McDonalds | Bonnie Modugno, MS, RD

Why I celebrate McDonald’s New Happy Meal

October 18, 2011 by

McDonald’s announced it’s newest Happy Meal version yesterday. Media swarmed at the news and Michelle Obama added her words of encouragement.

The newest Happy Meal version includes 1/4 cup of apples and a smaller 100 calorie (1.1 oz) portion of French fries along with a choice of entree and beverage. McDonald’s estimates calorie savings up to 20% for any one Happy Meal. Most weight loss experts celebrate that kind of change. But not everyone has nice things to say.

A CRESCENDO OF CRITICS

There is a rising crescendo of voices that want to denigrate every food option that doesn’t meet their idea of acceptible or healthy. Andy Bellitti complains that there aren’t adequate nutrients in the Happy Meal. Mark Bittman tweets, “It is McD’s ‘job’ to make money, mostly by selling junk.” Yoni Freedhoff retweets Andy Bellitti’s assumptions and tells everyone, “we need to cook.” Marion Nestle says “I’m not impressed.”

The collective angst directed at McDonald’s no matter what they do is curious to me. I am a dietitian, seeing private patients for 25 years in Santa Monica. I taught at Santa Monica College for 15 years, 12 at UCLA Extension. I am no slouch when it comes to addressing nutrition science or working with real patients as they navigate food in their real world.

At the same time, I have consulted with McDonald’s Operators of Southern California (MOASC) for almost 20 years.(1) I see the food that they buy. I observe their crew cooking the same. This food is purchased from the same vendors supplying our neighborhood supermarkets.

I am left to wonder about all the angst and condemnation directed to fast food in general, and McDonald’s specifically.

DATA DISTORTION

Public health authorities tagged fast food as the culprit in the escalating incidence of obesity–especially for children– decades ago. We keep getting fatter despite it all. Has all their noise been ineffective? Could it be that the considerable amount of time and energy denigrating fast food is misdirected?

Part of the problem may be rooted in data distortion. Recently I was scouring the Report of the Dietary Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. I came across this statement:

“There is not enough evidence at this time to similarly evaluate eating out at other types of restaurants and risk of weight gain, overweight, and obesity.”

Does this mean that fast food has been the primary focus just because there was no other data to address eating at sit down restaurants?

I wonder what we will find out. Most sit down restaurants offer hamburgers topping 1000, 1200, 1500 calories and more. French fries are often served in only one size–a lot. For years one restaurant offered French fries in only one serving size, a one pound basket. Now they offer “endless fries”.

The largest hamburger at McDonald’s yields 770 calories, the smallest at 210 calories. McDonald’s offers small, medium and large fries–ranging from 2.5 oz. (230 cal) to 5.4 ounces (500 cal) per serving.

OBESITY IS A FOOD PROBLEM, NOT A FAST FOOD PROBLEM

In all the criticism about fast food, it is easy to miss the bigger picture. Our entire food supply is incredibly abundant and adulterated. The increasing incidence of obesity and disease is overwhelming to anyone who understands the trends.

Is the answer to continue to denigrate every effort by McDonald’s as not good enough? I don’t think so.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines Scientific Advisory Committee, many researchers and clinicians agree. The obesity problem is too big for any of us to solve on our own. I hear the call for all sectors of society to step up:

individuals, families, physicians and allied health professionals, public health advocates, policy makers, scientists and small and large businesses, including farmers, agricultural producers, food scientists , food manufacturers and food retailers of all kinds.

EVERY FOOD VENUE NEEDS TO STEP UP, BUT SO DOES GOVERNMENT

We need to address the issues of abundance and adulteration of the food supply at every point of purchase: supermarkets, convenience stores, food marts at gas stations and snacks offered in pharmacies and drug stores. We need to look at every sector of catering and restaurant industry, from quick service restaurants to fine dining. Every entertainment venue, food cart, food truck and vending machine deserves the same scrutiny.

But mostly we need the government to step up, specifically the USDA, the FDA, and the EPA. As long as problematic ingredients, additives, animal feed and husbandry practices, and farming practices are deemed safe and/or legal, the rest of the sectors are left to go it alone.

As for everyone wanting to believe that eliminating fast food is the answer, I would remind you that research colleagues in science labs tell us even the lab rats are getting bigger. What are they feeding the mice?

(1) The opinions expressed here are my own. This blog is not supported nor sponsored by any commercial interest.

Is Access Just As Significant As Portions?

October 18, 2011 by

We begin our second week of vacation in France. For five days we sampled the glories of Paris. From climbing the Eiffel tower to traipsing through the catacombs, we traversed the city on foot, on bike, by tram, train and taxi. We rented a car to take us to Bayeau and the American cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach.

Through all of our navigation, I noticed how food seemed a necessary and often delightful backdrop. But it wasn’t front and center. This is different than at home.

FOOD IS NOT AS ACCESSIBLE

In France food is very present, but access is limited. Shops open later, close earlier. Brasseries are ubiquitous, on every corner. But the invitation is to sit down, not grab and go. I wonder how much taking time to eat decreases impulsive food consumption.

Fast food exists, but the Quick Burger, McDonald’s, and Starbucks are a rare exception, not one of dozens of choices available on both sides of the street like at home. People eat there, but they seem to sit down and eat there. Take away doesn’t seem to be the norm. You don’t see people walking around with the ubiquitous grande caramel machiato I see at home.

FOOD IS $$$, ESPECIALLY EATING OUT

Food is expensive. We ate out only two meals of 15. I purposely rented an apartment with a kitchen so we could cook our own meals and not break the bank.

We stay away from the pricey starred restaurants and chose a local Lebanese brasserie for one meal. Still, the check totaled over 80 Euros–that is close to $120 in American dollars. We enjoyed a second meal out en route from Normandy in Caen. Insalata di Tonno Crudo and Pizza–Delicious and another 45 Euros.

LIMITED FOOD STORAGE IN OUR APARTMENT

Our refrigerator is the size of one we use in my office–maybe 15% of what I can store in my refrigerator at home. The freezer probably holds only 5%–mostly ice.

Storage is limited in our tiny flat. There really isn’t an empty shelf. We rearrange the coffee maker and toaster to make room for a few basic staples. We shop daily for our food. We eat well, but there is just not as much food around. Interesting how we find ourselves eating less. (Note: we are also moving through our entire day–certainly ongoing physical activity has an impact as well.)

ACCESS AT HOME

I wonder how much my 42″ built in refrigerator contributes to over eating. What about my cherished walk in food pantry? How about the second refrigerator/freezer and food storage closet in the garage? My husband is in the food distribution business–we buy in bulk because we can. It is very cost effective. But if there is constant abundance, is there also constant temptation to overeat?

Today I purchase more food at our local farmer’s markets, often two and three times a week. Inherently I bring less food home each time. But I am still buying for days at a time. Frank comes home with food in bulk. Do these food purchasing habits create an environment of abundance that is difficult to resist?

BIG BOX STORES: ARE WE REALLY GETTING A GOOD DEAL?

What about people who purchase mostly highly processed and adulterated food? Supermarkets and big box stores alike offer large family packs supposedly at lower prices. America has swallowed the bait.

USDA data tells us shopping a food warehouses accounts for 18% of food purchases today. It was negligible in the 1970′s before child obesity tripled.

When there is more of everything at our disposal all day long all the time, are we seduced to eat more?

Why I celebrate McDonald’s New Happy Meal

Is Access Just As Significant As Portions?

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