Fat and Calorie Content of Fast Food Versus a Home-Cooked Meal

Updated June 26, 2019 | Infoplease Staff

Eating fast food once in a while won’t hurt you, but too much of it can cause serious problems. Most fast food contains too many calories, salt and artery-clogging cholesterol to eat every day, or even once a week. Here’s a look at how many calories and grams of fat are packed into fast food. Keep in mind that kids ages 7 to 12 should eat about 2,200 calories per day, while adults should consume around 2,000 calories per day. Exercise levels and current weight can affect these numbers. Note the totals of the single meals at the fast food restaurants comprise almost a full day's calories!