Anybody break the rules for a good cause?

Today is August the 13th and im stuck in the middle between the rock and a hard place and I'm curious on the imput of what other people would do.

Usually through out the year certain places have promotions to help the less fortunate, Tim hortons has Camp day where 1$ for every coffee bought will go to their camp. The same goes for McDonalds and the Big Mac Days. Well Today is another one in my area where all local Dairy Queens from Niagara Falls to the GTA, any blizzards that are purchased all the money goes to McMaster University Hospital for their research ( i believe for their cancer research but i could be wrong)

Since i have had family in the hospital recently and my father having a scare earlier this year I want to go and help.. but at the same time i know that i will blow my count for the day.

Anybody else break their habbits for a good cause?

Go and just donate money without buying anything. Like at Tim Horton's, they'll only donate $1 from a $2 coffee. If you put $2 in the donation box, the camp gets the full $2.

McFlurry or Big Mac day makes me sad. McDonald's makes SO much money but they only donate a measly 25 cents to a charity for each purchase? Come on.

And with the Blizzards, it's great that they donate ALL the money.

Remember: actually eating an entire Blizzard isn't going to help sick kids; donating the money you would have used to buy the Blizzard will.

You could always just donate money if you really don't want to blow your calories for the day.  Or you could just have a cheat day and feel good about it because some of the money went to cancer research.

How much of the profits from one blizard goes to McMasters?  Just send them a cheque in your fathers name for $X.XX and skip the blizzard.

Why not just donate some money directly. Using "but it is for a good cause" as justification for going out of your way to buy and eat a blizzard doesn't seem like a good idea to me if you are serious about loosing weight, because believe me it is so easy to continue to justify bad food choices: "it was free", "it was so and so's b-day", "it is Friday", etc.  No one is making you support the cause that way. Just my opinion of course...

I so did not know this... I am in the niagara falls area.. which one shall i meet you at first? ;-)

No really, they are all right.. just donate the money if you want to be charitable... 

Or, if you are really looking for an excuse to have a treat that will make you feel a little less bad for having it.. then go ahead..

I have an idea. How about taking a few of those treats to a place like a children's home or something. You'll feel amazing for donating and you feel even better for making the life of a child a tad bit better if only for 15 minutes.

It sounds like you want some of the Blizzard too. Go get it, eat only half, and enjoy yourself !

I just got back.. ended up going for a small banana one but paid for a large.. I dont feel as guilty.. not like my friend beside me where he got a large cappacino skor and is now regretting it.

Hi,

I am doing a similar thing in the UK, we have Macmillan cancer nurses and they hold the worlds biggest coffee morning. As my husband and father have cancer, instead of drinking the coffee and eating the cake, and donating money. As it is on my 50th birthday I am hosting a coffee morning and yes with all the cakes, but I am having a fruit bowl for me, and load's of herblal teas etc as will as the usual. So I hope I can raise money and still enjoy the day nad not eat cake.

Since I occasionally splurge on half a small blizzard anyway, I don't know that it would really be considered 'breaking my habits'.  (250 cals is not the end of the world, and I'm at the point where I can't eat more than half anyway.And it's *so* *good*!) 

Then again, these 'it's for a good cause' days are pure marketing to get extra people in the door to buy their stuff.  The real 'good cause' is the company's bottom line (in most cases).  So, if you want the half-blizzard or cup of tea or whatever anyway then by all means get one - but don't buy one only to give to charity.  There are far more effective ways to do that.

Original Post by susiecue:

Then again, these 'it's for a good cause' days are pure marketing to get extra people in the door to buy their stuff.  

 There's this annoying woman at work who keeps having cupcake sales to raise money for cancer. While I appreciate her efforts, her marketing campaigns drive me nuts. The posters say "Calories don't count when it's for charity!!!! lol" Um, yes they do. If you want to make it truly "guilt free", just donate without taking the cupcake!

Also, she sells 6 cupcakes for $20 but if you donate $20, you get one "Free" cupcake. I'm scratching my head over that one.

Buy the blizzard and give it to someone else.  That way you give money to the kids and make someone's day.

Original Post by cellophane_star:

There's this annoying woman at work who keeps having cupcake sales to raise money for cancer. While I appreciate her efforts, her marketing campaigns drive me nuts. The posters say "Calories don't count when it's for charity!!!! lol" Um, yes they do. If you want to make it truly "guilt free", just donate without taking the cupcake!

Also, she sells 6 cupcakes for $20 but if you donate $20, you get one "Free" cupcake. I'm scratching my head over that one.

$20 for six cupcakes?!  (or seven, I guess)  Charity or no, that's insanely expensive!