Figures from McDonald’s US nutrition information , collected by Boone, checked 11 September 2026
Big Breakfast with Hotcakes, as published. High and Low follow FDA’s 20% and 5% Daily Value marks. Calorie split calculated by Boone. How
The Big Breakfast with Hotcakes as published, seen four ways.
3 of 3 are 20% of the Daily Value or more in one breakfast item, FDA’s mark for high.
Saturated fat is the biggest issue: 24g is 120% of the Daily Value in one breakfast item.
Lower saturated fatPlain Bagel →0.5g saturated fat (2% DV), 270 caloriesSodium limits by age: 90% for an adult, 138% at age 4 to 8.
For age 4 to 8, 2,070mg of sodium is 138% of the day’s 1,500mg limit in one breakfast item. The Dietary Guidelines advise no added sugar at this age; this has 41g.
Lower-sodium swapFruit & Maple Oatmeal →150mg sodium, 10% of the 1,500mg limitFor age 9 to 13, 2,070mg of sodium is 115% of the day’s 1,800mg limit in one breakfast item.
Lower-sodium swapFruit & Maple Oatmeal →150mg sodium, 8% of the 1,800mg limitFor age 14 to 18, 2,070mg of sodium is 90% of the day’s 2,300mg limit in one breakfast item.
Lower-sodium swapFruit & Maple Oatmeal →150mg sodium, 7% of the 2,300mg limitProtein counts in your favour here, but the saturated fat is still 120% of the Daily Value.
36g of protein, #8 on the menu. Per calorie the McCrispy Strips (smaller) gives more: 7.8g per 100 calories against 2.7g.
Most protein per calorieMcCrispy Strips (smaller) →31g protein in 400 caloriesHere the 2,070mg of sodium counts as useful after sweaty exercise.
158g of carbohydrate, and 42% of the energy is fat, which is slow to digest. Better after a long session than in the hours before one.
Sugar naturally in milk, fruit and vegetables is not added sugar. Dietary Guidelines →
For smaller portions: the most nutrition per calorie, against all 247 McDonald’s US items.
More protein per calorie than 62% of the 247 items on the menu.
More fibre per calorie than 75% of the 247 items on the menu.
McDonald’s USA does not publish vitamins or minerals for this item, so Boone does not estimate them.
Would not meet FDA’s ‘healthy’ criteria for a main dish: over the sodium, saturated fat and added sugars limits.
43 of 247 McDonald’s US items are within the limits for their category. Portion weight estimated by Boone from similar items.
FDA final rule, December 2024. Food makers must comply by 25 February 2028.
74 ingredients across 9 parts; 33 are additives or processed (orange).
Group 4 because of the additives or industrial ingredients listed above. How NOVA works →
Sausage Biscuit with Egg 17g protein, 1,190mg sodium530
Sausage, Egg & Cheese McGriddles 19g protein, 1,290mg sodium550
Hotcakes 9g protein, 530mg sodium580
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Bagel 25g protein, 1,320mg sodium590
Steak, Egg & Cheese Bagel 34g protein, 1,510mg sodium680
Big Breakfast 27g protein, 1,540mg sodium760
Hotcakes and Sausage 15g protein, 810mg sodium770
Big Breakfast with Hotcakes 36g protein, 2,070mg sodium1,3401,340 calories as published. That is 67% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels.
For a child aged 4 to 8 it is 138% of the day’s 1,500mg sodium limit in one item. It has 41g of added sugar, and the Dietary Guidelines advise none for children aged 10 and under. A Fruit & Maple Oatmeal has 150mg of sodium, 10% of that limit.
48g of total sugars, of which 41g is added sugar as published. That is 10.2 teaspoons and 82% of the 50g Daily Value. The Dietary Guidelines advise no more than 10g of added sugar a meal from age 11.
36g, 2.7g per 100 calories. It ranks #8 of 237 items on the menu for protein. The McCrispy Strips (smaller) gives the most protein for the calories, 7.8g per 100 calories.
No. Judged as a main dish, it is over FDA’s limit for sodium, saturated fat and added sugars. This is Boone’s reading of the FDA criteria; McDonald’s USA makes no ‘healthy’ claim.
Yes, NOVA group 4. The ingredient list includes emulsifiers, acidity regulators, preservatives and colours.
Of the 9 major US allergens, it contains milk, eggs, wheat and soybeans.
Source. McDonald’s US nutrition information , per item as sold.
Collected. Copied by Boone from McDonald’s USA’s published figures. Data checks are led by Murray Dare.
Calculated by Boone. Labelled where it appears.
References. FDA Daily Values; USDA estimated calorie needs; Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025 to 2030; sodium limits by age from the National Academies; FDA ‘healthy’ claim criteria.
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