calories 470 calories Cholesterol 45 mg
Protein 16 grams Sodium 650 mg
Carbohydrate 44 grams Sugar 6 gram
Fat 27 gram Vitamin A (4% DV)
Saturated Fat 4.5 gram Vitamin C (2% DV)
Trans Fat 0.2 gram Calcium (10% DV)
Fibre 3 gram Iron (20% DV)
Chicken Portion
Chicken meat, wheat flour, vegetable oil (canola, corn, soybean and hydrogenated soybean
oil), water, chicken skin, toasted wheat crumbs, corn starch, modified corn starch, salt, yellow
corn flour, canola oil, spices, sodium bicarbonate, sodium aluminum phosphate, potassium
chloride, flavour (hydrolyzed corn, soy and wheat gluten protein, disodium inosinate,
disodium guanylate), silicon dioxide, wheat starch
Sesame Seed Bun
Enriched Wheat Flour, water, sugar, yeast, vegetable oil (soybean and/or canola), salt, potato
flour, wheat gluten, monoglycerides, vinegar, sesame seeds, may contain any or all of the
following in varying proportions: malted barley flour, enzymes, ascorbic acid, wheat starch,
diacetyl tartaric acid ester of mono and diglycerides.Toasted in the same toaster that also
prepares other buns containing butter and egg.
Lettuce
Shredded iceberg lettuce
Mayonnaise Style Sauce
Soybean oil, water, prepared mustard (water, mustard seed, vinegar, salt, mustard bran),
liquid egg yolk, vinegar, sugar, salt, xanthan gum, potassium sorbate , calcium disodium
EDTA
Using the nutrition information and ingredients for the Wendy's Grilled
Chicken Sandwich and McChicken provided above complete the following
table. (10 marks)
Wendy's McDonalds
How many servings of each food group is
provided by the product according to
Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating?
Meat- 2.5
Grains – 2
Vegetables
(fresh/salad)-
1
Fats and oils-
Meat- 2
Grains – 2
Vegetables
(fresh/salad)-
1
Fats and oils-
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Written Assignment 3: Fast Food Comparisons -1
Wendy's McDonalds
1 2.5
What are the total calories for each
product? What % of your daily calorie
requirements does each product provide?
Total calories-
370 kcal
% of daily
calorie
requirements
provided-
16.14%
Total calories-
470 kcal
% of daily
calorie
requirements
provided-
20.5%
What are the calories from carbohydrate
for each product? How this compare to
your requirements for carbohydrates based
on your BMR/AMDR?
calories from
carbohydrate –
144 kcal
meets 10.5%
of the daily
carbohydrate
requirement
calories from
carbohydrate –
176 kcal
meets 12.8%
of the daily
carbohydrate
requirement
What are the calories from fat for each
product? How this compare to your
requirements for fat based on your
BMR/AMDR?
calories from
fat- 90 kcal
meets 13.63%
of the fat
requirement
calories from
fat- 243 kcal
meets 36.8 %
of the fat
requirement
How much sodium is in each product?
What is the %DV?
780 mg of
sodium
%DV - 32.5
650 mg of
sodium
%DV - 27.08
How much cholesterol is in each product?
What is the %DV?
90 mg of
cholesterol
%DV - 30
45 mg of
cholesterol
%DV - 15
How much fiber is in this product? Is this
product a good source of fiber?
2 gms (8
%DV)
Not a good
source of fiber
3 gms (12
%DV)
Not a good
source of fiber
Are there any allergens in the product? Soy lecithin,
wheat, eggs,
mustard
Wheat and
wheat gluten
protein, eggs,
sesame
seeds, soy
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Written Assignment 3: Fast Food Comparisons -1
Wendy's McDonalds
Is the product a good source of calcium? no no
3. Now, describe all other comparisons or observations you have made
between the 2 products. (5 marks)
 The amount of saturated fat is more in the McChicken
 The %DV of iron is more in the McChicken than the grilled chicken
sandwich
 The %DV of Vitamin A is less and vitamin C is more in the Grilled
Chicken sandwich, while the former is more and the latter is less in
the Mcchicken
4. Are either of these products a good choice for you? Why? (5 marks)
None of these products is a good choice because they are high in sodium,
calories and also contains trans-fat. They also provide a considerable
amount of fat and cholesterol, which is undesirable as the person is
already obese. Fats and cholesterol might contribute more towards the
weight gain in the individual. The micronutrient profile of these two foods
are also poor without any significant vitamins or mineral content.
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