McDonald's-Healthier menu choices

kardowling
kardowling Posts: 221 Member
edited October 2024 in Food and Nutrition
My son's football team is doing a fundraiser at McDonalds. Dinner there tonight....Any ideas of healthier choices? Been good all day, so don't want to blow it now. Also, want to enjoy dinner with my kids and friends. Thanks for any ideas

Replies

  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    IB4 all the haters.

    Grilled chicken is always a winner! Look at their website before you go so you can see the nutritional info.
  • wilkyway
    wilkyway Posts: 151
    Grilled chicken salad w/o croutons and only a little dressing (depends what kinds are available)
    Go for water or fruit juice cut w/ water instead of sodas and pops.

    I also like the wraps with grilled chicken....

    Or, if you crave a burger- either go for the grilled chicken or beef, toss one part of the bun and scrape off excess sauce and cheese. side salas instead of fries.
  • skylark94
    skylark94 Posts: 2,036 Member
    My go to item at McD's is the bacon ranch salad with grilled chicken (230 cal) and 1/2 packet of ranch dressing (85 cal) with an unsweet iced tea.
  • MikeM53082
    MikeM53082 Posts: 1,199 Member
    The McRib!

    Kidding.. I heard they have good salads. Find the one with the grilled chicken and go easy on the dressing.
  • latinahada
    latinahada Posts: 168
    The Classic Grilled Chicken Sandwich has 350 cals and it's super tasty!!
  • ♥_Ellybean_♥
    ♥_Ellybean_♥ Posts: 1,646 Member
    Grilled Chicken Salad?
  • robinogue
    robinogue Posts: 1,117 Member
    I would go to their website and look at the calories per item, that should help make your decision. But the grilled chicken or grilled chicken salad are winners!
  • chefchazz
    chefchazz Posts: 427 Member
    eat before/after.....
  • lik_11
    lik_11 Posts: 433 Member
    According to "Eat this, Not That":

    McDonalds- eat Quarter Pounder NOT Premium Grilled Chicken Club

    http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2008-01-20-eat-this_N.htm

    http://eatthis.womenshealthmag.com/menu_items/quarter-pounder
  • gatorflyer
    gatorflyer Posts: 536 Member
    Grilled chicken salad or some wraps. If you have to have a burger, get a small one, try losing the bun and stay away from the fries. Check out the nutrition info before you go so you know what you can/should have. http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/getnutrition/nutritionfacts.pdf
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    eat before/after.....

    Sure the kids would enjoy that...sigh
  • lsjd2000
    lsjd2000 Posts: 287 Member
    I would check the website and see what you would like to eat that will stay within your calorie range - if you move the mouse over the food items it gives the nutritional info - if you want to be healthy get a reg saled not one with alot of extras ie: chicken those ones have more calories then some sandwiches - also watch your drinks a mocha frappe has 20gm fat and 450 cal where a a Iced coffe is 140 cals a 5grm fat -i guess that is if you drink coffe ;) a sweet tea is 150 cal and no fat
    good luck and enjoy yourself
    http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/full_menu_explorer.html
  • brandeejean
    brandeejean Posts: 25 Member
    Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken and Paul Newman's Southwest dressing. Or even just a hamburger and a side salad.
  • SDkitty
    SDkitty Posts: 446 Member
    Whenever I know I'm going to be eating out I plan ahead...I have a whole list of menus bookmarked on my computer and I choose my meal and log before I even leave the house. Here is the meal builder for McDs:
    http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/meal_builder.html

    Good luck and have fun!

    LLAP :flowerforyou:
  • JU_CFRUIT
    JU_CFRUIT Posts: 34 Member
    yes i just tried their new premium grilled chicken club no mayo, it very tasty
  • klutzydreamer
    klutzydreamer Posts: 11 Member
    I generally have limited options there due to my vegetarianism. I get their Southwest Salad with the dressing, no chicken on it. For protein I generally get a fruit and yogurt parfait and drink water. Their southwest salad is delicious!
  • NiciS72
    NiciS72 Posts: 1,043 Member
    I get either the Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken and no tortilla strips which is 350 calories or the Grilled Chicken Caesar without the croutons which is 320 calories. The sodium is pretty high on both, so make sure you drink extra water!

    p.s. you can download their nutrition information and figure out what to get within your calories. I can only eat the salads as I have to be Gluten Free!
  • kardowling
    kardowling Posts: 221 Member
    GREAT SUGGESTIONS. Thanks so much! I'll go the salad route...low fat/fat free dressing with grilled Chicken. Gotta join the Kiddos and eat SOMETHING wityh them :happy:
  • dakitten2
    dakitten2 Posts: 888 Member
    McDonald's has a great nutrition guide on their site. I usually get one of the grilled chicken salads. They have some low fat dressings but I usually bring my own.
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    Grilled is always going to be better then fried... Even tho I am a big fan of the McChicken :)

    A bacon chicken ranch grilled chicken sandwich with only half the bun is 280 calories with 835 milligrams of sodium.. not exactly the best sodium wise, but a good tasty option. I had it the other day and it was really good.. plus the bun is made with whole grains, which is also pretty good :)
  • kardowling
    kardowling Posts: 221 Member
    Went with 6 piece chx nuggets,no sauce and half of a small fry with water. Was hungry so filled me up. Also water. I felt like I got a treat, but kept calories in check. Kids were delighted to share my fries. A celebration diner.
  • trill0042
    trill0042 Posts: 110 Member
    One of my favorite "diet tools" is the Soutwest salad with grilled chicken.
  • Johnny_Castle
    Johnny_Castle Posts: 159
    Their Mighty Chicken Caesar is out of this world! I have yet to come across a caesar salad as good, even at very high end restaurants!
  • rydanip
    rydanip Posts: 62 Member
    If you get a regular sized hamburger or cheeseburger, the cals are surprisingly low. Then get a side salad, and top it off with a fruit and yogurt parfait for dessert. You will feel satisfied and def not deprived
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    Southwest grilled chicken salad Under 300 cal. No dressing
  • rydanip
    rydanip Posts: 62 Member
    Hamburger is 250, cheeseburger is 300. Side salad is 20 plus whichever dressing you get and the parfait is 160. Thats about 430 cal before salad dressing. Not too bad for fast food at all.

    Here's the nutrition chart

    http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/getnutrition/nutritionfacts.pdf
  • CMmrsfloyd
    CMmrsfloyd Posts: 2,380 Member
    We stop at McDonald's pretty often when we're on long trips, I'm almost never the one driving so I normally get a salad. LOL. Grilled chicken Caesar salad with low fat Italian dressing is 240 calories and 27 g protein, add the croutons and it's an even 300. Nice amount of food and not bad on the calorie count. I don't get the Caesar dressing b/c it's I think 190 calories - big difference between that and the low fat Italian. If I have extra calories to spare I might add on a small strawberry banana smoothie (210 calories) but normally I just have water and flavor it with the 10 calorie flavoring packets that I like. :-)
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