Eating Fast Food

by The Editor
~ January 2003 No.161 ~

Although very few people will admit to eating fast food, the number of golden arches in any town or city indicates that some of us are not telling the whole truth. Fast food outlets have always been targeted as sources of food that contain calories and little else - so-called empty calories. Recently, at least one customer has taken one company to court - claiming that the food they serve is a cause of his obesity.

To their credit, and in this day of online information, companies are making available nutrition information about their products so customers can know better what they are buying, and what they are eating. It make take a little research, and some intelligent choices, but it is possible to eat a nutritious meal and avoid the calories when eating at a hamburger joint.

A comparison of two foods offered by McDonalds serves as a good example. The Quarter Pounder is a popular hamburger sold at McDonalds that contains a beef patty, sesame seed bun, ketchup, mustard, pickles, onion, and grill seasoning. The garden salad is listed as containing lettuce, shredded cheddar/jack cheese, chopped egg, chopped tomato, and green onions. The table below, showing the nutrient content provide by McDonalds for these two foods, shows that the burger contains more of the nine nutrients than the garden salad. However, beef just because it is beef contains more fat and calories etc. than lettuce. The table shows that even when you are forced by your children to go to McDonalds, you can still find food that is low in fat, calories and salt if you choose the salad.

The nutrient value of an individual food should always be compared to your daily intake requirements. If the stop at McDonalds is just to buy a snack to tide you over until dinner, you should look very carefully at what you are eating and what nutrients it contains.

1. Reference
2. McDonalds¹

Other articles on fast food §

translate German Spanish French Italian Portuguese Japanese Korean Chinese Arabic

DISCLAIMER

To the best of our knowledge, the information contained in Medicinal Food News is true and factual. No changes to your diet should be made without first consulting a dietician or family physician.