McDonald’s Menu Getting the best at a fast-food restaurant Amanda Palmer

McDonald’s  Most children that eat at McDonald’s are from busy families that need a quick and inexpensive meal to feed their kids.  There are a few healthier menu alternatives and parents should take it upon themselves to research all restaurant nutritional information before feeding their children.  Here is a better 5-day lunch and snack menu for busy parents to choose for their children if they do need to eat out.

5 Day Menu of Better Choices at McDonald’s

Menu: Day 1  Snack 1: Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait calories, 4 g protein, 2% Vit A, 15% Vit C, 10% Calcium Water  Lunch: Premium Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken calories, 27 g protein, 35% Vit A, 15% Vit C, 15% Calcium Water  Snack 2: Apple Slices-- 15 Calories, 0 g Protein, 0% Vit A, 160% Vit C, 2% Calcium 1 % Low Fat Milk– 100 Calories, 8 g Protein, 10% Vit A, 4% Vit C, 30% Calcium

Menu: Day 2  Snack 1: Egg White Delight Calories, 18 g Protein, 4% Vit A, 0% Vit C, 25% Calcium Minute Maid Apple Juice– 100 Calories, 0 g Protein, 0% Vit A, 100% Vit C, 10% Calcium  Lunch: Ranch Snack Wrap Calories, 16 g Protein, 2% Vit A, 2% Vit C, 10%Calcium Water  Snack 2: 4 Piece Chicken McNuggets Calories, 9 g Protein, 2%Vit A, 0%Vit C, 2% Calcium 1 % Low Fat Milk– 100 Calories, 8 g Protein, 10% Vit A, 4% Vit C, 30% Calcium

Menu: Day 3  Snack 1: Honey Mustard Snack Wrap Calories, 16 g Protein, 2% Vit A, 2% Vit C, 10% Calcium Water  Lunch: Hamburger Calories, 12 g Protein, 2% Vit A, 2% Vit C, 10% Calcium Fat Free Chocolate Milk– 130 Calories, 9 g Protein, 10% Vit A, 0 Vit C, 30% Calcium  Snack 2: Apple Slices-- 15 Calories, 0 g Protein, 0% Vit A, 160% Vit C, 2% Calcium Water

Menu: Day 4  Snack 1: Hash brown, 150 Calories-- 1 g Protein, 0% Vit A, 2% Vit C, 0% Calcium 1 % Low Fat Milk– 100 Calories, 8 g Protein, 10% Vit A, 4% Vit C, 30% Calcium  Lunch: Premium Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich Calories, 28 g protein, 6% Vit A, 15% Vit C, 20% Calcium Water  Snack 2: Fruit and Maple Oatmeal without Brown Sugar Calories, 5 g Protein, 2%Vit A, 130% Vit C, 6% Calcium Water

Menu: Day 5  Snack 1: Sausage Burrito– 300 Calories, 12 g Protein, 10% Vit A, 15% Vit C, 10% Calcium Minute Maid Orange Juice– 150 Calories, 2 g Protein, 0 g Vit A, 130% Vit C, 2% Calcium  Lunch: 4 Piece Chicken McNuggets Calories, 9 g Protein, 2%Vit A, 0%Vit C, 2% Calcium Fat Free Chocolate Milk– 130 Calories, 9 g Protein, 10% Vit A, 0 Vit C, 30% Calcium  Snack 2: Side salad-- 20 calories, 1 g Protein, 45 % Vit A, 25% Vit C, 2% Calcium Water

Observation  In my hour long experience at McDonald’s I noticed most children were allowed to order anything on the kid’s menu and most of the time they were not healthy choices.  The majority of the children chose a hamburger, coke, and French fries as their meal. The next highest total was chicken nuggets, a small coke, and fries.  Some children got milk and apple slices, but most of the parents allowed their child to get whatever they wanted on the menu. Other drink options were sweet tea and other soft drinks.

Healthier Alternatives  For children wanting to order just off of the Kid’s Menu I would recommend these alternatives:  Cheeseburger– order a hamburger instead with milk or water, and apple slices  Hamburger- order with milk or water and apple slices  Chicken Nuggets– order with milk or water and apple slices and use plain ketchup for dipping.  The 5 Day Menu I created offers more of a variety for children and would be great alternatives for a lunch.

Other Tips  French fries should not be ordered-- high fat and high in sodium.  If your child likes salad, order them a salad with a low calorie dressing and no cheese or croutons.  Water, milk, juice, pink lemonade, and un-sweet tea are the best choices for drinks.  Keep your child’s sugar limit to very low and encourage them to drink plenty of water.

Moderation  These meals off of the 5 Day Menu are the “healthiest” alternatives when ordering at McDonald’s.  Everything should be eaten in moderation because most of the food is high in fat, cholesterol, sodium, preservatives, and sugar.  These daily meals will keep children interested because there is huge variety. Apples are in the snacks a lot because they provide fiber, Vit A, and are low calorie.  The healthiest meals for children is prepared at home when you know what ingredients are in the food!

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