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It can be hard to enjoy fast food when you’re also watching your health and calorie intake. However, there are lots of options at big chains like McDonalds that you can easily enjoy without the stress. With that in mind, here are 10 dos and don’ts when ordering from the McDonalds menu.
1. Apple Slices
Apple slices are a popular and healthy choice at McDonald's. They are a simple, natural snack that are sweet and crunchy. Apple slices are low in calories and do not contain any added sugars or artificial sweeteners.
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2. Plain Hamburger
The plain hamburger is not a bad choice at McDonald's because it's a smaller portion and is only 250 calories per serving. Sodium is also on the reasonable side and increasing the lettuce and tomato adds more veggies and makes it more filling.
3. Fruits and Maple Oatmeal
McDonald's Fruit & Maple Oatmeal has 31 grams of sugar and can easily be modified to cut back on the sugar by asking for the brown sugar on the side. This oatmeal is a warm and filling meal that will fuel you up for the day. It has several important ingredients that make it a healthy addition to your daily breakfast rotation including oats, whole grains, and soluble fiber.
4. Unsweetened Iced Tea
McDonald’s Unsweetened Iced Tea is a delicious and refreshing drink that contains no calories. It is a great alternative to soda, as it does not contain any added sugar. The tea is also hydrating and can be enjoyed any time of day.
5. Filet-O-Fish
McDonald's Filet-O-Fish is an easy option for getting fish and adding to your recommended weekly seafood intake. The sandwich supplies protein and heart- and brain-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Its breading and high fat content take away from its nutritional value, so it's not the best option to eat often. However, it's an acceptable choice occasionally.
6. Egg McMuffin
McDonald's Egg McMuffin is a tried-and-true breakfast sandwich. It's tasty and nutritious, with 17 grams of satisfying protein. To reduce sodium without losing flavor, try ordering the McMuffin without the Canadian bacon.
7. Chicken McNugget Happy Meal
McDonald's 4-Piece Chicken McNuggets Happy Meal is one of the healthier ways to enjoy a more manageable and balanced portion. It also has apple slices, which will help keep the meal lighter. You get a small amount of fries and just four nuggets.
8. Premium Roast Coffee
McDonald's Premium Roast Coffee is a low-calorie, low-fat beverage option, even if you add a little sugar. It's also a much lighter alternative than many other options on the menu for getting your caffeine fix. And it's cheaper than many higher-end coffee shop chains.
9. Grilled Chicken Wraps
This item is filled with grilled chicken and fresh vegetables, making it a satisfying and lighter meal. The Grilled Chicken Wrap's balance of protein and vegetables, along with its convenient size, makes it a good choice for a quick, healthier meal.
10. Baked Apple Pie
McDonald's Baked Apple Pie is a baked apple dessert that's not too bad for you. It has actual apples in it and less sugar than a lot of desserts. It has a decent amount of calories for dessert, and since it's fairly filling, 250 calories is fine.
Now that we talked about some of the healthier options at McDonalds, here are 10 unhealthy options you really should avoid.
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1. The Fries
McDonald's French fries are an unhealthy food. A small order has 230 calories and 11 grams of total fat, and it provides almost no protein. Studies have also found that addictive patterns of eating can be caused by fried foods like French fries.
2. Chocolate Milkshake
The Large Chocolate Shake from McDonald’s may taste like a delicious dessert, but it is very high in calories and sugar. It contains 800 calories, 134 grams of carbohydrates, and 20 grams of fat. This shake could make up almost half of your daily recommended carbohydrate intake for the day.
3. Bacon Egg and Cheese Biscuit
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit is as bad as they come in terms of unhealthy fast-food breakfast options. A total fat-fest, it has 460 calories, 26 grams of fat, and 1,330 mg of sodium. There’s a seriously bad breakfast lurking in there due to its processed meats and surplus sodium. You don’t want this on your menu.
4. Frappes
This Large McCafé Caramel or Mocha Frappé from McDonald’s might sound appealing, but it’s got about 650 calories and 94 grams of carbs. It’s a lot of sugar, and can result in a blood sugar spike and crash. The result: you feel exhausted and still hungry.
5. McDouble Meal
The $5 McDouble meal from McDonald's with chicken nuggets, fries, a McDouble, and a small Coke is extremely unhealthy despite being a great deal. A total of 990 calories of mostly "empty" processed fats and carbs. High in calories but low in nutrition and will leave you hungry shortly after.
6. Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese
In one burger you will get 740 calories, 42 grams of fat, and 1,360 milligrams of sodium. Sodium is very bad for your heart and health, and fast food in general is to be avoided by most people. Frequent intake of this burger will lead to hypertension, heart disease, and other problems in the future.
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7. Big Breakfast
McDonald’s Big Breakfast with Hotcakes is very satisfying, but it’s dangerously unhealthy. This meal has 1,340 calories, 62 grams of fat, 158 grams of carbs, and 2,090 milligrams of sodium. It’s packed with refined carbs, saturated fat, and sodium.
8. McRib
McDonald's McRib is made of processed meat covered with a sugary barbecue sauce. The McRib has 520 calories, 28 grams of fat, and 890 milligrams of sodium. It's very high in fat and sodium but low in nutrition.
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9. McFlurry
The McFlurry at McDonald’s is a dessert that should be avoided at all costs. Packed with 930 calories, 33 grams of fat, and 123 grams of sugar, it is a diet disaster waiting to happen. It contains more than double the recommended daily intake of sugar and is one of the unhealthiest items on the menu.
10. Chicken McNuggets
McDonald's Chicken Nuggets with sweet and sour or BBQ sauce is a meal that people often think of as a healthier choice. However, these nuggets are heavily deep-fried and full of preservatives, which means a serving has 830 calories, 48 grams of fat, and 1,660 milligrams of sodium, which is almost an entire day's worth for many people.
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