McDonald's
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And this is how my homecooked meal looked today. Just because you can eat a homecooked meal that is lower in calories than fast food, doesn't mean you can't eat a homecooked meal that is higher. All depends on the choices, be it at home or a fast food place. You get to decide how many calories you can fit in and what kind of nutrient profile it has. No special morality points for cooking, and no special shame points for ordering in.
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snickerscharlie wrote: »
Exactly. I like this for visualization.
I think this graphic is terrific.
I think this graphic is wrong.
This is a 350cal medium French fries, not a small 220cal portion. This would be near 900cal.
Having said that, all of this makes me go to McDo for this lunch. Big Mac and Coke Zero only. Yummy and fulfilling.
Tomorrow morning it will be a McMuffin and hashed potato.3 -
snickerscharlie wrote: »
Exactly. I like this for visualization.
I think this graphic is terrific.
I think this graphic is wrong.
This is a 350cal medium French fries, not a small 220cal portion. This would be near 900cal.
Having said that, all of this makes me go to McDo for this lunch. Big Mac and Coke Zero only. Yummy and fulfilling.
Tomorrow morning it will be a McMuffin and hashed potato.
I was excited when McDonald's announced they would be serving foods like Egg McMuffin all day, but unfortunately the two near me didn't get the memo, and after trying numerous times I gave up. I complained using the online form and got a response saying I would hear from the franchise, which I did not.
I used to get the sausage b/c bacon often wasn't crispy enough for me. At home I have bacon. I was making them a once or twice per week, but now I'm on an egg and pesto kick.
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snickerscharlie wrote: »Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »nighthawk584 wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »nighthawk584 wrote: »Chef_Barbell wrote: »nighthawk584 wrote: »Hannahwalksfar wrote: »I attempted to have a grilled chicken burger no sauce, bacon or cheese and was still violently ill 30 mins after. Shane because I loved the taste haha
yet another reason to stay away from fast food. hope you are feeling better.
Because you can only get food poisoning from fast food... 🙄🤔🤦🏼♀️ :noway:
I never said that...but by all means eat at your own risk. I know some people are so mad when anyone says anything negative about fast food on these boards. It's amazing! Do you all work in the industry? HAHA! It's garbage food and killing a lot of people and almost killed me because of my addiction to it.
There is a big difference between recognizing you have a problem and assuming everyone else does, or acting irrationally because of a bad personal experience and fearmongering. There is also a difference between understanding the source of disagreement (which has little to do with fast food, by the way) and conspiracy theories.
Fast food is not uniquely dangerous or is somehow dirtier than other food. You just had a bad experience and it's not unappealing to you, which is fine. It's also not uniquely addictive, you just had issues moderating it, and choosing to stop eating it is perfectly okay if it solved all your overeating problem. It's just convenient and we're creatures of habit. I don't have the habit of fast food, so it has no "addictive" effects on me, it's just something I eat occasionally when I feel like it.
all well and good but since the 1970's obesity rates have soared like never before, with over 60 % of all Americans being obese to morbidly obese now. What is the one thing that changed? The rise of "convenient" fast food establishments. This isn't fear mongering, it's an epidemic.
That is not even close to the only thing that has changed about the nation's food supply and activity level since the 70s. If you want to champion the need to give up fast food, at least don't make stuff up that's so obviously not true.
The obesity epidemic is very real. Most of the all powerful bogey men that are set up as the one true reason though are are just easy emotional targets.
Eating at fast food restaurants on a regular basis while allowing your cravings to make your choices can certainly be one of the causes of an individuals obesity.
Eating at fast food restaurants occasionally (and for some people, even regularly) while making mindful, informed choices can fit quite easily into a healthy diet.
The food at Wendy's is the same food as at the supermarket. It being cooked somewhere else and wrapped in paper doesn't make it crap or give it magical evil powers to make you fat. If an individual isn't capable of making smart choices at fast food places, then yeah they should probably avoid them. But just because one person can't doesn't mean no one can.
All of this. To add on top of it, one of the things helping to fuel the obesity epedemic is a general lack of understanding about calories and what actually fuels obesity. "Fast food = bad" has been in the public consciousness for decades, but it hasn't stopped the obesity epedemic or even encouraged people to make better food choices. They may thing going to their locally owned "free range organic" restaurant is better for them, even if they are eating twice the calories.
Exactly. I like this for visualization.
I think this graphic is terrific.
Until people actually get educated on how calories - and only calories - matter for weight management, the good/bad food mentality only serves those who like to virtue-signal. I see that all the time - on here, in restaurants, in the check-out line at the grocery store. "Good" food eaters looking all smug and virtuous while looking down on others. Food is food, people! And with a little knowledge, you can make your favourites fit into an overall healthy diet and still manage your weight.
PS: The lunch on the left? The only thing I would remotely consider buying is the bag of baked chips. That sandwich and the green smoothie? You couldn't pay me to consume those.
I make sure that every precious calorie in my day is delivered via something I really enjoy.
PSPS: I lost 75 lbs and reached my goal weight several years ago. I did so by simply making small, sustainable changes to my diet, reducing portion sizes and making sure that treats and 'bad' food still had a place.
The graffic is bad, but it gets across the point I was trying to make. People think "healthy" things like a sandwich from a deli, smoothie and baked chips is a lot lower in calories than a fast food burger just because its a "burger from mcdonalds". I know so many people who eat "healthy" but high in calories, and then don't understand why they aren't losing or how I can eat donuts and chips and not gain weight. (When my donut and chips is lower in calories than their nuts and dried fruit snack or something)8 -
nighthawk584 wrote: »Here's their chicken sandwich
And yes. I do switch em.. maybe YOU don't..
So you can't blame McDonald's since the alt options are available..
I don't eat that CRAP anymore. And would love to see the stats on what most get at McD's. I'll bet it doesn't include a salad or grilled chicken sandwich.
I'd love to see the stats on what most eat during the day in general.
You seem to be comparing what you ordered when you were not watching your weight or being careful with cals to what you eat now when you are. The point is that if you want a lower cal meal with some veg, you can do that at McDs too. (I don't, since I'm not a McDs fan, but that's just about the taste and what I like, not because McDs magically makes people fan. I got fat successfully, heh, without eating fast food at all.)6 -
Whether the infographic with McDonalds vs. the smoothie, sandwich & baked Lays is wrong or not...I do think it makes a good point. I also think a lot of people who don't look at calories but work hard to "eat healthier" wind up gaining weight or losing very slowly if at all. I was one of those people years ago. For example I thought 1% milk was a healthy drink and couldn't make me gain weight. I didn't know my large glass had 200 calories. I didn't even think about that. I just thought "it's a healthy drink".5
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McDonalds offers healthy food, economically priced and to many, a fast, delicious break from the stove. The top 10 McD products by sales include the salad, Egg Muffin, chichen wrap and more. The fact that many people cannot resist the calorie dense fries should not discourage one from a 300 calorie Egg Muffin breakfast.10
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I agree that this graphic makes some good points.
Black and white thinking -- McDonald's BAD, sandwich on whole wheat and green smoothie GOOD -- leads to decision making without all the facts. There's nothing wrong with a Big Mac once in a while if the rest of your choices fall in line.
Be careful on places like Subway or Panera capitalizing on marketing themselves as "healthy choices". Sure, there are a lot of great lower calorie options at Panera but there are choices that can be made that are just as fat and calorie laden as any greasy fry joint. And that green Caesar salad at the local restaurant? Do you know if it's 300 calories or 800? You might be unpleasantly surprised!6 -
I like McDonalds. I haven't eaten it much this year because I was being 'good', but as I've been approaching maintenance I've had a sausage and egg mcmuffin and fries and fit it into my daily calorie budget and was totally fine. I refuse to be 'shamed' or guilted for what I choose to eat. Everything in moderation! I've found it easier to be successful with my diet/weight loss journey/fitness journey because I haven't starved/deprived myself. At my work I see so many people who make a real show out of virtuously eating green leaf salads at lunch ... and then shovelling a lot of other food into their mouths during the day which they are neither counting or offsetting. It's like they think salad magically makes calories in other food vanish or something ...
Not saying McDonalds is good or for everyone - but I think it's totally fine if that's what you want to eat and you have the budget for it.9 -
Theres a coach I follow on Insta called Syattfitness. He is currently eating a big mac every day but training and in a calorie defecit just simply to prove that we dont need to demonize foods.
If you like it, and its what you want to eat then go for it. But you need to balance out the rest of your diet with good nutrition.
He did say he feels like *kitten* 30 mins after eating them but hes grinding it out for the month.1 -
I'm lucky not to feel like *kitten* 30 minutes after fast food, or most foods for that matter that aren't eggs. My steel stomach is a blessing. I feel exactly the same after a big mac as I do after other meals that some consider healthy. The only difference is that I find myself drinking more water after saltier meals (fast or not).5
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kenyonhaff wrote: »I agree that this graphic makes some good points.
Black and white thinking -- McDonald's BAD, sandwich on whole wheat and green smoothie GOOD -- leads to decision making without all the facts. There's nothing wrong with a Big Mac once in a while if the rest of your choices fall in line.
Be careful on places like Subway or Panera capitalizing on marketing themselves as "healthy choices". Sure, there are a lot of great lower calorie options at Panera but there are choices that can be made that are just as fat and calorie laden as any greasy fry joint. And that green Caesar salad at the local restaurant? Do you know if it's 300 calories or 800? You might be unpleasantly surprised!
Panera give you a calorie calculator that allows you to customize which is a nice feature that I hope gets more popular. With that you can go in pretty well armed to get within the normal 20 percent or so what you think you are getting. Unfortunately I don't find their non bagel food to be all that great. I do not eat a lot of pastries though.
Subway is the same way for me. I do buy salads from them often as a quick base but I don't get too excited for a sandwich from them unless I am travelling to a really small town and then it can be a safer option than JoJo's Coin Laundry and Sushi joint.
I do not trust salads with multiple higher calorie ingredients from restaurants on a regular basis. I don't worry about it too much if it is once a week but not more than that. There is too much room for some employee in the back being generous with toppings/dressings.
I decided to keep an 80/20 mindset. 80ish percent of the time I am eating nutrient dense food that I enjoy. 20ish percent of the time I am eating fun treat food. I do not calculate percentages since it is only a mindset. It will often translate into a single meal on a weekend and a few snacks. Then on a vacation or holiday it may involve days of treat foods. I believe it works out somehow and my blood gets tested every 4 months so as long as my doctor is not prescribing me or recommending I take new supplements I feel like I am on track.4 -
One can really dislike McDonalds and generally speaking not eat at fast food places without deriding the opinions and experiences of others. I mean I suspect that when I was a teenager I had stronger opinions on the matter, but I was also a teenager and that whole not fully developed prefrontal cortex thing.13
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kenyonhaff wrote: »I agree that this graphic makes some good points.
Black and white thinking -- McDonald's BAD, sandwich on whole wheat and green smoothie GOOD -- leads to decision making without all the facts. There's nothing wrong with a Big Mac once in a while if the rest of your choices fall in line.
Be careful on places like Subway or Panera capitalizing on marketing themselves as "healthy choices". Sure, there are a lot of great lower calorie options at Panera but there are choices that can be made that are just as fat and calorie laden as any greasy fry joint. And that green Caesar salad at the local restaurant? Do you know if it's 300 calories or 800? You might be unpleasantly surprised!
Panera give you a calorie calculator that allows you to customize which is a nice feature that I hope gets more popular. With that you can go in pretty well armed to get within the normal 20 percent or so what you think you are getting. Unfortunately I don't find their non bagel food to be all that great. I do not eat a lot of pastries though.
Subway is the same way for me. I do buy salads from them often as a quick base but I don't get too excited for a sandwich from them unless I am travelling to a really small town and then it can be a safer option than JoJo's Coin Laundry and Sushi joint.
I do not trust salads with multiple higher calorie ingredients from restaurants on a regular basis. I don't worry about it too much if it is once a week but not more than that. There is too much room for some employee in the back being generous with toppings/dressings.
I decided to keep an 80/20 mindset. 80ish percent of the time I am eating nutrient dense food that I enjoy. 20ish percent of the time I am eating fun treat food. I do not calculate percentages since it is only a mindset. It will often translate into a single meal on a weekend and a few snacks. Then on a vacation or holiday it may involve days of treat foods. I believe it works out somehow and my blood gets tested every 4 months so as long as my doctor is not prescribing me or recommending I take new supplements I feel like I am on track.
I miss my Subway guy. ): There was a Subway in a nearby gas station and I would always go there for lunch, even if another Subway was closer, because he knew all the sandwich tricks to make a Subway sandwich pretty darn good. I'd get a veggie delight and he'd put a little oil and oregano on the onion and peppers and then put them in the oven and he always tessellated the cheese triangles even though I guess they're not supposed to. I suppose I can ask for it at other Subways but it's just a hassle.
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RelCanonical wrote: »kenyonhaff wrote: »I agree that this graphic makes some good points.
Black and white thinking -- McDonald's BAD, sandwich on whole wheat and green smoothie GOOD -- leads to decision making without all the facts. There's nothing wrong with a Big Mac once in a while if the rest of your choices fall in line.
Be careful on places like Subway or Panera capitalizing on marketing themselves as "healthy choices". Sure, there are a lot of great lower calorie options at Panera but there are choices that can be made that are just as fat and calorie laden as any greasy fry joint. And that green Caesar salad at the local restaurant? Do you know if it's 300 calories or 800? You might be unpleasantly surprised!
Panera give you a calorie calculator that allows you to customize which is a nice feature that I hope gets more popular. With that you can go in pretty well armed to get within the normal 20 percent or so what you think you are getting. Unfortunately I don't find their non bagel food to be all that great. I do not eat a lot of pastries though.
Subway is the same way for me. I do buy salads from them often as a quick base but I don't get too excited for a sandwich from them unless I am travelling to a really small town and then it can be a safer option than JoJo's Coin Laundry and Sushi joint.
I do not trust salads with multiple higher calorie ingredients from restaurants on a regular basis. I don't worry about it too much if it is once a week but not more than that. There is too much room for some employee in the back being generous with toppings/dressings.
I decided to keep an 80/20 mindset. 80ish percent of the time I am eating nutrient dense food that I enjoy. 20ish percent of the time I am eating fun treat food. I do not calculate percentages since it is only a mindset. It will often translate into a single meal on a weekend and a few snacks. Then on a vacation or holiday it may involve days of treat foods. I believe it works out somehow and my blood gets tested every 4 months so as long as my doctor is not prescribing me or recommending I take new supplements I feel like I am on track.
I miss my Subway guy. ): There was a Subway in a nearby gas station and I would always go there for lunch, even if another Subway was closer, because he knew all the sandwich tricks to make a Subway sandwich pretty darn good. I'd get a veggie delight and he'd put a little oil and oregano on the onion and peppers and then put them in the oven and he always tessellated the cheese triangles even though I guess they're not supposed to. I suppose I can ask for it at other Subways but it's just a hassle.
I mean, I would love to see the look on the kid's face when you ask him to "tessellate the cheese" on your sandwich. (Confession: I just googled the definition of tessellate ) 6 -
RelCanonical wrote: »kenyonhaff wrote: »I agree that this graphic makes some good points.
Black and white thinking -- McDonald's BAD, sandwich on whole wheat and green smoothie GOOD -- leads to decision making without all the facts. There's nothing wrong with a Big Mac once in a while if the rest of your choices fall in line.
Be careful on places like Subway or Panera capitalizing on marketing themselves as "healthy choices". Sure, there are a lot of great lower calorie options at Panera but there are choices that can be made that are just as fat and calorie laden as any greasy fry joint. And that green Caesar salad at the local restaurant? Do you know if it's 300 calories or 800? You might be unpleasantly surprised!
Panera give you a calorie calculator that allows you to customize which is a nice feature that I hope gets more popular. With that you can go in pretty well armed to get within the normal 20 percent or so what you think you are getting. Unfortunately I don't find their non bagel food to be all that great. I do not eat a lot of pastries though.
Subway is the same way for me. I do buy salads from them often as a quick base but I don't get too excited for a sandwich from them unless I am travelling to a really small town and then it can be a safer option than JoJo's Coin Laundry and Sushi joint.
I do not trust salads with multiple higher calorie ingredients from restaurants on a regular basis. I don't worry about it too much if it is once a week but not more than that. There is too much room for some employee in the back being generous with toppings/dressings.
I decided to keep an 80/20 mindset. 80ish percent of the time I am eating nutrient dense food that I enjoy. 20ish percent of the time I am eating fun treat food. I do not calculate percentages since it is only a mindset. It will often translate into a single meal on a weekend and a few snacks. Then on a vacation or holiday it may involve days of treat foods. I believe it works out somehow and my blood gets tested every 4 months so as long as my doctor is not prescribing me or recommending I take new supplements I feel like I am on track.
I miss my Subway guy. ): There was a Subway in a nearby gas station and I would always go there for lunch, even if another Subway was closer, because he knew all the sandwich tricks to make a Subway sandwich pretty darn good. I'd get a veggie delight and he'd put a little oil and oregano on the onion and peppers and then put them in the oven and he always tessellated the cheese triangles even though I guess they're not supposed to. I suppose I can ask for it at other Subways but it's just a hassle.
I mean, I would love to see the look on the kid's face when you ask him to "tessellate the cheese" on your sandwich. (Confession: I just googled the definition of tessellate )
I would become "that woman" for sure lololol. I only know the definition because of this comic:
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Now if you print that out and hand it to them, you might get what you're asking for, or at least they'd get a kick out of it! I will admit to rearranging my sub to more evenly distribute the ingredients before eating. Even if I were to try to coach them, it wouldn't be quite right anyway.1
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Now if you print that out and hand it to them, you might get what you're asking for, or at least they'd get a kick out of it! I will admit to rearranging my sub to more evenly distribute the ingredients before eating. Even if I were to try to coach them, it wouldn't be quite right anyway.
I am in Southern Ontario and they always tessellate the cheese at Subway up here. (And I, too, had never heard of that word!)1 -
Now if you print that out and hand it to them, you might get what you're asking for, or at least they'd get a kick out of it! I will admit to rearranging my sub to more evenly distribute the ingredients before eating. Even if I were to try to coach them, it wouldn't be quite right anyway.
I am in Southern Ontario and they always tessellate the cheese at Subway up here. (And I, too, had never heard of that word!)
I think they've changed the policy because it got out that the policy was to stack them rather than tessellate.
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Now if you print that out and hand it to them, you might get what you're asking for, or at least they'd get a kick out of it! I will admit to rearranging my sub to more evenly distribute the ingredients before eating. Even if I were to try to coach them, it wouldn't be quite right anyway.
I am in Southern Ontario and they always tessellate the cheese at Subway up here. (And I, too, had never heard of that word!)
Oooo, is it a Canadian thing? I might add this to my list of possible reasons to move to Canada <nods>.6
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