Big Mistake! (Vent)

[acey]

I agree with you Betty...the healthiest, least expensive way to eat is at home. I have not eaten at a fast food restaurant in over a year, and HAVE NO DESIRE TO! I take a cheese stick and some nuts or seeds with me (travelling sales rep) as a snack, but do most cooking at home.

Of course, everyone may have schedules that force eating out, and I suppose McD's is pretty inexpensive, having a dollar menu and all, but I would opt for a wrap from Subway with lots of vegetables (lettuce, olives, onions, green pepper, tomato, cucumber...) you can practically make a delishous salad out of it if you don't want the wrap.

Like you said Betty, fast food = bag o' salad greens and spoonful of dressing....nuthin' faster than that anywhere!!!! :yes

[G-Mom]

Some of us have families and aren't rich, so we have to go to McDs.

HAVE TO? For what a double cheeseburger plain costs, you can buy a pound of hamburger and get more than 2 of those paper thin slices of meat (?) out of it... And a bag of salad doesn't cost much either! Matter of fact, you can get frozen broccoli (an entire 16 oz bag) for about $1.39!

You can eat healthy at home without spending alot of $$.

Betty

Sure, most of the time, that is how I eat, but dang it, it sure is nice to get the kids out of the house and go out to eat. Plus, my hubby likes McDonalds and wants to go there. Sometimes I don't eat at all when we go, but when I do eat, I would much rather eat the burgers than the carb-laden chicken salad (there's starch in the chicken, and tons of carbs in all their dressings). FYI, maybe a double cheeseburger costs $2.50 in Florida, but in Nebraska, it only costs a $1. I have never seen a pound of even crappy ground beef cost only a dollar. The really good GB costs $3 per pound. To say the things you did is a bit outrageous. We are talking about the rare occasion when a family may go out to eat. Some folks are so flush that they can spend $40-50 on a dinner out (for a family of 4) every time they go out, but we just can't do that.

Also, I make healthful dinners for my family when we are home, and we all eat veggies all the time, especially my boys, who, because of me, love the good veggies. McD once in a while won't hurt a bit, and I know for a fact it hasn't hindered my progress either.

Betty, you know I am "Atkins Hardcore", but that doesn't mean my entire family is. I realize McD is not the best place to go nutritionally, but it's either there or a selection of equally carby places. Sure, I would love to eat steak every time we go out, but we are fresh out of 45 bucks to spend on going out to eat.

@John Morse: We went to Hardees once, and it was good, but the burgers tasted like they had fillers. They were big, but I think they slipped a little something not so beefy in there to make them bigger for less money for them, however not for us. We spent 5 dollars more there than at McDs.

[dreamof145]

Carl's Jr. has a low-carb Burger. I had it once when I was in a hurry & it was very good. It was way too big for me, so I only ate half of it. It is burger, onion, pickles, tomato and cheese wrapped in lettuce. I pulled off the onion and cheese and ate it.

I actually make my burgers at home just like that. Sometimes I take a patty to work and some lettuce and mayo and make my lunch. The girl I work with liked it also, so she does it too.

[love2beeamom]

As far as fast food goes, when I eat there, which is rarely, I would much rather go to Wendy's. They too have cheap food, and it taste much better, IMO. They have a nice $.99 menu, with burgers and salad too!! And they are so nice to put your burger in a box, with a fork and knife!!

[shmooziecat]

Re: Big Mistake! (Vent)

sadie147 wroteI rarely go there but when i do i stick to grilled chicken salads.

You know mcdonalds cheese is not natural cheese? it's processed cheese, and it higher in carbs than regular. I'd stay away from it personally.

I have those FAB grilled chicken salads to. Did you know that they will double the meat for just $1. I wonder if they would triple it???? I always double the meat. Good stuff, quick meal, cheap and satisfying! I only do it occasionally, but I am glad they have it for us. Trish

[ttdriver]

To each his own, but to me, those paper thin burgers at McDonalds aren't a bargain, even at a $1. I could make a bunch of those from a pound of good ground beef and I'd know what was in them!!

Seems ridiculous to me to spend $1 for two thin slices of meat (whatever is in it, who knows?) plain. I can dress up my burgers at home with sauteed veggies cooked in butter (YUM) and a side salad. What could be faster and easier?

Betty

[dreamof145]

I totally agree Betty. When I go to the store and buy hamburg meat, I usually make it into meatballs and burgers all at one time and individually freeze for use later. That way, even when I am in a hurry, I just need to grab it out of the freezer and fix a quick meal.

I stay away from the fast food as much as possible. The only person's cooking that I can be 100% sure of is my own. I try to always take food with me if I am going to be away during a meal. I don't trust how others cook and what they might add that will cause a stall or rise in my weight.

[Wyatt]

That's the great thing about America. Make your own choice and enjoy it.

McDonalds burgers are 100% pure USDA inspected beef; no additives, no fillers, no extenders.

They use the same pasteurized, processed American Cheese slices you buy in the store, not cheese food or cheese product.

To get 2 doublecheeseburgers with lettuce and mustard along with a side salad for 3 dollars is a reasonable choice for many Atkineers, period.

Best luck to everyone on their success. If that includes weekly trips to McDs, all the power to you.

[allierw26]

Not a fan of McD's (just don't like the food), but to each his or her own. I totally understand being on a budget yet wanting to eat out sometimes! I highly recommend Wendy's side caesar salad...it is delicious!

For a great low carb/low filler ranch dressing, or any dressing for that matter, try the Newman's Own brand. It focuses on using natural ingredients...a lot of fast food ranch dressings are full of sugars and even MSG. :yikes The Newman's ranch does have 2g carbs per 2 tablespoons...but I find that I tend to use less full fat dressing, since it is so rich tasting!

[G-Mom]

Re: Big Mistake! (Vent)

sadie147 wroteI rarely go there but when i do i stick to grilled chicken salads.

You know mcdonalds cheese is not natural cheese? it's processed cheese, and it higher in carbs than regular. I'd stay away from it personally.

I have those FAB grilled chicken salads to. Did you know that they will double the meat for just $1. I wonder if they would triple it???? I always double the meat. Good stuff, quick meal, cheap and satisfying! I only do it occasionally, but I am glad they have it for us. Trish

As I stated before, beware of the chicken salads! Please DON'T triple the meat! Just because something says its "grilled" don't automatically think zero carbs. You all are so freaked out about the McD beef (which doesn't have any fillers), when you are scarfing down double chicken on the salads when it is THAT that has all the unacceptable additives.

Here's the breakdown, per the McD site:
Grilled Chicken Breast Filet (for salads):
Boneless, skinless chicken breast filets with rib meat containing: up to 12% of a solution of water, seasoning [salt, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, spices, whey, flavor (maltodextrin, natural flavors (vegetable source), dextrose, monosodium glutamate), partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oils, Romano cheese (Romano cheese {milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes, calcium chloride}, nonfat dry milk, disodium phosphate), parmesan cheese powder (enzyme modified parmesan cheese {milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes, calcium chloride}, nonfat dry milk, disodium phosphate), methylcellulose, xanthan gum, cheese flavor (dehydrated cheddar cheese {cultured pasteurized milk, salt, enzymes}, maltodextrin, autolyzed yeast extract), extractives of paprika (color), potassium sorbate (preservative), citric acid, and less than 2% silicon dioxide added to prevent caking], vegetable oil [partially hydrogenated soybean oil, corn oil, citric acid (preservative)], sodium phosphates. May contain wheat from contact with Crispy Chicken Breast Filet.

http://www.mcdonalds.com/app_controller.nutrition.categories.ingredients.index.html

Here's the nutrition info:

http://www.mcdonalds.com/app_controller.nutrition.index1.html#3

Let's see, shall I eat two "all beef patties" and a side salad (with my own dressing, not theirs), or the above chicken with added sugar, starch, AND trans fat? BTW, they state there is no trans fat in the grilled salad, but there is. It must be low enough that they don't have to list it, but it is there, and if you triple the amount, you will get triple the trans fat plus the other Atkins-unfriendly ingredients.

Just a heads up, sorry if I appear rude, but I am feeling slightly defensive due to the slightly elitist-seeming comments on here.

[G-Mom]

The Newman's ranch does have 2g carbs per 2 tablespoons...but I find that I tend to use less full fat dressing, since it is so rich tasting!

That isn't true of the McD Newman's Own Ranch dressing, according to the website. It says that 2 oz. has 9g. carbs. If 2 oz. equals 4 T., then 2 T. would have 4.5 g. carbs.

[wannabethintoo]

$1 for a double burger at McDonald's? You guys are lucky. Here in Canada it costs MORE for a burger than for the combo (which includes the burger, fries and drink). My husband can't bring himself to spend more on the burger so he always buys the combo for me. It really annoys me but I can resist eating the fries and drinking the soft drink. He ends up eating both fries and drinking both soft drinks and complains that he's eating too much. I just say hey, I didn't ask for fries and a drink so if you insist on buying it you'll have to either throw it away or eat it. Needless to say, I don't get a McDonald's burger very often.

[shmooziecat]

$1 for a double burger at McDonald's? You guys are lucky. Here in Canada it costs MORE for a burger than for the combo (which includes the burger, fries and drink). My husband can't bring himself to spend more on the burger so he always buys the combo for me. It really annoys me but I can resist eating the fries and drinking the soft drink. He ends up eating both fries and drinking both soft drinks and complains that he's eating too much. I just say hey, I didn't ask for fries and a drink so if you insist on buying it you'll have to either throw it away or eat it. Needless to say, I don't get a McDonald's burger very often.

That is really awful! They would get off cheaper if they gave you the beef pattie for the $1, sorry to hear you don't have that choice. :hug

Wouldn't it be great if they gave us a choice between a small side salad instead of fries with the combo meals? They have the choice between fries and apple slices in the kids meals now. My kids hate fries, they always get the apple dippers, never eat the caramal dip that goes with it and always get milk, no soda with their meals. My youngest hates the buns, so she orders hers sans bun. They started the apple dippers because of healthy choice complaints from parents. If they gave a salad choice with adult meals, I could get a beef pattie, side salad and unsweetened ice tea at a great price! We only go there about once a month though, so for now the grilled chicken salad, double the meat is OK by me. I am going to make requests on their website to give the salad/fries choice. Trish

[G-Mom]

I am going to make requests on their website to give the salad/fries choice. Trish

I did that too. I complained that BK allows substitutions, but McD doesn't. They sent me back an e-mail saying that it is up to the individual franchises. That's bogus, I think. NO franchises allow substitutions in my experience.

[allierw26]

The Newman's ranch does have 2g carbs per 2 tablespoons...but I find that I tend to use less full fat dressing, since it is so rich tasting!

That isn't true of the McD Newman's Own Ranch dressing, according to the website. It says that 2 oz. has 9g. carbs. If 2 oz. equals 4 T., then 2 T. would have 4.5 g. carbs.

I took my nutrition info straight off the bottle I had at home. It says 2g for a serving, which is 2T. I guess it pays to check, even for the same brand!