McDonald's is good for you.

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Replies

  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    I probably eat a McDonald's hamburger (I don't like their cheese) once a week. One of my favorite cheap lunches is a hamburger, a small vanilla cone, and a large Diet Dr. Pepper. $3.
  • Guys, stop feeding the troll! I mean really this is either the work of a troll or the OP is dense in the head. Fast food good for you?? Just looking for an excuse to eat it with out guilt.

    And I will say yes I agree that everything in moderation can be fine. But if you are truly doing it in moderation then you shouldn't feel guilty anyway.
  • Burgers are fine, just take off the bun and you make it a little better, the only part people really need to watch is sodium when eating fast food or you will retain a little more water weight, but if you drink plenty of water a day you should be fine!

    Jesse Short
    ISSA Certified Personal Trainer
  • LaLaMoss
    LaLaMoss Posts: 18 Member
    If I go to Mcdonalds. I get the cheeseburger happy meal with the child size fries. It's 415 calories and that includes a bag of sliced apples and a diet coke.
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    I love McDonald's, but I can't go ahead and say it's good for you. In moderation it isn't terrible for you, I guess. Lots of sodium, though, and ammonia treated meat.
  • Sherbog
    Sherbog Posts: 1,072 Member
    McDonalds is much like the mystery meat spam. Won't kill ya but in the long term why go there?
  • micahnelson
    micahnelson Posts: 92 Member
    I see your "McDonald's Can't be Good For You" and raise you "Southwest Chicken Salad"
  • dlyeates
    dlyeates Posts: 875 Member
    It's definitely a choice. There are many people here that advocate absolutely no "junk/fast" food and are only about super clean eating. There are others that rate the different fast foods as being better or worse.

    If they fit into your macros and they are satisfying then I see no problem with it. I do have McDonalds or Chick Fil A once a week and eat out at a restaurant 1-2 other times a week. I'm always watching my calories and I've lost weight.

    But I've learned that I would rather have a full meal at home for 400 calories because it's more food and it's filling then eat 1--400 calorie double cheeseburger because it doesn't fill me as much.

    But if it works for you it shouldn't disrail you....maybe slow weight loss down a little but not stop it.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I'm not of the "anything as long as you meet your macros" school of thought. But my thought is that eating that cheeseburger a few times a week is unlikely to hinder weight or fitness goals.

    But I also think there are tastier and more nutritious ways to get the same amount of protien.
  • texjenn
    texjenn Posts: 146 Member
    Do no rule out any food! That is where you will run into problems! If you want a McD hamburger, have it! Just adjust your other intakes of food.

    I have lost ~70 lbs this past year. I eat out almost every day. I eat McDonalds occassionally. Moderation is the key! I eat the Happy Meals!
  • hkevans724
    hkevans724 Posts: 241 Member
    Everything is ok in moderation. As long as you make good choices and stay below your calories you can have anything you want.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    This post is like a big net designed to trap orthorexics.

    LOL
  • I see your "McDonald's Can't be Good For You" and raise you "Southwest Chicken Salad"

    Empty calories...a poop ton of sodium and chemical filled southwest chicken sounds great! ...lol in all reality that is exactly what i get when i go there...no dressing with a few extra lime wedges...I like the lime as my dressing. But really you can't raise a southwest chicken salad...the chicken alone is just packed with crap that just makes it horrible for you...although tasty! lmao
  • NeverGivesUp
    NeverGivesUp Posts: 960 Member
    My rule is this, if it makes me feel like crap after I eat it, then I don't eat it. I gave up all fast food a loooong time ago because I prefer to get energy and feel fabulous after I eat, instead of feeling like a blob that cannot move. It is all about personal choices. If you have to ask if it's healthy, chances are it isn't!!
  • KIMBAILEYWILLIAMSON
    KIMBAILEYWILLIAMSON Posts: 258 Member
    Ive always revered McDonalds and Burger King the Colon-cleanse for societal needs. When you were bound up and couldnt take a dump, all you had to do was eat one burger, one order of fries and a milkshake. GUARANTEED to clean your inner 'self' out within 6 hours...

    8-P


    ^^ LOL this is so true or at least it does the same thing for me.
  • Rocbola
    Rocbola Posts: 1,998 Member
    I think the bigger diet threat at fast food places is the fries. How many times does a person walk in and JUST get a burger? They get fries and a soda or milkshake, too. If you are counting calories, eat what you want, but for people who aren't counting calories, it's the fries and beverage that really amp up the extra calories.
    I used to skip the fries for years, and only get a burger, back when i was sold on that whole "carbs are bad" nonsense. I didn't have a soda with my meal for the last 5 or so years. I didn't gain more than 10 LBS a year doing this, but i certainly didn't lose anything. It wasn't until i got the right nutritional information that i started losing weight.

    Don't just skip the fries, skip the whole fast food restaurant and go to the farmers market.
  • dakitten2
    dakitten2 Posts: 888 Member
    Funny thing in relation to this. We got a coupon book this week from McDonald's entitled "Coupons for Items under 300 Calories". I did keep one coupon out of the group for a salad because all the rest of the things had more sodium etc than I wanted to ingest.
  • Gross. It's processed and processed food is bad for you. Watch the documentary "supersize me" and you'll see how gross that food is.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    This post is like a big net designed to trap orthorexics.

    LOL

    Hmm, I'm not sure avoiding McD because you think it unhealthy would qualify.
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    Gross. It's processed and processed food is bad for you. Watch the documentary "supersize me" and you'll see how gross that food is.

    Supersize Me is a crock. Spurlock is an idiot.

    Mucky D's ain't ideal but it is not the cause of the obesity problem.
  • feistyhorsegal
    feistyhorsegal Posts: 109 Member
    I wouldn't say Maccas is "good for you" but I don't think it would hurt to include a cheeseburger in your diet a couple of times a week to bump up your protein. As others have said there is healthier options though. But I ate Maccas every now and then through my entire weight loss journey and I dropped 16kg in about 5 months. And someone said there was no meat in Burger King and McDonalds - in Australia the patties are 100% Aussie Beef, don't know about other countries.
  • Oh and "100% Australian beef" doesn't mean it's 100% beef. It just means the beef they've used is Australian....not that the entire thing is made of 100% beef.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Calories: 284
    Protein: 15.1g
    Fat (total): 12.4g
    -Saturated: 6.0
    Carbs: 26.3
    Sugars: 4.5
    Sodium: 747mg

    On the other hand, a burger made at home with a 3oz patty of 95/5 ground beef, one slice of cheese, a tablespoon of ketchup and a bun would be:

    Calories: 361
    Protein: 30
    Fat: 13
    Carbs: 30
    Sodium: 625

    Just ~80 calories more, with about the same amount of carbs, and fat, but twice the protein and lower sodium.
  • I think eating anything is possible, the key to doing it successfully is to planning to fit it in to your overall eating plan. You definitely have to watch sodium when eating most fast food, though. Good luck!
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    Honestly, McDonald's cheeseburgers are higher in saturated fats (something that you want to avoid), but they are a good source of protein. If you have managed your fats well throughout the day (making certain to have eaten some unsaturated fats), then you probably could eat one every day. Like someone else said though, the fries are probably the worst because they are highest in saturated fats and sodium.
  • _LilPowerHouse
    _LilPowerHouse Posts: 365 Member
    Its all relative to how you want to loose weight. If you're all into processed foods and really don't care about your general health during your weight loss, then I say Have at it..

    If you want to loose weight in a healthy way then stay away from it..
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    ....
  • txlissa62
    txlissa62 Posts: 128
    If you're looking for ways to increase your protein, there are much better ways to do it. For instance, you could have an eight-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breast for around 220 calories, and it would give you 46 grams of protein. That's a lot more food for less calories and three times the protein of the cheeseburger.

    Fish is also an excellent source of protein, as is quinoa.

    Not to mention all of the sodium in Mcdonald's food as well. Personally, I would save it for a treat now and then rather than make it a regular part of your diet.
  • AprilRenewed
    AprilRenewed Posts: 691 Member
    Just like anything else, if you can eat it in moderation and fit it into your calories for the day, it's fine. It's not going to kill you once in awhile. Will it fill you up? Probably not. Is there a bunch of nasty stuff in there? Oh, yes. But does it satisfy your craving? if so, then once in awhile is fine.

    I will mention that when you're trashed or hungover, there is nothing like a double cheeseburger with fries.

    Or better yet, Taco Bell.

    I know, I know. But it's true.

    Not that I've done that in years, but I have done that. Late night drive throughs when you're smashed will save you from a huge hangover the next day!
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    Its all relative to how you want to loose weight. If you're all into processed foods and really don't care about your general health during your weight loss, then I say Have at it..

    If you want to loose weight in a healthy way then stay away from it..

    I really think that it isn't fair to say that someone doesn't care about their health if they want a McDonald's cheeseburger. Seriously... orthorexia is an eating disorder. Food is not evil. It is how you manage your eating habits that leads to poor health.