While many people have a “sweet tooth” I consider myself more of a “salt tooth.” While others dream of decadent chocolate desserts, I envision salty French fries dancing in my head. In high school after a complete physical examination by my MD, I found out I had high cholesterol.

The guilty culprit was a Ma-and-Pa fast food joint which catered to a student’s meagre budget—a “lunch box special” which consisted of a slurpie, fries, gravy and a hamburger for only $3 was the hot seller, and what I devoured a few times a week. The fact that I had high cholesterol came as quite a shock to me. My petit frame did not divulge any unhealthy eating habits; I had what some people call “a fat person trapped in a skinny body” syndrome.

Since that day, I’ve been more mindful of what I consume and am trying (often unsuccessfully) to curb my salt tooth cravings. In an attempt to discourage myself and others from succumbing to greasy deliciousness, here is a very unscientific compilation of the nutritional value of a standard hamburger and fries from McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King and Dairy Queen. Since there is a smorgasbord of bad components in every fast food item, I’ve highlighted just a few of the worst: calories, fat, cholesterol and sodium content.

So if you are like me and are trying to eat more fruits and veggies, the next time you have a hankering for fast food, remember these pictures.