I just read that McDonald's and Weight Watchers are partnering up (in New Zealand). Basically Weight Watchers will approve a few menu items (Filet-O- Fish, Chicken McNuggets, and a chili seared chicken wrap are listed in the article) and McDonald's will put the number of Weight Watchers points on the menu (6.5, apparently). On one hand, I don't think that the items listed in the article at least are very healthy options- the fish and the nuggets are both fried and the bun on the sandwich is made of white bread. Also, sodium- the Filet-O-Fish contains 27% of your daily recommended sodium. Personally, of those items listed, I would select the Chicken McNuggets (because, YUM!)- and then, I would be hungry 10 minutes later. So while they may be an option that fits, calorically speaking, into one's diet- they aren't necessarily filling enough for a full meal.
On the other hand though, I can really see the appeal of knowing that something is okay in terms of your diet in case you want to treat yourself or if that's your only option for a meal. I personally love that Egg McMuffins are 300 calories. It's not the best choice for breakfast, but sometimes I want an Egg McMuffin (especially when they magically show up in the breakroom at work) and it makes me feel better knowing I haven't eaten all my day's calories at breakfast.
So I can see both sides. I guess my overall take on it is that whether or not weight watchers approve them, McNuggets are a sometimes food!
What do y'all think?
I don't eat much fast food (and the only time I eat McDonald's is when I'm on the road home and there's no other choice!), but I like this. I spend a lot of time on WW guesstimating, which is frustrating, and even though I usually look up food stats online before I go get anything, occasionally I'm out and about with friends and would love to be able to just show up at a restaurant and know how many points something is. So yeah, rarely, if ever, would I use up so many points on something not filling, but it can't hurt to have the info out there!
ReplyDeleteWe feel that this is tacky and low-class. And the only points I put on my food are wine points (By the way, who really gave that horrible Fisheye wine an 84?!).
ReplyDeleteI'll grab a six piece if I'm in a rush That, plus half a small fry is like 500 calories or something, which I think is a decent meal. I agree, McDonalds is a sometimes food. People who are on Weight Watchers just need to have stuff spelled out for them. I have one friend who lost all this weight on WW and it's mostly because she just never knew how estimate calories or anything like that.
ReplyDeleteKaty, Judy- In general, my calorie assumption is that if it doesn't come out of my kitchen, it's made of butter :) so I can definitely see the convenience in knowing how many points something at a restaurant is.
ReplyDeleteGracie- It does beg the question why they chose McDonald's instead of a more high end chain....and I haven't had the misfortune to try to Fisheye- I'll be sure to avoid it!
I was being silly yesterday. Perhaps it was the Fisheye wine?
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though, it's a kind of sad image: a dieter counting points in a McDonalds. I understand the concept, and I know it's all about points for WW, but it reminds me of little kids who can't afford a certain toy counting and re-counting their allowance in the store, trying to make the change add up to enough money.
Gracie,
ReplyDeleteI do think that to make any sort of lasting change, one needs to learn to appreciate real food instead of junk food- and from what I know of WW, they do a good job on the whole lifestyle coaching thing (and their cookbook is really good, actually- I lived with my friend Lauri when she was cooking out of it and those dinners were excellent), so it does seem kind of anti-WW to pair with McDonald's. I know McDonald's is trying to offer healthier menu choices, but I'm pretty sure the fried stuff with WW points don't fall in that category.
But then again, I keep coming back to the idea that "treats" do have a place in a healthy diet and this way you know where they fit in if you're on WW.