Figures from McDonald’s US nutrition information , collected by Boone, checked 11 September 2026
Chicken McNuggets (4 piece) Happy Meal, as published. High and Low follow FDA’s 20% and 5% Daily Value marks. Calorie split calculated by Boone. How
The Chicken McNuggets (4 piece) Happy Meal as published, seen four ways.
1 of 3 is 20% of the Daily Value or more in one kids meal, FDA’s mark for high.
Sodium is the biggest issue: 510mg is 22% of the Daily Value in one kids meal.
Already the lowest in sodium of its section on the menu.
Sodium limits by age: 22% for an adult, 34% at age 4 to 8.
For age 4 to 8, 510mg of sodium is 34% of the day’s 1,500mg limit in one kids meal.
Already the lowest in sodium of its section on the menu.
For age 9 to 13, 510mg of sodium is 28% of the day’s 1,800mg limit in one kids meal.
Already the lowest in sodium of its section on the menu.
For age 14 to 18, 510mg of sodium is 22% of the day’s 2,300mg limit in one kids meal.
Already the lowest in sodium of its section on the menu.
Protein counts in your favour here, but the saturated fat is still 18% of the Daily Value.
19g of protein, #30 on the menu. Per calorie the McCrispy Strips (smaller) gives more: 7.8g per 100 calories against 4.8g.
Most protein per calorieMcCrispy Strips (smaller) →31g protein in 400 caloriesHere the 510mg of sodium counts as useful after sweaty exercise.
40g of carbohydrate, with 39% of the energy from fat.
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 81% of the 247 items on the menu.
More fibre per calorie than 78% 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 and saturated fat 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.
37 ingredients across 4 parts; 12 are additives or processed (orange).
Group 4 because of the additives or industrial ingredients listed above. How NOVA works →
395 calories as published. That is 20% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels.
For a child aged 4 to 8 it is 34% of the day’s 1,500mg sodium limit in one item. It has no added sugar.
14g of total sugars, of which 0g is added sugar as published. That is 0.0 teaspoons and 0% of the 50g Daily Value. The Dietary Guidelines advise no more than 10g of added sugar a meal from age 11.
19g, 4.8g per 100 calories. It ranks #30 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 and saturated fat. This is Boone’s reading of the FDA criteria; McDonald’s USA makes no ‘healthy’ claim.
Yes, NOVA group 4. The ingredient list includes colours, flavourings, raising agents and flavour enhancers.
Of the 9 major US allergens, it contains milk and wheat.
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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