Is Fast-Food Really That Bad?

I was bad today and had McDonald's. I had a 10 piece Chicken Nugget. While eating it, I noticed a nutrition label on the box. It said that the whole box (10 nuggets) has 420 calories. I was shocked! I thought it would be way higher, which leads me to my question.... Is that really that bad? 420 cals for lunch? In the end, all that matters is calorie deficit, right? Is eating 420 calories at McDonald's any different than eating a 420 calorie lunch composed of:

2 Slices of Pepperidge Farm Sourdough Bread (120 x2)= 240 cal
3 slices of Hillshire Farm Roast Beef= 70 cal
1 tbsp Kraft Mayo= 90 cal
1 oz Kraft Reduced-Fat Cheddar Cheese= 90 cal

Sandwich has a total of 490 calories

This is a typical lunch for me, but the chicken nuggets were way more filling. Thoughts?

I personally rather eat REAL chicken. It's a lot healthier and better tasting.

dont forget all the sodium, fat, saturated fat, and trans fat. You need to eliminate those as well.

Its better for you to eat a piece of grilled chicken with vegetables and save yourself about 100-150 calories that you could later eat as a snack. It was the chicken that filled you up, so start making your own chicken for lunch.

Fast food Is getting better. I actually just read in Mens Health, its sadly healthier now a days to just hit a McDonalds or BK then a sit down restaurant. At a fast food diner, your average meal is 500 calories, at a sit down restaurant, about 850.

It may feel more filling to begin with, but you'll be way more hungry later than you would with your usual alternative.

 

And yeah the salt levels will be through the roof.

 

And don't even get me started on the welfare of the chickens McDonalds use in their products. Do they even use chicken fillets? Or reconstituted chicken left overs?

 

The overall calories aren't everything :D

I'd have to agree with everyone else here. Even though it's fast and easy, in the long run, if you eat too much fast food, you'll start to feel lethargic and feel your energy levels plummet. Not the result you want from eating food. You want to stick with calories, even if they are a bit higher, that will produce better hormones and feelings for your body and mind.

Hope I helped! 

I don't think there's any chicken in a mcnugget!

I haven't eaten or been to a McDonald's since I saw Super Size Me. It's been over 2 years. I don't miss it. My daughter hasn't eaten McDonald's either in over 2 years years, but she did visit one about a year ago - just to use the restroom.

Fast food has gotten a lot better, if you don't count sodium. I have normal BP so I could care less about my sodium levels. The very fact that you were able to look at the container and see what the calorie count is, is something pretty cool (and the result of a lot of public pressure). The fact is, most fast food places these days do publish calorie information (usually on their web site) and do offer at least 1 alternative that a dieter can choose. 

Well, if all you're worried about is calories, then it's not a problem.  But if you're looking for more nutritious eating, stick with that yummy sandwich you listed (minus mayo, add lettuce, tomato, red peppers, and fat free balsamic viniagrette). 

Nutritionwise, chicken Mcnuggets are a poor choice - not only is it chopped, pressed, and formed chicken (who knows which parts), but it's deep fried, and full of sodium and preservatives.  You'd be better off making your own chicken nuggets with a good recipe from Hungry-girl.com.  

However, I can understand the temptation for fast food - to an extent.  Don't like chicken nuggets, but I'm a sucker for french fries.

“As I hear tell all the parts are crammed into one big part.”

“Fused.”

“Then the one big part is cut up into little pieces parts.”

::giggles::

After all, parts is parts!

Fast food is getting better.  McDs has a grilled snack wrap for $1.45 in most places that is a tortillia shell around half a grilled chicken breast and sauce with lettuce and cheese for around 260 calories, only 80 calories of fat.  I like the Honey mustard I tell them half as sauce and no cheese (I dont like their cheese) and I figure that brings it to about 230 and even less fat.  I can eat two of these for under 500 calories and just over 120 cals of fat  And boy do they fill me up.

A ten piece Nugget is 420 but it has 220 calories from fat. 

What you eat IS as important as how much you eat.

Fast food is BAD. McDonald's is BAD. It is BAD for you! All you who are justifying it are kidding yourselves!

 

Sorry to be harsh :s but you can't surely say that something from McDonald's is GOOD for you?

 

I just hate fast food chains that's all, sorry about the rant... 

Last time I went to mcdonalds was quite a while ago. I had chicken nuggets which I used to love but they just didn't taste as good (/as bad for for you) as they used to. It was after the big 'breast meat only and less salt in our nuggets campaign'.

Also supersize me just made me cross. You could easily have 3 meals a day from mcdonalds and not put on weight - you'd get bored and your salt levels etc. wouldn't be great. Also its not all that filling but for that guy - he was meant to be having 2500 cals - a big mac is about 700, i guess a chicken sandwich 500, nuggets 420. He could have all that, some fruit packets, a diet soda, a juice, some water and more and you CAN get all that stuff in mcdonalds. The reason for his doubling his calorie allowance was all the supersizing and full sugar drinks.

Plus, being sick after one of his first supersize meals? How pathetic! But then, it wasn't exactly a fair test - he went from super healthy almost vegan (wife was a vegan chef) to eating all that meat. Anyone who hasn't eaten meat in a while will usually have problems if they started like that. Same goes for all the fat and salt. He went from hardly getting any to getting a ton.

If you are not a health freak then it's fine to eat it as long as it fits into your calorie range.

I could care less bout eating trans fats or whatever so long as it fit into my calorie limit for the day.

However, it makes sense to eat something more healthier as it is manufactured but don't feel guilty just because you eat a McDonald's once in a while.

Plus, being sick after one of his first supersize meals? How pathetic! But then, it wasn't exactly a fair test - he went from super healthy almost vegan (wife was a vegan chef) to eating all that meat. Anyone who hasn't eaten meat in a while will usually have problems if they started like that. Same goes for all the fat and salt. He went from hardly getting any to getting a ton.

 Why is it pathetic for your body to reject that ridiculous amount of fat? I think it puts across a good message to say MCDONALDS IS BAD. 

I eat fast food a few times per month and no it hasnt stalled my weightloss I will tell you this though. Once I eat my crap meal from Mcdonalds or whatever the case may be im sluggish, irritable, and its like im coming down off of some high and I crave more of the fast food. I have learned to control these cravings but I can see why some ppl just cant stop at one meal from fast food and eat it all day long.

Now its become my junkfood treat day for me every once in a while but back in the day I was eating it 2 and 3 times per week and always wanting and craving for more.

Yeah, the quality of the food is as important as the calories, and McDonald's in general is just bad food, and bad for the environment. That said, we all get cravings now and then, and if once in while (say no more than once or twice a month) you just really want something greasy, better to indulge in a mcnugget-fest and stay under your calories for the day than to say, eat an entire pint of hagaan-daz for 1280 cals and even more fat! But, no I wouldn't make it a lunch habit.

I am also a fast food addict, however, I steer clear as much as I can when I am trying to watch what I eat.  I do notice after time that I do not crave it anymore because of the salt and fat and grease.

I mentioned in a post the other day that I do not get fries with anything because they kind of gross me out now after eating healthy.  I will eat one and wonder why I used to love them so much.

I dont see the harm in eating fast food once in a while, but not on a regular basis.

I love taking my daughter to Chick-Fil-A because of their kids night (she get a side salad with raspberry vinegarette and a fruit cup with a milk) and the kids have fun stuff to do.  I on the other hand, used to get chicken fingers, fries, medium soda...not anymore. (My daughter has an egg allergy, so thats about all she can have anywhere we go...at McDonalds its Apple Dippers or the Fruit and Walnut with yogurt...minus the walnuts).

I will get a grilled chicken sandwich, no butter, put a thin layer of mayo or the honey dijon mustard sauce they give you with it and a diet dr. pepper.  Much better than what I was eating and its a nice treat sometimes. I would eat the salad, but sorry to say, I cannot stand salad or lettuce.  It sucks actually.

In either case, my point is, I believe many things are okay with moderation, but it all depends on your individual preference and feelings, not of what others tell you about it.

I actually think like that too, but the difference is how your body breaks down the food and the overall nutritional value.  If you had those chicken Nuggets for lunch, you could probably balance out by eating a small salad with some beans in it for dinner.

Original Post by demila1983:


In either case, my point is, I believe many things are okay with moderation, but it all depends on your individual preference and feelings, not of what others tell you about it.

Oh good, a voice of reason!!

 I agree, moderation is the key word. Fast food is the best choice, but occasionally you can work it in if you choose to.