Quick Answer
A McDonald’s parfait without granola contains approximately 15-20 grams of net carbs. The exact carb count can vary depending on the specific fruit and yogurt used. But most versions clock in around 15-25g total carbs, with about 5g fiber, resulting in a net carb count of 10-20g.
What is a McDonald’s Parfait?
A McDonald’s parfait is a quick and easy breakfast or snack option consisting of layers of low-fat vanilla yogurt and fruit topped with granola. The standard parfait sold at McDonald’s contains:
- Low fat vanilla yogurt
- Fresh strawberries, blueberries, or peach slices
- Crunchy granola topping
The granola adds crunch and texture to contrast the creamy yogurt and sweet fruit. However, it also contributes a significant number of carbohydrates. By omitting the granola, you can reduce the carb content substantially.
Nutrition Info for McDonald’s Parfait
Here are the basic nutrition facts for a McDonald’s parfait with granola:
| Serving Size | 1 parfait (156g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 250 |
| Fat | 3.5g |
| Carbs | 45g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Sugars | 33g |
| Protein | 8g |
As you can see, a standard McDonald’s parfait with granola contains 45g total carbohydrates.
Now let’s look at the carb counts for a parfait without the granola:
Carbs in McDonald’s Parfait Without Granola
When you omit the granola topping, the carb content decreases significantly.
Here are approximate carb counts for a McDonald’s parfait without granola:
| Serving Size | 1 parfait (156g) |
|---|---|
| Total Carbs | 15-25g |
| Fiber | 3-5g |
| Net Carbs | 10-20g |
The exact carb count depends on the type of fruit used in the parfait:
- Strawberry parfait: 20g total carbs, 5g fiber, 15g net carbs
- Blueberry parfait: 18g total carbs, 4g fiber, 14g net carbs
- Peach parfait: 15g total carbs, 3g fiber, 12g net carbs
So without the added carbs from granola, a McDonald’s parfait contains roughly half the carbs compared to the version with granola.
Breakdown of Carbs in a McDonald’s Parfait
To understand where the carbs come from in a parfait, let’s look at the nutrition information for the individual ingredients:
Low Fat Vanilla Yogurt
| Serving Size | 113g |
|---|---|
| Total Carbs | 15g |
| Fiber | 0g |
| Sugars | 15g |
The yogurt contributes about 15g net carbs to the parfait. These carbs come from the naturally occurring lactose (milk sugar) in the yogurt.
Fruit
The fruit layer also adds carbs:
- Strawberries: 5g net carbs per 1 cup
- Blueberries: 10g net carbs per 1 cup
- Peaches: 12g net carbs per 1 cup
Since the parfait contains around 1/2 cup of fruit, this contributes approximately 5-10g net carbs depending on the type used.
Granola
| Serving Size | 28g |
|---|---|
| Total Carbs | 20g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Sugars | 8g |
The granola adds a significant 20g total carbs and 18g net carbs per serving. So by omitting it, you slash the carb count substantially.
How to Order a McDonald’s Parfait Without Granola
If you want to enjoy a parfait without all the carbs from granola, simply request it made without the granola topping. Most McDonald’s locations are happy to accommodate custom orders.
Some tips for ordering:
- Ask for a “parfait without granola”
- Specify the fruit you want (strawberry, blueberry, or peach)
- Request they leave off the granola topping
- You can also request extra fruit instead of granola if you’d like
The parfait may cost slightly less without the added granola. But the price likely won’t be adjusted much since granola is an inexpensive ingredient.
Low Carb Parfait Options
In addition to ordering a parfait without granola, you can further reduce carbs by:
- Asking for plain Greek yogurt instead of vanilla yogurt
- Getting extra fruit instead of granola topping
- Using the lowest carb fruits like strawberries and blueberries
- Avoiding syrups or sauces on top
- Opting for sugar-free yogurt if available
With customizations, you can get the carb count down to around 10g net carbs for the entire parfait.
Health Benefits of Low Carb Parfaits
Ordering a parfait without granola offers several benefits:
- Fewer carbs – You slash the carb count substantially by avoiding the high-carb granola
- Less sugar – Granola often contains added sugars, so you decrease sugar intake
- More fiber – The fruit provides filling fiber to help slow digestion
- Higher protein – Greek yogurt packs more protein than regular yogurt
- Nutrient-dense – Fruit provides essential vitamins and minerals
So enjoying a freshly made fruit and yogurt parfait without granola is a nutritious and delicious lower carb option for breakfast or a snack.
Conclusion
A McDonald’s parfait without granola contains approximately 15-20 grams of net carbs, depending on the fruit used. This represents about half the carbs compared to a parfait with granola.
By omitting the high-carb granola and customizing your order, you can enjoy the taste and nutrition of a yogurt parfait, while significantly reducing the carb content. Requesting no granola, extra fruit, and Greek yogurt are simple ways to make a McDonald’s parfait part of a low carb, high protein breakfast.
