When I tell people that I am a McMom, they usually have one of two reactions – the first is the one I get from most people, which sounds a bit like “Wow! That’s awesome!” and the second comes from people like my brother who have their strong convictions about McDonald’s already decided. Their reactions are more along the lines of, “Well, they knew you were coming, so, obviously they changed it for you.”
AHEM.
Oh, really?
Now, maybe I can understand at the restaurant level. Yes, they are made aware that a bunch of moms and camera people are coming into their establishment, so I can imagine that they are sure to have their store in tip-top shape. This is no different than when I have company over for dinner. Or when YOU have company over.
But, I mean, COME ON. We visited Cargill beef facility in Edmonton for hamburgers, Pride Pak for veggies, Cargill chicken facility in London and McCain’s for potatoes. Do people like my brother really think that giant 1,000 people operations are shut down and changed so a crew of 5 moms wouldn’t know the real “truth” about what goes on there? Do they really think that they decided to run the all-beef burgers for that day only to go back to horse meat – or whatever people are thinking McDonald’s uses these days instead of beef – the next day?
It makes me laugh that people would really think that. I guess maybe they are more doubtful because they weren’t actually there, and have to take my word for it. But, I hope they come around…because it’s ALL TRUE. I know this, because I was there. I was able to ask anyone any questions. I was able to peek around every corner.
And, I mean, naysayers are going to be naysayers and say that we are just “cogs in the propaganda wheel” or whatever, but, I mean, think about it. McDonald’s invited us in. They are letting US behind the scenes.
They didn’t have to do it. But, I’m thankful that they did! Because I have been pleasantly surprised by everything I have seen!
Wow ladies this is fantastic!Freedom of speech and open conversation about things that are crucially important to us. This is how we learn and get educated and grow. I fault nobody for eating clean. If I could have a garden and grow everything myself I totally would.
For me this whole program isn’t about advertising that McDonalds is “the healthiest place to take my family”. It’s about learning that large corporations are listening and learning from us. As consumers we offer an opinion which if they don’t listen too they fail. Any smart company who is listening is doing something about it. From what we have learned I feel that Mcdonalds has gone above and beyond in restructuring it’s menu and strives to improve. They have healthier choices on their menus. That’s a fact. Is everything on their menu top notch healthy…NO. Is every item in everyone’s fridge at home top notch…NO. We all have important decisions to make when it comes to our health and the health of the little people we are raising. Children sometimes don’t have choices when they go out with friends and their parents who aren’t health concious. I now feel has confident that I have equipped my daughter with the knowledge that she can make a healthier choice. As a single mother I can’t afford to buy all natural, homegrown foods. The economy has made it difficult at times to eat healthy, however I have educated myself and I try my best to make the healthiest choices available to me.
As an educated, self-reliant, intellegent , proud mother of two I am proud to say that my children have learned and are still learning from this opportunity. I would rather my kids go out with friends who happen to stop at Mcdonalds and
have no issues with ordering a salad or a fajita instead of coming home hungry because they didn’t feel they had a choice.
Thanks for the feedback ladies it’s been awesome… this is what it’s all about!Keeping it real.
I agree with Malgray. Focus on health and pass this on to your kids but be realistic. Educate your kids about fast food so that when they can make their own choices they are armed with the facts. Balance, as in all aspects of life, is key.
So I have been reading, and loving, the exchange of views, knowledge and beliefs for and against McDonald’s and clean living.
I commend Erin for her attempts to purify her diet and that of her family’s. I try hard to feed myself and my kids “real food” as much as possible….but I also think that it is not possible to live in the world as it is now, and not expose our children to all it has to offer….the good, the bad and everything in between!!!
Fast food exists to make life easier for parents some of the time (not all the time). I think that it is ok to eat things other than pure products, that we can try to be healthy and pure as often as possible but still find our way through a restaurant menu at times. Corporations like McDonald’s, drive the fast food market and they have worked very hard to introduce, improve and uphold a high standard of healthier options. Hopefully they are causing changes in other food chains in the process.
I agree that eating “pure” and “clean” does not include eating at McDonald’s. It’s all about food coming from the farm directly to your plate with out being modified or tampered with at all by industries and the chemicals that come with them.
That said, we life in a world where food options are abundant and choices are all around us. Obesity and other medical issues such as high cholesterol and diabetes are significant because people do not make good choices over the course of time. As parents, I think part of our job is to educate our children about healthy life style decisions, including what they choose to eat. I like the occasional fatty, bad for me meal and I like that my kids get a taste of it also….Maybe it will help them to not seek it out as often when they are totally on their own to make daily food decisions.
For the record Erin, the exchange was not TOXIC, any dialogue that gets people talking about health and nutrition is worthwhile…. BUT I am an highly educated person and very food conscious and will happily continue to eat at McDonald’s …..from time to time.
Naomi,
We will just have to agree to disagree.
My intentions are to have an intelligent conversation about McDonald’s and other food industry corporations. And to point out that simple food is healthiest.
I want to call a spade a spade and McDonald’s is generally not healthy. I doubt that too many children eating there choose the Mediterranean Salad. They’re having the happy meal (even the apples come with corn syrup loaded caramel sauce).
BTW, I am working toward grinding my own wheat flour, not there yet. But I do grind millet, oats and other grains to add to my breads. Ascorbic acid is vitamin C. Amylase is an enzyme that breaks starch down into sugar, it interacts with the yeast to make the bread rise. Azodicarbonamide sounds bad and is banned in Australia so I guess I need to find a new brand of flour until I can grind my own, thanks for pointing that one out to me. I live way up north and it is really hard to find products that don’t have preservatives and additives, they have to travel too far and there isn’t the market. My flour doesn’t have L-cysteine hydrochloride.
Look, I’m not perfect, I’m just trying to minimize my family’s exposure to toxins and I’m doing my best. I’m not stupid and I don’t believe everything that is published about nutrition. I’m pretty good at researching, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating information. I’m not always right. I am also not a zealot, which is why I sometimes eat McDonald’s or other foods that are bad for me.
I don’t think McDonald’s is a healthy choice.
I reiterate that many people who eat there are not educated about nutrition.
I will not post about this anymore because I think it is getting to be a toxic exchange instead of supportive and informative.
Erin, I think it is just a matter of words.
What is in yeast= yeast, sorbitan monosterate, ascorbic acid.
How about whole wheat flour= whole wheat flour, amylase, ascorbic acid, azodicarbonamide, L-cysteine hydrochloride.
Table Salt= salt, calcium silicate, invert sugar, potassium iodide.
When you breakdown everything, you will find something that has a long scientific name. Most products will contain these items, even items that you classify as pure.
Because of Canada Food Safety and Health Standards, all ingredients must be listed, including the ingredients in your flour , salt, & yeast.
I respect your decision for the slow food movement but then you still have eaten at McDonalds. What we are trying to tell you is that you can choose healthy and know that the ingredients are REAL. When you ate at McDonalds – what did you eat?
If you had chosen a salad & had no dressing – then you would have been sticking to your slow food movement. We are trying to inform you that the ingredients are the best quality & freshest that you can get.
The Mediterranean Salad
Crumbled Feta Cheese
Cucumber
Grape Tomato
Olives
Red Onion rings
Red pepper strips
Salad Lettuce Blend
-and if you ordered it any way, you could say no feta, if you wanted.
And you had to agree that the burger patty is:
Quarter Pounder® Beef Patty: 100% pure beef.
I guess I just wonder if your intentions were, as it just feels like you are making a generalized comment/statement. As the world becomes more informed, McDonalds is also making changes to its menu, and giving you choices.
Corrine & Naomi,
Corrine, I know whereof you speak with report cards, I only have to do 20 but for every subject, it takes 16-24 hours of work (not supplied by the Board…..until this year we get 12 hours for all three sets).
Anyway, my “beef” (pun intended) is not only McDonald’s but all processed foods and especially ones that are presented as healthy. I am now a firm believer in really minimizing anything processed. I mean eating straight up veggies, fruits, minimal meats, whole grains (not even too much bread…and that is homemade) like oats, quinua, millet, and others cooked into a porridge or brown rice, etc. I think that our culture puts convenience and profits above health, and I certainly include McDonald’s in that group.
We may be able to make educated choices about what we choose to eat but there are many, many people who can’t…because they are not educated about nutrition and preparing healthy meals. Just look in the lunch boxes at a public school and you will know what I mean.
Do I occasionally eat at McDonald’s? Yes. But I do not think it is part of a healthy diet. I think it is making a choice to eat something that I know is bad for me. Bad due to fat, sodium, preservatives (check the bun ingredients out), etc. Man people make that choice who already have a very poor diet. So, I think McDonald’s is culpable, and so is every other corporation that tries to sell us stuff that is unhealthy. I guess I’m not a good capitalist.
I won’t buy into the Wonderbread Invisibles either. Simple food is best.
The burgers may be 100% beef but all of these ingredients sound pretty processed to me:
French Fries: Potatoes, canola oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, safflower oil, natural flavour (vegetable source),
dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate (maintain colour), citric acid (preservative), dimethylpolysiloxane (antifoaming
agent) and cooked in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with THBQ, citric
acid and dimethypolysiloxane).
Baked French Fries made at home. Potato, olive oil, salt.
Big Mac® Bun: Enriched wheat flour, water, sugar and/or glucose-fructose, yeast, vegetable oil (soybean and/or
canola), salt, calcium sulphate, AND MAY CONTAIN ANY OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING IN VARYING
PROPORTIONS: diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono and diglycerides, vegetable mono and diglycerides, calcium
propionate, sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate, corn flour, calcium phosphate, soy flour, sunflower oil, wheat starch,
ammonium phosphate, calcium peroxide, wheat gluten, ethanol, sorbitol, polysorbate 20, sodium propionate,
enzymes, dextrin, corn starch, cellulose gum, ammonium sulfate, malt, calcium carbonate, sesame seeds.
Bun made at home: Flour, water, yeast, sugar or honey, oil.
Angus Burger Seasoning: Dextrose, salt, onion powder, maltodextrin, yeast extract, spice, natural and artificial
flavor, beef broth, vegetable shortening (sunflower oil), partially hydrogenated cottonseed and soybean oil, garlic
powder, caramel color, worcestershire sauce (vinegar, molasses, corn syrup, salt, caramel color, garlic powder,
sugar, spices, tamarind, natural flavor), beef fat, annatto, turmeric, not more than 2% calcium silicate added to
prevent caking.
Seasoning at home: garlic, salt, pepper, onions.
Processed Cheese Slice: Cheese (milk, modified milk ingredients, bacterial culture, salt, calcium chloride, microbial
enzyme, lipase), modified milk ingredients, water, sodium citrate and/or sodium phosphate, salt, potassium sorbate,
citric acid, colour, soy lecithin.
Home: Real cheese.
Chicken Breast Strips: Sliced chicken breast, water, tapioca starch, salt, sugar, sodium phosphate, dextrose,
xylose, sucrose, maltodextrin, white wine extract, flavouring (contains milk protein, lactose and wheat gluten), malt
vinegar, celery powder, citric acid.
At home: slices of chicken and homemade bread crumbs (see bread ingredients above).
That is my reply. I have been convinced by the real, slow food movement. Or should I say, the return of the way we used to eat.
Erin
PS: I bought a quarter of a cow from friends who have a farm, so I know where my cow was raised, that it was grazed, that it was not given drugs, where it was butchered. That helps.
Erin:
Sorry it took awhile to get back to you… I got caught up in getting my 350 report cards done this past week. I teach English has a second language in Quebec.
Firstly, I see Naomi as provided a whole host of info.
Erin in addition to Naomis comments, I too encourage you to take a look at our videos and/or nutrition calculator at http://www.mcdonalds.ca.
Having seen the beef production, I feel more confident in my kids having a burger at McDonalds, then the ones I can make at home with the beef that sat in the grocery storer for god only knows how long.
Secondly, your opinions and this dialogue are what this site is all about… so to all the Erins out there, bring it on!!!
Corinne
Wow twins! Congratulations you must be very busy I know I am with a 4 & 2 yr old.
Erin I have to respond to your comments. I think you are mistaken.
What we have seen is that McD’s is that it is NOT processed food. I think that you have choosen to classify McD’s as overprocessed completely disregards the whole experience of what we, as concerned Moms have seen at McDonalds.
It is REAL food.
I would love to see your grocery list, as a lot of the time I see people thinking or touting organic over what you are classifying processed and they soon realize that many of the items they choose ARE processed.
Did you know the grading standards for something to be classified as organic?
According to the Standard, a product may be labelled organic if it consists of at least 95 percent organic ingredients. For food products containing at least 70% organic ingredients, a claim may be made about the amount of organic ingredients in the product. For example, contains x% organic ingredients or contains x% of organic (name of the ingredient(s)). When a food product contains less than 70% organic ingredients, claims of organic content may only be made within the list of ingredients. So what is the other percentage made up of?
All I am saying is that you need to be careful in what you read. Discredit any studies that unequivocally prove that organic food is more nutritious than conventional food by using vague statements such as, “From a nutrition standpoint, s there isn’t enough research to show that organic foods are more nutritious than regular foods.”
I know first hand that McDonalds uses REAL ingredients.
Yes McDs is convienent and you can choose to pick apple slices over fries. But YOU make that choice and I think blaming the food is really an easy way out, of putting the blame on something other than the individual. In many cases the food that is chosen by the individual is combined with their lack of exercise and their unhealthy lifestyle which REALLY leads to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc. It is never just one factor.
No one is telling you to eat McDonalds everyday. But you can choose healthy options and know that the chickens are not chicken loaf, like cold cuts that most people eat in their sandwiches. The hamburger is 100% real beef, made up of 85% lean & 65% lean meat. Can you name any other places that you know their hamburgers are all beef? And a place that will let in 5 Canadian moms in to see that it is true?!
I am not offended as everyone has a right to their opinion. I just think that you have chosen to comment without actually watching or reading our experiences at http://www.mcdonaldsmoms.ca or the videos here on urbanmoms. I think if you did, then you would not feel as strongly as you do, as you definitely would be more informed about McDs.
I know what lack of sleep can do to a mom but I urge you to check out the site and then you will know next time that choosing McDonalds is not choosing to be unhealthy. I personally consume 5 servings of fruits & vegetables every day, and exercise as regularily as possible but I do not refrain from eating McDs, and I would have to say that the biggest payoff I have is from eating good food, and that includes McDonalds, and choosing a healthy lifestyle.
Corrine,
McDonald’s food is too high in fat, sodium, preservatives, sugar, protein, etc. It’s too low in nutrients. Basically it is so highly processed that little of the real food value remains. I think that having it occasionally won’t hurt but let’s be honest…it is in no way good for you. Compare a homemade hamburger with whole grain bun & veg meal with any value meal and I think you will find the homemade a way better nutritional (and cost) value. Also, at home you can try for organic meats & plants.
Why should treats mean eating something that taxes our organs and makes us fat and unhealthy? And I don’t mean just McD’s here. It is our overconsumption of processed foods that has led to western health crises like: Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, sometimes types of cancer, and more. I can quote study after study to back up these facts.
I guess that I am now on a real, slow food kick and I think that meals like McDonald’s are a waste of calories and a waste of time for our digestive organs (I don’t want to damage my liver, intestines, colon, etc., anymore than they have been).
Ultimately I think it comes down to money and convenience over all else; health included, and that upsets me. We are willing to feed our families junk for the sake of profits….whether it’s McD’s, Wonder, Kraft, you name the company, it’s about making money at any cost.
There is my food rant. BTW, I’m far from perfect and have not been a purist with my young twins. In my defense, I fell for some of the convenience factors, against my better judgment but under the influence of almost no sleep. However, I regret that and am trying to reverse it.
I do not intend to offend and I hope I have not.
Erin, please tell me more!!! Any food is bad for you if you eat too much, but if you like a treat or to eat out you can be assured McDonalds is an awesome choice. I would love to answer any questions you may have and check out our site for more info about food contents and our visits. http://www.mcdonaldsmom.ca
I’m sure that the operations are top notch, I have no doubt.
However, the food is very, very bad for you. What more can I say?
Ali has said it so well! But we have all peeked around corners and have never been to shy to ask LOTS of questions. Anyone who thinks McDonalds would change the whole operation for a one day visit by 5 moms is crazy. I turly believe the McDonalds operation is good as we say it is!