How would like eat this big Mac?

[Rob43]

New York, NY (AHN) – Following McDonald’s promises to slim down on its portions and introducing healthier alternatives to its menu, the company has instead announced plans to reveal a super-size version of the Big Mac – which is 40 percent larger than the regular Big Mac.

Restaurant patrons can expect to chow down on 690 calories a sitting with the super-sized burger.

The new Big Mac is being introduced as part of a World Cup promotion for the summer and is expected to be heavily advertised on television. McDonald's has failed to stem a loss in sales despite the adoption of a healthier menu, including salads and fruit.

The Bigger Mac has 32 grams of fat, of which 13.82 are saturated fat. This is 70 percent of the saturated fat recommended for a woman or child. It contains 3.15g of salt, which is more than half the salt recommended for an adult, and three-quarters the limit for a child.

A McDonald's spokesman says: "We are not reneging on our earlier decision. This is something which is a bit different, a bit special, for a short period. This is about offering something we know customers love and want to see."

According to the Daily Mail, Professor Malcolm Law, of the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine in London, has lobbied for the end to super-size portions. He says: "The introduction of this bigger burger flies in the face of earlier promises to do away with super-size portions.

"It is entirely the wrong message to suggest that a bigger burger is a special treat. A product containing so much fat and salt must have questions about its nutritional quality."

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7003316684

[DeusXM]

Didn't the Big Tasty have something like 900 calories?

Anyway, I'm not really a fan of Big Macs. I always loved the difference between McDonalds and Burger King. When McDonalds went and invented all these new salads and bagels to make their menu healthier, Burger King just added another burger to their bacon double cheeseburgers and then made them even larger.

[JediSkipdogg]

I never understood why McDonalds got (and still gets) so much slack over their menu and unhealthy eating. Wendy's still has the Biggie Size and Burger King still has the Go King Size, yet neither of them ever make the news when they introduce a new item with massive calories and fat. Heck, Burger King has a breakfast sandwich that has around 900 calories in it.

I personally was a fan of the Super Size at McDonalds. Heck, I think they even made their fry size smaller on the value meals becuase of complaints from overweight people. Guess what, it's your choice, if you eat it and eat lots of it, expect to gain weight. If you eat it moderately, then there shouldn't be a problem at all.

Hopefully this new bill passes that says you can't sue restaurants for making you fat unless you can prove that they blatantly lied on their nutritional info and the item isn't special ordered.

OK, rant over. I guess this is what spending 5 years at McDonalds, 3 being a Manager, does to someone.

[Cyborg]

What is wrong with these places? Can't they get it that people want to eat healthy and consume less calories? I love a good burger! Why can't I go to McDonalds and get a burger made with lean (near fat free) hamburger on a whole wheat bun. I'd even pay an extra buck for one! It's so very simple...

[JediSkipdogg]

What is wrong with these places? Can't they get it that people want to eat healthy and consume less calories? I love a good burger! Why can't I go to McDonalds and get a burger made with lean (near fat free) hamburger on a whole wheat bun. I'd even pay an extra buck for one! It's so very simple...

Because studies show people don't want that. Last I check McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, etc. are still making a pretty high profit. And even after a news release about 2 weeks ago showing that US fast food has the highest amount of fat of every country in the world in their food, sales didn't decline at all.

You think people want to eat healthy, but in reality, Americans at least have no plans on eating healthy anytime soon and studies also have shown that Americans are now accepting overweight as the norm.

[Cyborg]

Because studies show people don't want that. Last I check McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, etc. are still making a pretty high profit. And even after a news release about 2 weeks ago showing that US fast food has the highest amount of fat of every country in the world in their food, sales didn't decline at all.

You think people want to eat healthy, but in reality, Americans at least have no plans on eating healthy anytime soon and studies also have shown that Americans are now accepting overweight as the norm.

Tell me what fast food chain sells such a burger? I know of none. So if they don't attempt it, they will not see if it succeeds. The fast food chains are making good profits, but they are still struggling to make better profits. I do not believe in a blanket statement that Americans have no plans on eating healthy anytime soon. That is a stereotypical statement and certainly does not apply to many health concious Americans.

As far as Americans accepting being overweight as the norm, it's up to us to break that cycle of thinking and we can start with our children. We are up against big business and commercialism. They install upon our children from the youngest age that this type of food is good and fun. Parents are lazy and want a quick fix for dinner. They don't want to cook for their children. We as parents must step up to the plate and do our jobs.

[JediSkipdogg]

Tell me what fast food chain sells such a burger? I know of none. So if they don't attempt it, they will not see if it succeeds. The fast food chains are making good profits, but they are still struggling to make better profits. I do not believe in a blanket statement that Americans have no plans on eating healthy anytime soon. That is a stereotypical statement and certainly does not apply to many health concious Americans.

As far as Americans accepting being overweight as the norm, it's up to us to break that cycle of thinking and we can start with our children. We are up against big business and commercialism. They install upon our children from the youngest age that this type of food is good and fun. Parents are lazy and want a quick fix for dinner. They don't want to cook for their children. We as parents must step up to the plate and do our jobs.

I know many fast food chails have tried low carb and low calorie items. I worked at McDonalds for 5 years and saw many new items come to their store that were healty. I saw salads and the creation of the Fruit and Yogurt Parfait (my personal favorite) yet those sales are so low in a day that they don't make enough to cover the cost.

I know Subway has those subs that have like 6 grams of carbs but from what I've read online, they aren't selling that hot either. Wendy's has even started a first by changing their menu around and allowing you to get a few different healthier side items instead of fries. Guess what, so far Wendy's said it hasn't boosted sales or made a profit for what they spent on marketing it (Granted the finger incident did put a big thorn in their side at the same time.)

With parents, some of the problem is everyone is on the run now adays. They don't have time to sit down for a family dinner anymore. Some of this is due to them moving out in the country and driving an hour or more to and from work. Some has to do with people just want to eat and watch the tube. That's a lifestyle change that I don't see going back.

But also, as someone brought up once in the past, parents want to stuff their kids with food. I see so many babies overweight these days that it amazes me. The baby doesn't decide what to eat, the parent does. And when they get older and start hitting around 3-4 years old they can make their own decisions. They eat dinner but eat 50% of what their plate is. So what do the parents do, they shove the other 50% down the kids throats or punish the kid for not eating. Did parents ever think that maybe the kid truely is not hungry anymore and just adding more food is going to make them fat?

OK, I'll step off my soapbox now, I think it's starting to fall apart.

[Cyborg]

I know many fast food chails have tried low carb and low calorie items. I worked at McDonalds for 5 years and saw many new items come to their store that were healty. I saw salads and the creation of the Fruit and Yogurt Parfait (my personal favorite) yet those sales are so low in a day that they don't make enough to cover the cost.

I know Subway has those subs that have like 6 grams of carbs but from what I've read online, they aren't selling that hot either. Wendy's has even started a first by changing their menu around and allowing you to get a few different healthier side items instead of fries. Guess what, so far Wendy's said it hasn't boosted sales or made a profit for what they spent on marketing it (Granted the finger incident did put a big thorn in their side at the same time.)

With parents, some of the problem is everyone is on the run now adays. They don't have time to sit down for a family dinner anymore. Some of this is due to them moving out in the country and driving an hour or more to and from work. Some has to do with people just want to eat and watch the tube. That's a lifestyle change that I don't see going back.

But also, as someone brought up once in the past, parents want to stuff their kids with food. I see so many babies overweight these days that it amazes me. The baby doesn't decide what to eat, the parent does. And when they get older and start hitting around 3-4 years old they can make their own decisions. They eat dinner but eat 50% of what their plate is. So what do the parents do, they shove the other 50% down the kids throats or punish the kid for not eating. Did parents ever think that maybe the kid truely is not hungry anymore and just adding more food is going to make them fat?

OK, I'll step off my soapbox now, I think it's starting to fall apart.

I asked for a low-fat, whole wheat bun hamburger. Not a low-carb or low-calorie hamburger. Not a single fast-food place offers this, period.

Have you been to subway lately? Most times there is a line. Try going around lunch time! If this isn't an indicator of what Americans want, then what is? BTW, Subway has managed to remain a privately held company and is continuing to grow. If they were public, I'd invest in them in the blink of an eye.

There is no excuse for feeding yourself or your children unhealthy food. Whether it be lack of time or driving distances. They are nothing but excuses and rationalizations.

The cycle needs to stop with the parents...

...Gee, that got me going better than a cup of coffee. ;)

[JediSkipdogg]

I asked for a low-fat, whole wheat bun hamburger. Not a low-carb or low-calorie hamburger. Not a single fast-food place offers this, period.

Have you been to subway lately? Most times there is a line. Try going around lunch time! If this isn't an indicator of what Americans want, then what is? BTW, Subway has managed to remain a privately held company and is continuing to grow. If they were public, I'd invest in them in the blink of an eye.

There is no excuse for feeding yourself or your children unhealthy food. Whether it be lack of time or driving distances. They are nothing but excuses and rationalizations.

The cycle needs to stop with the parents...

...Gee, that got me going better than a cup of coffee. ;)

All is fun in love and war. I'm thinking and trying to prove you wrong on the low fat wheat burger, but dangit, I just can't do it.

Just because subway lines are long doesn't mean anything. There are NUMEROUS unhealthy items on their menu. I don't like Subway, but I eat Quizno's, which is exactly the same thing in my opinion, and I know I'm far from the healthy side of their menu. Well, depends, anyone know if Batch 83 sauce on the Traditional sub is healthy?

Parents do need to stop and start alot. My kids (when I have some) WILL NOT own a video game system of any kind untill they can buy one themselves. They will also be put on a strict excercise regimen until they are old enough to move out. Simply put, I want my kids healthy, and if you start them young doing something, like a 2 mile run every morning, then they will continue doing it till they can't anymore. But if parents let their kids sit inside and play video games all day, they aren't getting any excercise to burn off those extra calories from unhealthy food.

I see there being two options, either kids need to eat healthier or they need to excercise. Currently, they do neither, so they can't even counterbalance doing one, which is what I currently do. I eat bad food probably 10 of the 21 meals a week, but I work out on a pretty much daily basis.

Time for a fillup. :beerglass <<<---- Diet Coke in there. LOL

At least this has given me something to talk about at work. And FYI...I won't be a drill sergeant to my kids, but I will raise them to not mess up.

[Cyborg]

Cheers :beerglass

You can put the real stuff in mine. Breakfast of champions!

[duck]

What is wrong with these places? Can't they get it that people want to eat healthy and consume less calories? I love a good burger! Why can't I go to McDonalds and get a burger made with lean (near fat free) hamburger on a whole wheat bun. I'd even pay an extra buck for one! It's so very simple...

I have to agree with Jedi on this one. Mickey D's did indeed introduce the McLean Deluxe in 1991, and I think it sold about ten burgers nationwide before McDonalds removed the item from the menu, ground up all the remaining McLean Deluxe patties and fed them to the chickens that make up the McNuggets.

[duck]

I never understood why McDonalds got (and still gets) so much slack over their menu and unhealthy eating. Wendy's still has the Biggie Size and Burger King still has the Go King Size, yet neither of them ever make the news when they introduce a new item with massive calories and fat. Heck, Burger King has a breakfast sandwich that has around 900 calories in it.


Yeeeears ago, I was watching the local news after some other stupid study concluded MickeyD's was bad for you (O RLY?). Anyway, the news crew went out and interviewed a couple of random people, and they put one guy on who said "well, our family only eats at Burger King since studies have proven flame-broiling is better for you than frying..."

I literally yelled WTF (the real phrase) when I heard that moron say that. Like a friggin' Whopper is ANY healthier than a Big Mac!

Whopper w/Cheese:
Total Fat 47 g
Saturated Fat 16 g
Cholesterol 115 mg
Sodium 1450 mg
Total Carbohydrates 52 g
Dietary Fiber 3 g
Sugars 11 g
Protein 33 g
Calcium 250 mg

Big Mac:
Total Fat 30 g
Saturated Fat 10 g
Cholesterol 80 mg
Sodium 1010 mg
Total Carbohydrates 47 g
Dietary Fiber 3 g
Sugars 8 g
Protein 25 g

From what I can tell, the Big Mac is arguably "healthier", but let's not fool ourselves and think Big Macs or Whoppers are healthy in any context...

[Cyborg]

I have to agree with Jedi on this one. Mickey D's did indeed introduce the McLean Deluxe in 1991, and I think it sold about ten burgers nationwide before McDonalds removed the item from the menu, ground up all the remaining McLean Deluxe patties and fed them to the chickens that make up the McNuggets.

With a marketing name like "McLean" it's no wonder it failed miserably. Geez, I don't even remember the thing!

[Cyborg]

If McDonalds does what they say they are going to do, which is put nutritional information on all the food containers and wrappers of all their food items they sell, then other fast food places will have to do so. This will arm consumers with the knowledge they need to make smarter choices. I believe this will ultimately force the fast food chains into a war to deliver healthier food items without pushing them as diet foods. It will end up bringing a major change to the fast food industry. If no other fast food places participate, McDonalds might just yank it like they did the "McLean" since they would be the only ones exposing the evil contents of their food.

[JediSkipdogg]

With a marketing name like "McLean" it's no wonder it failed miserably. Geez, I don't even remember the thing!

Now that he brought that up I remember the McLean. McDonald's also tried the Arch Deluxe around 1996 which was suppose to be a healthier alternative to a regular burger, I forget what meat was used, but again that failed. 2 years later they brought out the Big N Tasty which was the Arch Deluxe toppings and bun, with the old fat style meat (actually, same piece of meat as the quarter pounder.)

Anyone remember the carrots at McDonalds too? And how about the recent one if it's still happening, Apples instead of fries, and Milk instead of Coke. All of the above, again, FAILED. That alone proves that American's don't want healthy. And fast food is still attempting to find the best burger and side dishes for a healthy person. Yet nobody wants them and if they don't sell, they cancel them.

If McDonalds does what they say they are going to do, which is put nutritional information on all the food containers and wrappers of all their food items they sell, then other fast food places will have to do so. This will arm consumers with the knowledge they need to make smarter choices. I believe this will ultimately force the fast food chains into a war to deliver healthier food items without pushing them as diet foods. It will end up bringing a major change to the fast food industry. If no other fast food places participate, McDonalds might just yank it like they did the "McLean" since they would be the only ones exposing the evil contents of their food.

Personally, I don't see that doing anything. One problem is Americans don't know what any of that nutritional info means. That alone is a problem.

Secondly, All fast food restaurants have what is in their food. McDonalds use to do it as big 2 feet by 3 feet posters, now they do it in a take home pamphlet. Burger King I think still has the posters. Putting it on the food won't do any good if Americans don't read it or understand it.

[duck]

Personally, I don't see that doing anything. One problem is Americans don't know what any of that nutritional info means. That alone is a problem.


When I was in school, my girlfriend at the time was studying to be a Registered Dietitian (she is now an MS, RD, CDE, yadda yadda yadda, she knew her sh*t). She lamented about how poorly educated Americans were about nutrition, that "skim" milk sells so poorly because Americans think "skim" means less nutrition, not less fat.

:rolling eyes:

[Cyborg]

What's the point of this debate? I agree that fast food chains have much more unhealthy food than healthy food. People still buy the healthy stuff. Just because you don't or you don't see it doesn't mean they don't. I do!

My point to you was that you should not stereotype Americans as wanting this stuff and not caring about their health and as accepting being overweight as normal. I don't stereotype African Americans, or Mexicans, or Koreans, etc... Stereotyping is wrong. That was my point.

[Cyborg]

When I was in school, my girlfriend at the time was studying to be a Registered Dietitian (she is now an MS, RD, CDE, yadda yadda yadda, she knew her sh*t). She lamented about how poorly educated Americans were about nutrition, that "skim" milk sells so poorly because Americans think "skim" means less nutrition, not less fat.

:rolling eyes:

Education, yes... From the parents and from the broken school system (at least in this sense).

[JediSkipdogg]

What's the point of this debate? I agree that fast food chains have much more unhealthy food than healthy food. People still buy the healthy stuff. Just because you don't or you don't see it doesn't mean they don't. I do!

My point to you was that you should not stereotype Americans as wanting this stuff and not caring about their health and as accepting being overweight as normal. I don't stereotype African Americans, or Mexicans, or Koreans, etc... Stereotyping is wrong. That was my point.

I'm stereotyping a reality and providing what studies have shown. Like I said in an earlier post, a few weeks ago one news company did an article on McDonalds and their food throughout the world. Here is one quote from the article..

"A large meal of chicken nuggets and french fries at McDonald's in the United States contained 10.1 grams of trans fatty acids, while the same meal in France contained 5.9 grams and just 0.33 grams in Denmark, Steen Stender, who headed the research project, told AFP."

The study shows the United states had the highest amount of trans fat in the study and Denmark had the least. Why do we have those differences? If Americans cared more about their health, they would not eat the bad food and wait till fast food places serve healthier food. Yet people go back for more and more all the time.

[duck]

Cyborg, if MickeyD's started selling only salad and health food, they would go out of business, plain and simple. They have been trying for years to add healthier choices to their menu, with little success. Maybe they need a wheat-bun low-fat burger, but as it is, none of their other "healthier" burgers have done well for them at all.

[DeusXM]

To be honest, despite being a total cynic when it comes to big business (I'm a hardcore socialist/borderline Communist that would be overjoyed if most infrastructure biz was state owned, but that's another debate), I totally fail to see why McDonald's have a responsibility to sell healthy food. No-one forces you to eat at McDonald's. No-one forces you to eat unhealthily. No-one forces you to eat a supersize meal.

If you don't want to eat unhealthy foods, then just eat somewhere else. Or make your own food. Yes, it's more work. Yes, it's more effort. But here's the kick. If EVERYONE did that, then all these fast food places would see their profits crumble and then they'd have to get their act together.

All food outlets should be forced to provide nutrition info on all their products but beyond that, responsibility lies with you. If you can't make the time to prepare healthy meals, then tough. Find the time. Or find yourself with a heart attack.

[HelenM]

Signs of change in the UK.
A long article in this weeks Sunday Times describes a fall in growth of McDonalds in the UK. They are shutting 25 restaurants, changing menus to healthier choices in others, even completely changing restaurant formats in others.
In the same newspaper is another article describing the effect of a new 'traffic light' coded food labelling (for fat, saturates,sugar and salt) in some supermarkets. The sales of higher fat products has apparently fallen by up to 40% and sales of lower fat products have risen. One supermarket executive said
' We have seen significant changes in customer behaviour ..if we make our products more healthy, more people are buying them'
So its becoming profitable to sell healthier products.
I'm not saying that things have changed completely, far from it ! but I do think that all the recent TV programs on healthier eating have been having an effect. Whether it will be permanent is a different matter.

[psilocybin]

i eat a big mac the odd time...maybe once every, i know how unhelathy it is...i found an interesting article about how mcdonalds fries have different fat portions depending on the state in the US they were made in....kind of interesting

[Jaclyn]

If McDonalds does what they say they are going to do, which is put nutritional information on all the food containers and wrappers of all their food items they sell, then other fast food places will have to do so. This will arm consumers with the knowledge they need to make smarter choices. I believe this will ultimately force the fast food chains into a war to deliver healthier food items without pushing them as diet foods. It will end up bringing a major change to the fast food industry. If no other fast food places participate, McDonalds might just yank it like they did the "McLean" since they would be the only ones exposing the evil contents of their food.


Ive seen the nutritonal info on the backs of there happy meals. but no where before ordering......

[Cyborg]

Ive seen the nutritonal info on the backs of there happy meals. but no where before ordering......

Hopefully it's a wake up call. I stopped ordering happy meals for my kids. I've got my son eating grilled chicken sandwiches, a side salad and maybe a yogurt parfait once in awhile for desert. My daughter is young and still learning new foods. I'm still trying to get her "off" of the chicken nuggets that my mother-in-law has helped gotten her hooked on!

[Jaclyn]

Hopefully it's a wake up call. I stopped ordering happy meals for my kids. I've got my son eating grilled chicken sandwiches, a side salad and maybe a yogurt parfait once in awhile for desert. My daughter is young and still learning new foods. I'm still trying to get her "off" of the chicken nuggets that my mother-in-law has helped gotten her hooked on!


haha she must be 3 or 4? having same problem with my 3 1/2 year old....

[Cyborg]

haha she must be 3 or 4? having same problem with my 3 1/2 year old....

Yes, she is 4... Stupid McDonalds!

[sugarfree76]

Whopper w/0 the chez FTW

[psilocybin]

i eat a big mac and manage to keep my sugars between 4-7 the whole time its digesting. works fine...why not eat one the odd time dont effect my a1cs

[Mister Q]

I wonder how long before we start seeing 'class action' law suits against the fast food giants for causing obesity??

[Cyborg]

I wonder how long before we start seeing 'class action' law suits against the fast food giants for causing obesity??

I think they've aready tried and failed.

[gettingby]

The last article I remember reading about McDonalds was about changing the style and layout of their resturants. I would rather see the $$$ they will be spending on doing that put to better use. Like nutritional guides that are current and healthier food options.
Was the McLean the burger that came seperated in the box? The one where you had bread and meat on one side, the other items on the other side?

[sugarfree76]

I think they've aready tried and failed.
what...their diets? :ciao:

[psilocybin]

i love big macs minus the fat of course...the fat is mostlyin the mac sauce...the secret sauce is made up of 1000 islands dressing, and some chopped vegitables!!

[Tim_Roy]

Was the McLean the burger that came seperated in the box? The one where you had bread and meat on one side, the other items on the other side?

No, that was the McDLT. Lettuce and tomatoes kept cool on one side, the burger kept hot on the other. The McLean was some kind of low-fat burger.

And now most people understand that it's less the fats than the carbs that put the pounds on. Although the fat certainly isn't good for you either.

[Mark C]

If I ever eat fast food burgers again, it will be too soon! (I have not stepped into a MacDonalds now for at least five years!

Interesting reading: The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

[Mark.R]

Personally, i cant wait. Big macs have always been a vice of mine. Will have to try it, even if its only once followed by a 2 mile jog:driver:

[Tim_Roy]

I only eat McDonalds because it's cheap and it's everywhere.

Though honestly, In-N-Out is cheaper and better tasting. Though it tends to be fattier.

Fatburger is probably the best tasting, though it's slow, more expensive and tends to be a bit more messy to eat.

I basically refuse to eat almost anything from Burger King. Like certain sandwiches at McDonalds, nearly everything at BK has too much sauce/mayo/whatever. Take one bite and you're wearing the condiments. I can't go to a customer site with mayo stains on my pants. Clients get the wrong idea about where I went for lunch...
:eek: