Wednesday, 01 April 2009
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Big Mac, Meet the Mac Wrap!
I like when the fast food industry comes out with new, healthier versions of their tasty, seriously unhealthy foods. When McDonald's came out with their Snack Wraps line, I was giddy at the idea of getting a chicken wrap to go for only $1. But are they taking it too far by trying to create a relationship between the Big Mac and a tortilla wrap?
What seems to be the cross breeding of two different species - the meaty, greasy burger and a flat, low-calorie tortilla wrap - is being tested out in Houston, Texas and in parts of Canada. While it may seem like McDonald's is doing us all a favor and getting rid of the large grease mess, isn't there a time where people have to learn about the idea of (surprise!!!) self-control?
Now I can appreciate the fact that Mickey D's wants to help get America skinny by making healthier options. But at the same time, I think that if people were seriously that concerned about their health, enough to make the conversion from an original Big Mac to a new, smaller "Mac Wrap"... then they probably shouldn't be eating McDonald's in the first place.
Here's an idea - how about people just skip the Big Mac all together and grab a salad, or a sandwich from a deli? Call me crazy, but I think it's time that people get out of the fast food lanes and into a produce section of the local grocery store.
This test-run does not have a set running length, so who knows when McDonald's will come to their senses. Until then, if you want to try the tortilla with an identity crisis, head over to Houston and let us know what you think.
Are fast-food restaurant's "healthy choices" really that much healthier than their original items? Have you tried any of the healthy options on your local dollar menu?
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- From: msenergydrink
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Comments (51)
It's just sad, really. I realize what they are trying to do. But, the key is moderation. It is okay to have a big mac say, once a month. But offering it in a "wrap" style is just fooling people into thinking they are eating healthier, when they really aren't. You never see salad with ground beef on it (I hope). There is a reason why salad/wraps and burgers don't come together. They are complete opposites of the health spectrum and I think it should stay that way. Burgers are nice every once in awhile. But, unless it is lean ground turkey, low fat cheese, hold the mayo, McD's is not making much progress.
It's pretty much the same thing with fast food restaurants showing the amount of calories. Some people won't read, some people will. Some people will change their eating habits, some won't.
I feel that the calorie display is what's getting fast food restaurants to losing money, thus, dip in the economy. But, they might go spend more money on organic foods, which might make up for it. *shrugs*
Oh man, I had McD's the other day but only because I was in a rush and late for a final, and the first thing I realized when I unwrapped it was their greasy and shiny buns. It made me frown. The only time I'd usually even consider eating McD's is for a cheap and quick breakfast at seven in the morning before heading to class. I think a wrap is going a bit far, it's like a cry for help when you're drowing in 2 ft. water. Sigh~
wow are you serious!!! this is rally a shame. i cant even eat beef at mickey d's anymore, well i dont eat beef, but even if i did i couldnt and how is that appealing to anyone!! i guess what will they come up with next......
That's funny. I didn't realize they were trying to sell the notion of "healthy" with a wrap that consists mainly of meat (at least, that's what I see from the photo...). I might try it, but not for health reasons. But then again, it doesn't exactly look appetizing... Sorry McD.
ewwwwwww
ROFL. That's a snack???? To answer your question, no, but only b/c I don't normally go to places with a dollar menu.
well, the bun is one of the things that makes the burger so unhealthy. White bread is bad. The burger itself and the veggies arent that bad, so putting it in a wrap was kind of smart thinking on thier behalf.... that takes off at LEAST 140 calories. I dont think it should be regarded as a snack though. I know a bunch of people who eat the sandwiches without the bread bc of that.
I don't care what McDonald's is trying to do to make people healthy. I still refuse to eat it. It's unhealthy, and gross and downright tasteless. I don't see how people like it so much.
i love the fruit and walnut salad and the parfait from mc donalds. and they really are pretty okay. i mean yeah, theres a couple weird preservatives in them and such, i normally only grab those at breakfast or if i need to break a $20 (my banks atm's are located in mc donalds. haha.) but obviously its a much better choice than anything else on the menu
@sheflourishes@xanga - taco salad has ground beef on it.
Lol, how is that any healthier than the regular burger? From the picture it looks like all they changed was the bun; they used a tortilla instead.
I think that a lot of the time, their "healthier" options are worse than their non-healthy options, if not just as bad.
If a person is on a diet, they should limit themselves. If they know that by going to McDonalds they won't be able to quit ordering burgers, they don't need to go at all.
If a person is simply wanting to be healthier... fast food shouldn't really be in their agenda to begin with. :/
oh my
that looks kind of nasty. I dont know but this just might be me but if i were going to eat something fatty then im going to eat it right. why not allow yourself to have the real thing but once a month?? like why settle to eat that when you could just exercise some self control and be able to eat the actual burger....
kinda like icecream for me. its either all or nothing.
See, that might actually be good...if it wasn't McDonald's making it.
It's just food. Get over yourselves. I don't like hamburger so I can't say I've tried it but whatever, y'know? Sorry to come off as rude but a whole article over a McDonald's food item is just silly. :P I live in Houston, so I may give it a try. XD
It doesn't look appetizing, but neither did the Big Mac itself. However, everyone eats them, so you might be surprised of the outcome of this. I do agree, though, it's quite preposterous &McDonald's does need to come to their senses, just discontinue white bread/buns, cut the beef, and factor in more salads, yogurt, and fruit. Better yet, just shut down, but we all know that will never happen.
As far as fast food chains with "healthier" options, I think, but I'm not certain, that BK might have a "healthier" children's meals. You might be able to get like Macaroni and cheese with Apple slices or something like that. Milk instead of soda.
I've gotten the side salad of the dollar menu at Mickey D's, but that's about the only healthy &decent options on their dollar menu. They even have a fat free dressing, :)
how sad, they're running out of ideas for their menu...
This really doesn't even sound healthy but they're trying to make people think that it really is. I work at a local fast-food restaurant and they're trying to offer more healthier options by advertising that chicken sandwiches start at 300 calories or something like that (they're actually just trying to make more money because the chicken is the most expensive thing on the menu). We also offer grilled chicken wraps in the spring & summer and I think they are actually fairly healthy, as far as fast food goes.
They've been advertising those here. I didn't realize Canada was the guinea pig cage for McDonald's...
Just for fun, I had a look at the nutritional information. Healthier option, my ass! For one thing, the tortilla wrap lists "fully hydrogenated soybean oil" as an ingredient in the shortening. Strangely enough, the tortilla is listed as having zero trans-fats... which I find hard to believe.
A quick comparison:
Big Mac:
Calories - 540 (210 of those from the bun)
Fat - 29 g (12g from the beef, 10g from the special sauce!)
Sodium - 1020 mg (that's 43% of your daily allotment)
Mac Snack Wrap:
Calories - 350 (140 from the tortilla)
Fat - 21 g
Sodium - 640 mg (330 from the tortilla alone)
Also, they have this "serving size" number next to the calorie count: 209 for the Big Mac, 133 for the wrap. I'm guessing that's the "serving size" in calories, which means you're only supposed to eat less than half of your sandwich or wrap in one sitting.
Yeah, right.
they're about the same ...
OMG, only in Canada? Sighhh...
No, original Big Mac is the best !
@sheflourishes@xanga - The salads that most people eat are HORRIBLE for you. The dressing and cheese and everything they put on it. The McD salads have more calories than the Big Mac.
Salads aren't healthy unless they are dressingless (even low-fat or fat-free dressing is really really processed and thus bad for you) and most people can't deal with that because the stuff tends to taste so bad. That's why I hate salad. It's just as misleading as this stupid Mac Wrap. >.<;;
that's just... strange. recession big mac = mac wrap? *weeps*