I was trying to make a healthier choice
when eating at McDonalds with my hubby a few weeks back.
I stood strong and didn't order a Big Mac.
I didn't order French Fries.
I was good. I ordered a salad.
After I doused my salad with Ranch dressing I read the package.
Notice the words-
"All Natural."
It's supposed to make you think it is good for you.
I felt betrayed.
I felt angry.
Ranch Dressing:
Calories 170
Fat Calories 130
Total Fat 15g
Saturated Fat 2.5g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 20mg
Sodium 530mg
Total Carb 9g
Sugars 4g
Protein 1g
All Natural ingredients: Water, Soybean Oil, corn syrup solids, buttermilk, distilled vinegar, egg yolks, salt, sugar…...
Southwest Dressing:
1 pouch has 100 calories
Fat calories 50
Total Fat 6g
Sat Fat 1 g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 20mg
Sodium 340 mg
Total Carb 11g
Sugars 3g
All Natural Ingredients: Water, corn syrup solids, soybean oil, distilled vinegar, egg yolks, corn vinegar, corn starch, whey salt……
Ouch. With all the corn syrup solids, shoulda'-coulda' just eaten some candy.
1 small fry McDonald's fry:
Total Fat 11g
Sat. Fat 1 g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0g
Sodium 161 mg
Total Carb 28 g
Sugar 0g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 9%
Iron 3%
I coulda' had the French fries? What was I thinkin'? I was thinkin' I could trust a famous man like Paul Newman who labeled his dressing as natural. I guess corn syrup is natural, but it isn't healthy. A little bit of deception, doncha' think?
My husband taught me a cool dieter's trick - you dip the fork in the dressing, then stab some salad onto the fork, then insert into your mouth. You get the flavor, but use way less dressing. Next time I ordered a salad, I tried it and it worked well.
Anybody else know any good dieter's tips for eating at restaurants or at home?
Next time, I don't want to be cheated healthwise, knowing for the fat and the calories I consumed, I coulda' had a candy bar and a French fry instead.
Shoulda'-Coulda'!
I'm learning alot about food, too! I'll pass on any tips that I learn.
ReplyDeleteToday I did read that dandelion tea is great when you are trying to clean out toxins from your body. I know you have radiation coming up, so.... you may want to look at it. :-) I haven't personally tried it, though.
Read labels first!
ReplyDeleteAnd just because it says 'Natural' that doesn't mean 'Organic'. Any food company can just throw 'Natural' on their food packages, but to have 'Organic' on the food packages, it has to be tested by the Organic police. :)
But just because the label reads 'Natural' or 'Organic', that doesn't mean its good for you..
Hey, Grace, how did you get so smart? I shoulda'-coulda' brought you to McDonalds with me!
ReplyDeleteEqual parts of olive oil, honey, and raw cider vinegar make an excellent, healthy dressing.
ReplyDeleteSkip the bread basket or ask that it comes with your food. I find I eat less when it comes with my meal. You know, like 4 pieces of garlic bread instead of 8.
ReplyDeleteWords like natural, lite etc do send alarm bells. Reading labels can get tiresome. I reckon the tiny bit of dressing you get on your fork would hardly count though. Good idea.
ReplyDeleteRestaurant guides to eating are readily available lately. My recommendation would be "Eat This, Not That Restaurant Survival Guide." I've never used it but I swear by the "Eat This, Not That Supermarket Guide." I am not embarrassed to pull it out and consult the text in the middle of the store. Why not do it at a restaurant too?
ReplyDeleteYeah, woulda made me mad too. French fries taste so much better than salad.
ReplyDeleteLike the fork idea though.