Counting Calories in Modified Fast Foods

MeiMcKorrmik
MeiMcKorrmik Posts: 14 Member
edited November 16 in Food and Nutrition
So, I just started working at McDonald's (half off meals, woo) and I'm also new to counting calories.. I would be removing pretty much all veggies from the salads (I don't like them) and only using the balsamic dressing (probably just enough to cover the lettuce and chicken). The only other modifications I can think of having would be the CBO with no sauce and a Big Mac bun instead.

How would I figure out the calories in these modified foods? I can't just ask as the place likes to gossip and my close friend works in the same store (no one knows I'm counting since they wouldn't support it at all).

Sorry if this has been asked, I went through the first 10 pages or so after searching for McDonald's.

Replies

  • auntstephie321
    auntstephie321 Posts: 3,586 Member
    Have you tried McDonald's website, they might have a calculator that allows you to modify their items
  • MeiMcKorrmik
    MeiMcKorrmik Posts: 14 Member
    edited April 2015
    Stbarber1 wrote: »
    Have you tried McDonald's website, they might have a calculator that allows you to modify their items

    All I found was a "build your tray" that only has medium drink sizes and total calories/nutrient information. No remove ingredient option.
  • hgycta
    hgycta Posts: 3,013 Member
    I love McDonald's website specifically for the ease of calculating such things! Just click on whatever menu item you wish to modify, and all the information should come right up. You can change the size, or click on a bullet of whichever ingredient you wish to add/take away and boom, it's updated. You must be putting too much thought into doing this - if I can figure it out then I know you will, too! ;)
  • MeiMcKorrmik
    MeiMcKorrmik Posts: 14 Member
    hgycta wrote: »
    I love McDonald's website specifically for the ease of calculating such things! Just click on whatever menu item you wish to modify, and all the information should come right up. You can change the size, or click on a bullet of whichever ingredient you wish to add/take away and boom, it's updated. You must be putting too much thought into doing this - if I can figure it out then I know you will, too! ;)
    Does the region make a difference? I use the Canadian site but will definitely try again when I get on a PC. Very possible/likely I missed it.
  • hgycta
    hgycta Posts: 3,013 Member
    MeiMcKorrmik wrote: »
    hgycta wrote: »
    I love McDonald's website specifically for the ease of calculating such things! Just click on whatever menu item you wish to modify, and all the information should come right up. You can change the size, or click on a bullet of whichever ingredient you wish to add/take away and boom, it's updated. You must be putting too much thought into doing this - if I can figure it out then I know you will, too! ;)
    Does the region make a difference? I use the Canadian site but will definitely try again when I get on a PC. Very possible/likely I missed it.

    I've never used the Canadian site so I'm not sure how different the calories are, but I would use the United States website, if you can help it (if you're from here, anyways). This is only because the suppliers may be different for the buns, cheese, etc. there versus here.
  • MeiMcKorrmik
    MeiMcKorrmik Posts: 14 Member
    hgycta wrote: »
    MeiMcKorrmik wrote: »
    hgycta wrote: »
    I love McDonald's website specifically for the ease of calculating such things! Just click on whatever menu item you wish to modify, and all the information should come right up. You can change the size, or click on a bullet of whichever ingredient you wish to add/take away and boom, it's updated. You must be putting too much thought into doing this - if I can figure it out then I know you will, too! ;)
    Does the region make a difference? I use the Canadian site but will definitely try again when I get on a PC. Very possible/likely I missed it.

    I've never used the Canadian site so I'm not sure how different the calories are, but I would use the United States website, if you can help it (if you're from here, anyways). This is only because the suppliers may be different for the buns, cheese, etc. there versus here.
    I'm Canadian, so it might make a difference. I'm okay with overestimating some, I have to when I don't make my own food.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    MeiMcKorrmik wrote: »
    hgycta wrote: »
    MeiMcKorrmik wrote: »
    hgycta wrote: »
    I love McDonald's website specifically for the ease of calculating such things! Just click on whatever menu item you wish to modify, and all the information should come right up. You can change the size, or click on a bullet of whichever ingredient you wish to add/take away and boom, it's updated. You must be putting too much thought into doing this - if I can figure it out then I know you will, too! ;)
    Does the region make a difference? I use the Canadian site but will definitely try again when I get on a PC. Very possible/likely I missed it.

    I've never used the Canadian site so I'm not sure how different the calories are, but I would use the United States website, if you can help it (if you're from here, anyways). This is only because the suppliers may be different for the buns, cheese, etc. there versus here.
    I'm Canadian, so it might make a difference. I'm okay with overestimating some, I have to when I don't make my own food.

    Use the canadian site and you will be surprised...chances are you might find an entry for big mac no bun...and just do some math...

    As for the salad the veggies would maybe total 100 calories....so log lettuce, chicken and dressing individually.
  • MeiMcKorrmik
    MeiMcKorrmik Posts: 14 Member
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    Use the canadian site and you will be surprised...chances are you might find an entry for big mac no bun...and just do some math.. As for the salad the veggies would maybe total 100 calories....so log lettuce, chicken and dressing individually.
    Problems are that I don't know what math to do as I'm new to this, the site and brochure when I checked them only give totals for the whole meal, not substitutions or individual ingredients, and I did not find a MFP entry without the veggies and cheese only. Seems most people prefer to get rid of the dressing instead. I'd reply faster but the app isn't good with my phone's Swype.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    I don't know how many McDonald's entries are in the database - but one of the great features of the database is you can use negative serving sizes. So say you ordered a cheeseburger but you didn't eat the cheese for example. If the cheese itself is in the database you can enter it as a separate item using the serving size as -1 serving and it will subtract the calories for the cheese. I find it to be helpful in these kinds of situations - depending on what is actually available in the database.
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