Lunch at McDonald's.....WOW.

Cytherea

Even without someone handing you a pamphlet outlining the exact caloric values, you should probably be able to remember that beef, cheese, bread made entirely of sugar and sawdust, and deep fried potatoes are probably less healthy than a salad, even drenched in dressing and croutons and niblets and cranberries and whatever else they cram in there.

"Cheeseburger and fries.... now is that in the healthy or not healthy group? I just can't remember! Panic!"

Seriously, why would you post this if you didn't want to be held accountable?

This is so not true. And it has been proven time and time again. There are a LOT of salads that are way worse than a burger or other sandwich options. I can't believe you've never heard this before. Check out some of the salads at fast food and other chain restaurants and compare them to the burgers. Here are some links to just a few articles that did such comparisons (but there are tons more out there):

http://consumerist.com/2007/05/the-myth-of-salads-why-why-fast-food-salads-arent-necessarily-going-to-help-you-lose-weight.html
http://947thewave.radio.com/2010/08/11/six-salads-that-do-more-damage-than-a-burger/
http://www.thatsfit.com/2011/05/11/9-salads-calorically-worse-than-a-big-mac/
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38741683/ns/today-today_health/t/restaurant-salads-are-worse-whopper/#.T1b4o4fPGAo

And check out these links too:

http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/myth-or-fact-the-salad-at-fast-food-joints-is-the-healthiest.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-299653/McDonalds-salad-fatty-burger.html
http://positively-healthy.com/583/making-choices-burger-vs-salad/

Do some research. Don't throw blanket statements like that out there. That kind of advice could actually hurt someone who would have gotten a 300-700 calorie burger and ends up ordering the 1000+ calorie salad instead and eats the whole thing (because it is only a salad, after all, so how can you go wrong, right? Eeeeeek!!!!).

Nadyasmom

.....but I didn't have a choice. .

nonsense

Rude and not helpful.Tthoubut gh if it makes you feel better to pass judgement, you could just keep it to yourself next time. Better yet as others have done, offer a suggestion that adds to the conversation.

ha...you are passing judgment on me. feel better?

Yeah, I feel a little better...Thanks for asking. I realize the irony. I'm sure you've had alot sucess (though there is no way to tell since your profile is all private-tized) and you only want to help people improve their health so I vote we put DAVE in charge of bustin' chops. A little tough love is probably what some people need. He can't be a bad guy, he has kittens on his profile pic.

Lmao.... but I wanted to be in charge of the chop-bustin'. Really though this is all a bit ridiculous. Suggestion for tomorrow's headlines? How about " A lady eats too much McDonalds somewhere in the midwest: INTERNET CHAOS ENSUES."

Hahahahahahahaha...yes, exactly. So OP made some bad choices. He/She knows it, has owned up to it, and is moving on. So WHY can't the rest of us move on?? Come on, tell me that the rest of us have never ended up eating something that wasn't the best choice?

douglasmobbs

a few hundred calories one way or another is not going to make or break a diet. What will is what happens afterwards, if the mistake strengthens your resolve and you learn from the mistake it is fine, if one mistake leads to another and another then that is when the problem manifests

Lorleee

My lunch today......cost less than $3.50 and was 900 calories. I knew it'd be high.....but I didn't have a choice. Wish they'd post nutritional info. I asked......they didn't have any flyers. ( Tomorrow is a new day.

Yep, tomorrow is a new day. You ate some fast food, went over your daily allotted caloriesby a couple hundred and are now back on track. I don't get why some people are freaking out like you ate battery acid for lunch.:laugh:

beattie1

If we go to Mc D's I have a Big Mac and a side salad - the Big Mac is 490 cals, 1/3 of the sachet of balsamic dressing on a side salad (10 cals) is another 8 cals and a diet coke adds 4 = 512 calories. Big deal!

Checking my facts when writing this I discovered that a Big Mac in the States has 570 calories. I knew that you had smaller pints than we do (had a surprise the first bar we went in...), but I didn't know that you had smaller calories too :drinker:

alocin1709

Wow ...lots of comments!
I didn't read them all ...and if you do then good on you.

Sometimes I get a little disappointed that in our society choices for food and its price can be really challenging.
Good on the Golden Arches for having a menu that is affordable and venues that are many and varied.
Shame the nutritional content isn't more eater friendly, not just for those changing weight and eating patterns but for society as a whole.
We here in Australia have an obesity issue, our country consumes too many calories and our weight is not in healthy ranges ...yet the fast cheap name branded food instury continues to flourish ...go figure?.

Best wishes on your journey for change ...to one and all

p.s. I have the app on a smartphone and check calories out before making choices ...sure has helped me make hard (for me) choices around what I may consume

shadowkitty22

Wish it were a law to post nutritional values (never saw any posted in KS, OK, MO)......flyer on the trays were blank on the back.

They're typically on the walls near the registers or on the wall on your way to the bathroom. I haven't been to a McDonald's (or any other fast food restaurant) in the past 10 years that didn't have them posted somewhere.

LauraSmyth28

I get a grilled chicken caeser salad without croutons or dressing and it's 180 cals.

Then if I feel like it I also get a small fries which is 230 cals. So 410 cals + a bottle of water, and I feel like I've had something 'bad', but I haven't.

Mcdonalds would actually be my first choice fast food place *because* they have low cal options.

pukekolive

New Zealand McDonalds have several of the burgers' nutritonal analyses on the wrapper - you just check which burger you have eaten and check the appropriate chart ...

Peta22

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Not sure if this has been mentioned, but if you have a smartphone, there's an app called restaurant nutrition that has nutrition info for just about every major restaurant/fast food chain out there
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Thanks for that... I've downloaded it!

Peta22

1. There are times really in social settings we have little to no choice.
2. There are times when we may be a bit over our calorie count for one day -- it is OK... We can either make it up another day or have it banked from a day prior. The key is not to make it a habit.
3. When I go to Mickey - D's, I opt for the grilled chicken and can usually get it under my caloric needs for the day... Not too bad and much more feasible than the Angus Beef I USED to opt for.
4. Hmmm, I wish our energy for our cars were that cheap --- Almost 3 calories per penny....
5. Calories really are not bad. We need to get that out of our thinking (within reason)... Our dietary lifestyle is an economy... We need to have outflow for the input... dead even (on average) for weight maintenance and for reduction.... more outflow. We can increase exercise and accomplish our overall goal. That being said... sometimes, we will be over our allotment. That is OK. It is only one day. It is when it becomes a LIFESTYLE that it becomes a real issue.

Here here!!

poedunk65

An egg mcmuffin has only 350 calories and just the right amounts of protien, etc.

frugalmomsrock

.....but I didn't have a choice. .

nonsense

Well......my choice was either eat at mcdonald's around lunchtime....or not eat until 9pm. Glad I chose to eat. Could have made better choices AT mcdonald's though.

Wish it were a law to post nutritional values (never saw any posted in KS, OK, MO)......flyer on the trays were blank on the back.

I ate well the rest of the day. So it's not a big deal.

It's a federal law if you're in the states...

Not all states. Heck. Not MOST states.

If they are a part of the United States of America, then yes. IT IS. It's a federal freaking law. FEDERAL=all 50 states and the territories...


http://www.restaurantlawonline.com/federal-nutrition-disclosure-law-what-you-need-to-know/

I do believe McDonald's has more than 20 locations all running with the name "MCDONALD'S," yes?

Sw33tKnees

Here is the link to their menu's nutrition...:drinker:
http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food/food_quality/nutrition_choices.html

AmandaBroun

I actually really like their chicken salads, and they are pretty good calorie-wise if you watch how much dressing you use. I'm sad they got rid of the Asian one - I didn't even need any dressing on it and it was tasty.

tallnsexy

Mc donald's is every dieter's (if that's real word, lol) nightmare. It's cheap, it's everywhere and it never closes. And if you got kids I'll have to pray you can make it past one without stopping

hiswifetheirmommy

There are plenty of decent choices at McDonald's! For 480 calories you can have a regular hamburger and small order of fries and a Diet Coke or Coke Zero. The honey mustard snack wrap is only 250 calories and their grilled chicken bacon ranch salad is only 290 if you ask for it with the light italian dressing instead of ranch. Also, their nutrition info should be on the back of the papers that line the tray. I always try to preplan my days using MFP before I go out. That way I know exactly what kind of damage I'm about to do. )

snowbaby36

When I am on the road, a fruit and yogurt parfait and an unsweetened iced tea from McD's is my go-to breakfast or snack. Its only 160 calories and is semi healthy. If I have to eat a meal there, I do what others mention and get a grilled chicken snack wrap and apples, or if I want to splurge, get a cheeseburger and small fries. Its really not the end of the world as others in this thread would have you think.

marycmeadows

nutritional info is available online. plan ahead if you have to - or just do some research and know what you can get at various restaurants. I just avoid fast food altogether, and keep protein bars in my purse.

ninerbuff

I eat lunch from McDonald's usually once a week. In fact that's today...........................


A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

cmayfield3

It's a federal law if you're in the states...

Not all states. Heck. Not MOST states.

If they are a part of the United States of America, then yes. IT IS. It's a federal freaking law. FEDERAL=all 50 states and the territories...


http://www.restaurantlawonline.com/federal-nutrition-disclosure-law-what-you-need-to-know/

I do believe McDonald's has more than 20 locations all running with the name "MCDONALD'S," yes?

No need to be rude. Yes, there was a law passed requiring the FDA to create menu-labeling regulations. BUT the FDA has not finalized those regulations yet. So no, the counts aren't necessarily posted in states that don't have their own labeling rules.

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/FDATrack/track-proj?program=healthcare-reform&id=ACA-4205-Implementation

Geeky_Girl

I'm sorry if someone has already said this:

I used to work at a fast food place and you can request just about any sandwich anyway you want. A healthy alternative is to ask for them to remove the bun and wrap the sandwich with lettuce instead. Add some veggies on it and then get a side salad or apples. Yummy

Sometimes you can't help going to a fast food restaurant (happens a lot when my coworkers are going to lunch and I get out voted on where to eat). Don't be afraid to ask for substitutions to your favorites.

krislshoe

taking the kiddos there today...I always get the... grilled chicken bacon ranch salad and take my own balsamic vinegar dressing and its under 350 calories:)

MorissaW

I go to McDonalds about once a week. I get the Grilled Chicken Southwest salad. I take it just the way it comes with the Southwest dressing. you can ask them to take off the chips and the cheese if you want to lower the calories and the fat.
It is AWESOME! I feel like I am cheating my diet when I eat it. It also fills me up for the rest of the evening.

Here are the stats for the way it comes.
390 Calories
28 grams protein
14 grams fat
39 carbs

angiedeluxe

Last time I had McDonald's was about 3 years ago. I got the grilled chicken - I can't believe nobody else has pointed this out, but the chicken didn't taste like chicken at all. It was SWEET. Disgusting!

awidener86

The Premium Caesar Salad (without chicken) with low fat italian dressing isn't that much. Its 90 for the salad itself (which is pretty filling).
The Newman's Own® Low Fat Family Recipe Italian Dressing is only 50 calories and it has a little peppery kick to it.

kateroot

You didn't have a choice? Umm yup, you did. I haven't read the whole thread, so I'm sure lots of people have said this.. but you ALWAYS have a choice.

That said, one 900-calorie McDonald's meal isn't gonna kill ya. I haven't touched fast food in years because after I eat it I feel like I've been poisoned... but for those who can stomach it, it's not the end of the world.

Alisi1234

I always get the grilled spicy thai salad, no dressing and no croutons. It is only 180 calories!! And delish!!!!!

LadyBuell

I had McD's last night for dinner because I was out and about and got real hungry. That's why I LOVE the app. I can type in the restaurant and see what they have and decide what I want and will fit in my plan. I had enough calories to allow for a Quarter Pounder with Cheese (which is usually what I get anyway) and a small fry and water. They actually gave me a medium fry (I was in the drive through and didn't check before I drove away) so that is what I logged even though it put me over but I didn't eat them all.

LivingHealthyLovingLife

If you have a smart phone, the MFP app, has all kinds of nutritional info on McDonald's, just type in McDonald's into the search bar. If you don't have a smart phone, what are ya waiting for. lol