More sugar McD's Fruit & Maple Oatmeal or Snickers?

melzteach

On the radio yesterday, I heard that the McDonald's Fruit and Maple Oatmeal has more sugar than a snickers bar. That hardly seemed possible so I did a bit of research this morning. I found a NY Times article from late February this year. Writer Mark Bittman writes: "The aspect one cannot argue is nutrition: Incredibly, the McDonald’s product contains more sugar than a Snickers bar and only 10 fewer calories than a McDonald’s cheeseburger or Egg McMuffin. (Even without the brown sugar it has more calories than a McDonald’s hamburger.)"

You can find a copy of McDonald's nutritional information to download here: http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food/food_quality/nutrition_choices.html
I recommend taking a good long look at it next time you're tempted to eat at the golden arches. I've been with family before that wants to go there and instead of causing a big stink about eating there I know what I can eat that is "healthy". Keep in mind I'm using that term rather loosely in speaking of McDonald's menu.

You can read Mark Bittman's article here: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/how-to-make-oatmeal-wrong/

This site details the ingredients in the Fruit and Maple Oatmeal: http://www.befoodsmart.com/blog/the-21-ingredients-in-mcdonalds-fruit-maple-oatmeal/

fudie

i've seen the billboard and have been meaning to look into the health aspect of what they call a "healthy" alternative! MVP really does help open our views of what is being served as "heathy" around us! and as a side note, i went to Panera the other day and and i really love that place and with MFP i can get a HEALTHY option but my friend orders a salad (not a side garden salad or anything like it but a crazy huge loaded salad) and she says to me, its that over your calories? and i respond actually no its well within but that salad would have pushed me over and then some. she was surprised after all its a salad! but what is considered healthy isnt all that its cracked up to be sometimes!

melzteach

Well said!

chrissym78

McDonalds (all fast food really) is definitely decpetive! They might label it as healthy, but htat doesn't mean anything really. My kids love the occasional Happy Meal so when I wind up eating there, I get grilled chicken (no bun or sauce or anything) and a side salad with 1/2 packet of vinegarette dressing, and a coffee as a treat. You just gotta plan ahead

FearAnLoathing

The best thing you can do is reserch any place before you eat there.Dont just asume because they "say" its healthy it is.
Thats what i do. If i cant find out the nutrition info I dont eat there

heyitsmekatie

i believe it! that container of oatmeal is huge! when i make instant oatmeal for 100-130 calories, it's barely a 1/2 cup even AFTER i add the water! thanks for the post!

edited to change wording from "cup of oatmeal" to "container of oatmeal" -- don't want to confuse the two

Edestiny7

Yes, the McDonald's oatmeal is AWFUL nutritionally. It is ridiculous! You can make the oatmeal at home. This is what I eat every morning.

Mccann's - Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal, 1/4 cup
Fuji Apple , 45 grams
Walnuts Chopped, 15 grams
Pure Maple Syrup, 15 grams
Cinnamon, ground, 1 tsp

Calories: 317
Carbs : 47
Sugars: 17
Fiber: 7
Fat: 13
Protein: 7
Sodium: 2
Iron: 17

sarahsmom1

You also need to remember healthy does not not always mean low calories , low fat, or low in sugar

anubis609

I couldn't fathom the thought of going to a "fast food" spot for any healthy alternative reasons other than pure convenience. I don't buy anything outside if I can make it at home in the same amount of time that it would take me to get in my car, drive to the joint, wait in a drive-thru line, place an order, wait to pay, then fork over 3x the expense for less than half the serving size of what I could be making at home with a bigger portion, better healthy alternative ingredients, and less calories.

kmeekhof

You also have to take into account other factors than jsut the caloric content and sugar levels. How much saturated fat is that hamburger vs the oatmeal? How much fiber in the oatmeal vs that snicers bar... or "natural" sugars from the fruit vs all processed sugars in the snickers?

Am I saying it is "healthy?" Not necessarily, but the "health" factor has to be looked at from all points. Better yet, why dont you stay at home make your own oatmeal.

heyitsmekatie

I couldn't fathom the thought of going to a "fast food" spot for any healthy alternative reasons other than pure convenience. I don't buy anything outside if I can make it at home in the same amount of time that it would take me to get in my car, drive to the joint, wait in a drive-thru line, place an order, wait to pay, then fork over 3x the expense for less than half the serving size of what I could be making at home with a bigger portion, better healthy alternative ingredients, and less calories.

i just "got" your name. clever. i'm assuming it's a stage name...

Manda1987

Oatmeal can be super deceptive. There's a breakfast restaurant chain called Chez Cora's in Canada, that specializes in "healthy" cooking. Everything has mountains of fresh fruit, but it's also slathered in either cream or custard. They have a new oatmeal that made me laugh. They really emphasized the HEALTHY in their description. Like, every other word was healthy. Meanwhile, this oatmeal is "served on a bed of English cream", topped with maple syrup and more cream. Yup. Really healthy, guys.

I will continue to eat oatmeal at home. I add berries. Just berries.

callipygianchronicle

I posted about this last week after reading Bittman’s article. Beyond the unnecessarily high sugar content, Bittman makes (to me) a great point about the number of strange additives and unnecessary ingredients in the oatmeal. It made me look at Starbucks oatmeal for comparison, and the truth is that in terms of odd ingredients, Starbucks and Mcdonalds were not too far off (Mcdonalds was still higher in sugar). Here’s link to that thread, if you want to see the nutrition info:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/180191-mcdonald-s-oatmeal-sadly-not-much-better-than-a-sausage

melzteach

I posted about this last week after reading Bittman’s article. Beyond the unnecessarily high sugar content, Bittman makes (to me) a great point about the number of strange additives and unnecessary ingredients in the oatmeal. It made me look at Starbucks oatmeal for comparison, and the truth is that in terms of odd ingredients, Starbucks and Mcdonalds were not too far off (Mcdonalds was still higher in sugar). Here’s link to that thread, if you want to see the nutrition info:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/180191-mcdonald-s-oatmeal-sadly-not-much-better-than-a-sausage

Thanks!

anubis609

I couldn't fathom the thought of going to a "fast food" spot for any healthy alternative reasons other than pure convenience. I don't buy anything outside if I can make it at home in the same amount of time that it would take me to get in my car, drive to the joint, wait in a drive-thru line, place an order, wait to pay, then fork over 3x the expense for less than half the serving size of what I could be making at home with a bigger portion, better healthy alternative ingredients, and less calories.

i just "got" your name. clever. i'm assuming it's a stage name...

It's actually an alias I give to random strangers that I meet, say at the club or something. Of course, I say it as a joke, but with THE most honest introduction ever. It sounds like, "Hi. Nice to meet you. Phil. Phil McRotch. *Firm handshake*" The look on their faces is priceless when they hear it. :laugh: My MC/rapper name is actually Anubis. But for pure entertainment value, I have random quirks such as coming up with off-the-wall names, just for daily laughs.

heyitsmekatie

funny!