Whole Grain Buns, Blueberries & Nutrition at McDonalds!

When I think back to my childhood memories, McDonalds is a big part of it.  I had birthday parties there, played in the playplaces, went on dates there in highschool (yes it was very ‘romantic’) and now I bring my family there.  To me McDonald’s is a part of growing up and love that I can share it with my kids now.

I will say though with all the recent hype about fast food, I have been leary about eating at McDonalds too much but after a recent trip to a Moms Nutrition Workshop at Rock ‘n Roll McDonald’s in downtown Chicago, I feel so much better about eating there.  (And yes I remember when Rock n’ Roll McDonalds was so fun and cool with memorabilia and games!)

When I arrived there, with my 3 year old in tow, we were given a menu to order off of with some of the popular items.  I ordered one of my favorites:

Crispy Southwest Chicken Salad  (you can also order it grilled):

and a Fruit n’ Yogurt Parfait for a sweet tweet:

Gavin got his traditional Chicken McNuggets Happy Meal.  I should add that I absolutely love that the Happy Meal comes with a kid-sized fry and apple slices.  My boys will eat as many fries as they are given so with less fries they now turn to the apple slices!   Oh and the Happy Meals have reduced their calories by 20%.

While we were eating we got to hear from Slyvia Melendez-Klinger, MS, RD, LDN, CPT (basically nutrition expert) on the McDonald’s menu.  I will say I felt sorry for this woman as many people would jump at the words “nutrition” and McDonald’s being in the sentence, but the presentation was great.

Top 5 Nutrition Facts from McDonald’s:

1.  Menu features variety

• Breakfast for 300 calories or less
• Lunch and Dinner for 400 calories or less

2. Wholesome options for kids

• New Happy Meal with apple slices, kid fries, beverage choices (fat-free chocolate milk, 1% low-fat milk or 100% apple juice)
• Blueberry Yogurt Crunch
• Side Salad
• Fruit ‘N Yogurt Parfait
• Fruit & Walnut Salad

 Pop Quiz:  Rank these popular kid-friendly foods from lowest to highest in calories:

A.  Grilled Cheese
B.  Chicken McNuggets (4 piece)
C.  Slice of cheese pizza
D.  Hot Dog on a bun

Answer:  B (290 cal.), D (270 cal.) , A (310 cal.) , C (400 cal.)

3. McDonald’s it’s Made for You

• Save on sodium (request hamburgers without grill seasoning, order unsalted fries, use less salad dressing)
• Cut calories (order grilled chicken instead of crispy, go light on mayo and sauces, skip the cheese)
• Trim fat (choose apple slices over fries, order Egg McMuffin instead of Sausage McMuffin)
• Order a salad which is made fresh daily from five differed salad choices (choose chicken, cut back on dressing)

Pop Quiz: How many cups of vegetables are in a McDonald’s Premium Salad?

A.   About 1 cup

B.   About 2 cups

C.   About 3 cups

D.   About 4 cups

Answer:  About 3 cups!

4. McDonald’s menu = Quality foods & familiar brands

• Brands include Tyson chicken, Dannon yogurt, Kraft & Sargento cheese, Newman’s Own all-natural dressings, Minute Maid orange and apple juice, Quaker oatmeal
• 100% USDA-inspected beef, fruits and veggies, Grade-A eggs, 1% low-fat milk

5. McDonald’s Makes it Easy to Get Nutrition Information

• www.mcdonalds.com
• Mobile nutrition information via smartphone app
• Product packaging
• Brochure
• Trayliner back has nutrition information
• You can even build your menu online to see how many calories your total meal would calculate to.

I honestly was amazed at everything I learned.  I never thought of McDonald’s as having such a diverse menu that includes something from all the food groups.  I love how easy it is to cut back here and there or eat something maybe a little better for you.  As someone with high blood pressure I have to watch my sodium and while I knew about asking for un-salted fries I had no clue I could ask for an un-seasoned burger!  Oh and yes you can even ask for a WHOLE GRAIN BUN!  Who knew!  We were told to always order our food as customized as we want and the associates should serve it with a smile!  So yes you can get your food “Made to Order” at McDonald’s!  I love the motto we heard too “It’s food fast” not “fast food.”

Next up we heard from Dean Przybyszewski, a McDonald’s Field Service Consultant.  He has the fun job of going around the different Chicagoland locations and checking for compliance for food and safety standards.  He showed up the books the employees can reference for basically everything they need to know, explained how they get tested monthly, and gave us a tour.  We saw how they test the water buckets which hold the sanitizing solution to clean up with.  We got to go behind the counter and see how things were made and stored.   It was amazing to see the fresh containers of sliced tomatoes, red onions and lettuce – all pre-cut and ready to be used!  We got to see the actual eggs used too, yes cartons and cartons of eggs!  We saw the freezer, which my 3 year old was brave enough to go in and of course come out right away since it was so cold, but a necessity for the meat.  We passed the counter where salads were made, fresh throughout the day.  Finally we saw the new salt shaker which puts the right dosage of salt on so McDonald’s can be consistent throughout their locations with salted fries!

Oh and my absolute favorite new item though is the New Blueberry Banana Nut Oatmeal.  First I should mention I am not a big blueberry or oatmeal fan but the combination and freshness is amazing!  At only 280 calories per serving and loaded with fresh blueberries, dried bananas and it even provides two servings of natural whole-grain oats.  Top with the separately packaged premium walnuts and you have a crunchy sweet topping!  Want just the blueberries? You can even purchase them a la carte!

Overall, I was impressed with basically everything.  I had no clue McDonald’s had such a variety, including healthier options.  I love how there is someone who checks the locations for safety issues and how McDonald’s is working on a variety of options.  They are making it easier for customers to make wise choices and keep track of what they are eating.

What do you think of McDonald’s?

Mom and More Disclosure: I attended an event at McDonald’s where I received information, meal, small gifts and coupons. Please see my Disclosure Policy.