Chiropractor Resources, Chiropractic Techniques, Chiropractic Advice

The Ultimate Chiropractic Resources

  • Symptoms
  • Treatment
    • Chiropractic
    • Medicine
    • General Massage
    • Acupuncture
    • Aroma Therapy
    • Reflexology Massage
  • Techniques
    • General Techniques
  • Resources
    • Directory
    • General Information
    • Latest News
      • Levoscoliosis and Structural Scoliosis
      • Paresthesia Definition
      • Thecal Sac Impingement
      • Disc Desiccation
      • Listhesis Treatment
      • Autoimmune Inflammatory Vasculitis
      • Anterior Cord Syndrome
      • Antalgic Gait
      • Lumbosacral Spondylosis
      • Myelomalacia
      • Radiculopathy vs. Radiculitis
      • How You Can Treat Tension Myositis Syndrome
      • Things You Need to Know About Ligamentum Flavum Hypertrophy
      • Skelaxin
      • Can Constipation Cause Back Pain?
      • All About the Symptoms of Hydromyelia
      • Military Neck
      • Pelvic Obliquity
      • Pelvic Obliquity Symptoms
      • Physiatrist
      • Chiropractic Hip Adjustment
      • Things You Should Do to Treat Cervical Lordosis
      • About Brittle Bone Disorder
      • What to Expect in Couples Massage
      • Anterolisthesis, Retrolisthesis, and Chiropractic Care
      • Straight Spine
      • Medication: Requip
      • Things You Should Do to Treat Lumbar Lordosis
      • Straight Back Syndrome
  • For Chiropractors
    • Massage Training
    • For Massage Therapists
You are here: Home / Resources / General Information / How McDonald’s Nutrition Can Affect Your Diet

How McDonald’s Nutrition Can Affect Your Diet

November 19, 2019 By eChiropractor Team

About the Food Behind McDonald’s Nutrition

McDonalds NutritionThe primary component of McDonald’s nutrition is the food that they serve.  First, the animal products such as beef, pork, and milk used in the menu items come from nationally local farmers.  Second, all of the menu items that are made of chicken use chicken breast meat.  Third, they use the larger potatoes such as Pentland Dell, Russet Burbank, Innovator, Shepody, and Ivory Russet to produce longer fries.  Fourth, all of the eggs are local and free-range.  Fifth, the fish are sustainably sourced.  Sixth, all of the coffee beans are Arabica beans that are grown on farms that meet environmental, social, and economic standards for Rainforest Alliance certification.  Furthermore, the milk used in the beverages is organic.1

Common Questions

There are many common questions that can provide an insight into McDonald’s nutrition.  For example, the shakes are not called “milkshakes” because they do not meet the dairy regulations in every US state to be considered milk.  McDonald’s does use real butter.  The salads are freshly assembled in the kitchens, and the lettuce comes from local farms across the US.  Specifically, the salad is made of romaine, baby spinach, baby kale, red leaf lettuce, and other vegetables.  Many of the menu items, such as the patties, are frozen immediately after they are formed and cooked in each kitchen to meet the McDonald’s nutrition and freshness standards.  The smoothies contain about the same amount of sugar as a can of soda.  There are real apples in the apple pies, which contain less sugar than the smoothies.  Of course, menu items can be ordered with preferential modifications.2

McDonald’s Nutrition Facts

McDonalds NutritionThe McDonald’s nutrition calculator is one of the resources that patients can use to find out more about every item on the McDonald’s nutrition menu.  Additionally, patients can look at the McDonald’s nutrition PDF that also contains nutrition facts.  The calculator covers the categories of beverages, breakfast, burgers, chicken and sandwiches, desserts and shakes, McCafé, salads, and snacks and sides.  Furthermore, patients can add multiple menu items to calculate the total numbers in McDonald’s nutrition.  Additionally, they can edit the ingredients to account for preferential modifications.  For example, some patients may prefer no salt on the fries, no sauce on the burger, or no meat in the salad.3

Healthier Options on the McDonald’s Nutrition Menu

Fast food is usually less expensive, but it is also not as healthy.  There are some items on the menu, relative to McDonald’s nutrition overall, that patients can try.  The fruit and maple oatmeal bowls contain brown sugar, apple slices, cream, dried cranberries, and oatmeal.  A plain hamburger without a side of fries is one way to cut out some sodium and carbs.  The southwest grilled chicken sandwich is relatively healthy because it contains chicken that has been grilled rather than fried.  Similarly, bacon ranch grilled chicken salad is also better because it is grilled.  Moreover, patients should specify that they prefer grilled over the fried counterparts.  In fact, much of finding healthy McDonald’s nutrition relies on cutting out fried food and added sodium.  The egg McMuffin, artisan grilled chicken sandwich, and fruit ‘n yogurt parfait also contain healthier McDonald’s nutrition.4

Vegan Options at McDonald’s

McDonalds NutritionSome of the menu items are unofficially vegan.  However, vegan patients should be aware that there is a likelihood of cross-contamination and traces of non-vegan foods.  First, the fruit and maple oatmeal can be made vegan if the cream is not added.  Second, the apple slices are a guaranteed vegan option.  Third, the southwest salad can be made without cheese and chicken.  Fourth, the side salad can be topped with an acceptable dressing, such as balsamic vinaigrette.  Fifth, a black coffee or Americano can be made without milk.  Sixth, the Minute Maid slushie is not the healthiest drink, but it is one of the few vegan beverages available.  Finally, the apple pie is also vegan.  Of course, all of the options also work for vegetarians.  Some items that are not actually vegan include the fries and hash browns because they contain milk derivatives.5

Goals to Improve Kids’ Nutrition

McDonald’s nutrition experts have worked to provide awareness of healthier options to kids and families.  As a result, they have made five commitments to increasing customers’ access to the foods that are relatively healthy in McDonald’s nutrition.  Ads directed to kids only feature water, milk, and juice in Happy Meals.  Then, more attention has been brought to the salad, fruit, and vegetable substitutes for fries.  McDonald’s also promises to offer new options in Happy Meals.  Additionally, one panel of the Happy Meal packaging is regularly dedicated to nutrition facts for kids.  Finally, overall advertising features more messages about nutrition and well-being for children.  There has been a global increase in customers choosing the healthier options, and McDonald’s nutrition has become relatively better.6

Why You Should Avoid Fast Food

However, the company does acknowledge that McDonald’s nutrition is not the best.  In fact, all fast food is generally higher in calories, fat, sugar, and salt.  Furthermore, many fast-food restaurants use hydrogenated oils for frying even as some places try to ban trans fats.  McDonald’s employee resources website, McDonald’s McResources Line, actually posted an image that labeled a hamburger, fries, and soda as unhealthy to warn employees against regularly consuming fast food.7

Weight Loss Is Not Always Part of a Healthy Lifestyle

saladMcDonald’s nutrition is not conducive to an overall healthy lifestyle.  In one case, a science teacher ate three meals a day at McDonald’s for ninety days.  The teacher, John Cisna, actually lost almost forty pounds.  However, he also watched his food intake and started exercising regularly during the ninety days.  Overall health goes beyond weight loss, and regularly eating fast food is not sustainable for long-term fitness and physical condition.  McDonald’s nutrition often satisfies a large part of a patient’s daily allowance of elements such as saturated fat, sugar, and sodium in just one menu item.  Furthermore, patients who have to manage their blood pressure and chronic health conditions will not do as well with McDonald’s nutrition.8

References:

1 https://www.mcdonaldks.com

2 https://www.mcdonalds.com

3 https://www.mcdonalds.com

4 https://www.tasteofhome.com

5 https://www.womenshealthmag.com

6 https://corporate.mcdonalds.com

7 https://www.businessinsider.com

8 https://www.businessinsider.com

Email, RSS Follow

Find This Useful? Check Out These Related Posts:

No related posts.

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
find a chiropractor in your area
search our listings
Keywords
Zip Code
glossary

Featured Video

Recent Posts

  • How Can a Yoga Wheel Help You Be More Flexible

    How Can a Yoga Wheel Help You Be More Flexible

    November 26, 2019
  • How a Pillow for Neck Pain Can Give You a Fresh Start

    How a Pillow for Neck Pain Can Give You a Fresh Start

    October 31, 2019
  • A Dog Chiropractor is Not the Only Animal Health Specialist

    A Dog Chiropractor is Not the Only Animal Health Specialist

    October 25, 2019
  • Trading Painkillers for Chiropractic Care

    Trading Painkillers for Chiropractic Care

    October 22, 2019
  • Things You Should Know About Baclofen

    Things You Should Know About Baclofen

    October 21, 2019

copyright © 2021 echiropractor.org

About Privacy Policy Terms of Use Site Map Contact Us

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more.