Eat clean at McDonalds

AeolianHarp

90 % of people on this thread don't know what "clean" eating means. I'm about to poke my eyeballs out reading this. "clean" has nothing to do with calories, it refers to the processing and source of foods. The ingredients. No matter how diet friendly a chicken breast from McD's is, it has about a zillion ingredients and is in no way "clean". With that said, I eat fast food frequently, but at least I know the definition of clean eating.

No, the definition of clean is, literally, "stupid." Clean = stupid. It's an awful word and your attempt at defining it just makes my heart ache because clean is just a bad, bad word. Drop it from your vocabulary. The word clean omits many, many potentially good foods because it ends up being ambiguous and arbitrary. It's a nonsensical word. The fact that clean is defined differently by so many people simply points to its pointlessness and sheer stupidity. No food is clean or unclean.

Sublog

90 % of people on this thread don't know what "clean" eating means. I'm about to poke my eyeballs out reading this. "clean" has nothing to do with calories, it refers to the processing and source of foods. The ingredients. No matter how diet friendly a chicken breast from McD's is, it has about a zillion ingredients and is in no way "clean". With that said, I eat fast food frequently, but at least I know the definition of clean eating.

No, the definition of clean is, literally, "stupid." Clean = stupid. It's an awful word and your attempt at defining it just makes my heart ache because clean is just a bad, bad word. Drop it from your vocabulary. The word clean omits many, many potentially good foods because it ends up being ambiguous and arbitrary. It's a nonsensical word. The fact that clean is defined differently by so many people simply points to its pointlessness and sheer stupidity. No food is clean or unclean.

This ^ (well, unless you wash your food, of course)

Lift_hard_eat_big

Big Mac with extra sauce and extra napkins :-)

JacksMom12

I'm not even a follower of the "clean" eating hype. I was just pointing out that the generally accepted meaning of what a "clean" diet is basically did not coincide with the suggestions given. The OP asked for good "clean" eating options at McDonalds. People were suggesting processed foods. All the literature floating around out there about "clean eating" is basically nothing like what people were suggesting. That's all I was saying. Tryin' to figure out what exactly OP was trying to ask.

Flugangst

Even when in a pinch, I don't go to Mc Donald's.

Not a big fan of the food...

Besides, I'd rather be a little patient and stop into a Gas Station and grab a banana, apple or some trail mix. Or walk into a grocery store and grab some fruit or baggy of carrot sticks, etc etc. Which I have done before. That is certainly a much better alternative to Mc Donald's. Or any fast food restaurant for that matter, heh heh.

pg1girl

I believe Mc D's offers a menu showing the calorie content of their foods.

That's what I thought

Eating clean doesn't mean checking cals, at least not in any definition I've ever seen. Eating clean basically means eating whole, minimally processed or not processed at all, foods. Nothing to add other than that, I don't eat at McDonald's.

This! I do understand what the OP is saying in the thread though and sometimes you don't have a choice. Everything isrocessed though at McDonald's....yes even the grilled chicken! It is loaded with 1240mg of sodium too. You would be better off going to a grocery store to pick up fresh food for your meal.

pg1girl

Don't eat McDonalds, especially if you decided to take control of your life, your health, your body!!! It's not good for you!!!!!
I eat or drink my Shake every morning and for lunch, and staying healthy. Did you know:
The core of body by Vi 90 day challenge is Vi-Shape nutritional shake mix. To match the same nutritional values found in 1 shake, you will need to eat: over a dozen eggs, 1 1/2 cup of broccoli, 5 peaches, at least 2 chicken breasts, 1 1/2 cups of frozen yogurt, 1 1/2 cups of bran flakes, 18oz of tomato juice, 5 oz of cheddar cheese, 3 cups of lima beans, 15 slices of wheat bread, 20 spears of asparagus, 2 cups of sliced mushrooms, 30 whole apples, 10 stalks of celery, at least 3 tomatoes, 3 pineapples, and 30 prunes. That would be 8,662 calories and cost over $100, or you can get all of that nutrition in one convenient delicious shake for less that $2.00.

While the shakes might be tasty...this is not something that can be maintained for a lifetime....IMO anyway! I just feel that eating healthy and making wise choices are the way to long lasting lifetime results.

hippietofugirl

I get this all the time

Grilled chicken Caesar Salad, with Newman's Own low fat Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Only 230 Calories, 8g Fat and trust me, its pretty big and filling.

I actually got stuck at mcd's one time on my diet and googled the healthiest thing on the menu and thats what came up, and its pretty decent.

pg1girl

It is totally possible to eat clean at McDonalds - they have plenty of healthy foods but you just need to be prepared so you don't arrive, get lazy and just choose "Meal 1" which is full of fat.

Personally I like the salads without dressings at all... maybe a spritz of lemon (which I'd have to request). However the salads don't have enough meat. I need that meat doubled. So I'd say the ideal meal would be any salad, no dressings and with an added slab of grilled chicken.

If I'm absolutely craving a burger I'll order a double (no cheese) then toss out the bun.

Healthier choice does not = clean! The chicken and all meat is processed and full of junk....not possible to eat unprocessed there unless it is a lettuce salad no dressing.

hippietofugirl

And honestly, its not practical to expect someone to NEVER go to a fast food restaurant, no matter how healthy they are. Sometimes, sh-- happens and when you're with other people who AREN'T on a diet, you can't be too picky.

LJCannon

I eat at McDonalds almost every day for lunch...they expect me and have my lunch waiting for me. I order 2 grilled chicken patties (same grilled chicken from sandwich). I put pepper on them and sometimes order a side salad to go with. Awesome and only $240 calories. Taste great, very healthy and know I am making a good choice. They comment to me on how well I am doing on my weight loss with knowing what I am doing. They say I am an inspiration.

That is AWESOME!!

tsh0ck

Don't eat McDonalds, especially if you decided to take control of your life, your health, your body!!! It's not good for you!!!!!

nothing at mcdonald's will hurt me. nothing there is bad for me, in fact. that's because there is no unhealthy food. the only unhealthy food is the food eaten in excess.

(watch out for the pieces of sky!)

AeolianHarp

Healthier choice does not = clean! The chicken and all meat is processed and full of junk....not possible to eat unprocessed there unless it is a lettuce salad no dressing.

Processed foods =/= unhealthy. Something isn't healthier than another thing. Similarly, something isn't unhealthier than something else. McDonalds doesn't make healthy or unhealthy food. At the same time, grocery stores do not supply healthy or unhealthy food.

malibu5880

I don't understand why people are laughing or being sarcastic. I think everyone's been in a situation where they had to eat something on the go because they didn't plan ahead of time or forgot to bring something.

Yup! Been there. If I have enough calories left in the day, I'll order a grilled chicken sandwich and use one packet of light mayo. Otherwise, a grilled snack wrap is another good way to go. Add the apples as a side and you've got a pretty tasty meal.

Sildrae

If I eat there now, instead of the humongous meals I used to eat, I stick to having Sweet Chilli Chicken Wraps with Fries and Water.

Though I make sure that the rest of my day doesn't push me over my goals.

--Lee

delilah47

http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food.html

menu

callmeBAM

Egg mc muffin no cheese & no butter. Side sald...no dressing with lemon.

What? How about Egg McMuffin no muffin.

malibu5880

If I eat there now, instead of the humongous meals I used to eat, I stick to having Sweet Chilli Chicken Wraps with Fries and Water.

Though I make sure that the rest of my day doesn't push me over my goals.

--Lee

Sweet Chili wraps? I didn't even know they had those. I love that Sweet Chili sauce. Yum.

acs4162

I don't understand why people are laughing or being sarcastic. I think everyone's been in a situation where they had to eat something on the go because they didn't plan ahead of time or forgot to bring something.

Agree ^^^

I travel a lot for work and some small towns have very little in dining choice! I would rather find something healthy to eat at McDonalds (which I can log accurately) than try to guess what the local takeout has in it (which I can't log accurately)

I think it's a valid topic, thank you OP

Who HASN"T had this happen to them? There are emergency situations that can't be helped. I really like their grilled chicken sandwich, sans bread and mayo. I'm weary of fastfood salads, but if I had to, i would get a salad with no dressing and get an order of apple slices.

callmeBAM

Processed foods =/= unhealthy. Something isn't healthier than another thing. Similarly, something isn't unhealthier than something else. McDonalds doesn't make healthy or unhealthy food. At the same time, grocery stores do not supply healthy or unhealthy food.

OK Yoda. That took a lot of words just to be wrong.

Whole natural foods are healthier than processed foods.

missoularocks

this is the dirtiest thing I ever heard! lol i don't believe there is anything on the menu that is "clean."

Pepsigirl367

They do have sliced apples but they put something on them so they don't turn colors. YUCK! It tastes gross to me.

TonyStark30

Its not about what you should eat at McDonalds, it is food, the question is what should I eat when I get home for the rest of my Calories and still have a balanced diet. Mcdonalds is meat bread potatoes and cheese. If you are worried about anything else you wouldn't eat there.

MsNewBooty83

I'm addicted to the Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad. There is enough glaze & lime juice that you only need about 1/2 of the dressing packet. I save the rest for another salad later. I know what they say, "Going to McDonalds for a salad is like going to a hooker for a hug." I don't care about what the haters say!!

thats is the best quote i ever heard...ever! lol

AeolianHarp

OK Yoda. That took a lot of words just to be wrong.

Whole natural foods are healthier than processed foods.

Care to share how a whole natural food is healthier than a processed food when you don't know the dosage? So you're saying 20g of broccoli is somehow healthier than 20g of milk chocolate? Healthier implies improvement to health. 20g of each wouldn't negatively or positively effect health in any way, shape or form.

Now, we could say that something has risk but risk isn't the same as being "unhealthy." Similarly, something has the chance of being healthy but because it has the chance does not mean it is automatically healthy.

One more thing. Let's take whey as an example. It's not whole or natural yet we know it's not unhealthy but, by your definition, it is. There are many more foods that don't fit your definition of "healthy" yet have been labeled as such.

jynnipher

They do have sliced apples but they put something on them so they don't turn colors. YUCK! It tastes gross to me.

Agreed!!! Some packets taste worse than others

Yunnieh

Don't even GO NEAR Mc'Donalds.

Fit2befitZ

Any food outlet that needs an ingredient list for apples (and has about 20 ingredients in a "seared chicken fillet) is not going to fit my definition of "eating clean" so from my point of view, I'd have to argue that "no, you can't eat clean at McDonalds".

That's not to say you can't get lower calorie options there, and I'm sure some of them have a reasonable amount of nutrition. They just don't fit my lifestyle or my preferences - maybe I'm a good planner or just lucky, but I'll always find somewhere else to eat.

^This. I agree completely. I travel for a living and still don't have to relocate myself to McDonalds.

Edited for typos

InnerFatGirl

I believe Mc D's offers a menu showing the calorie content of their foods.

That's what I thought

Eating clean doesn't mean checking cals, at least not in any definition I've ever seen. Eating clean basically means eating whole, minimally processed or not processed at all, foods. Nothing to add other than that, I don't eat at McDonald's.

2April

I just get a double burger and a glass of water or a coffee.