A McDonald's Life Hack

Time for a life hack of the simple sort.

I've noticed lately that the McDonald's near my location has some good deals, going along the lines of two items for two dollars.  One of which includes buying a McDouble sandwich and an order of small fries for two dollars.

Normally, I buy myself an Extra Value Meal #2, which consists of two cheeseburgers, fries, and a soft drink.  In my area, you can buy the medium size meal for $4.69, and the large meal for $5.19.  If you don't tell them what size you want, they seem to make it a large.  Of course, I'm tall and stout, so they might think that's what I want.

Let's take a look, value wise.  If I buy the value meal (large), I'll pay (with state taxes included) approximately $5.35.

Let's say I opt for the McDouble sandwich and fries, with a large soft drink, instead.  This time, I'll pay $3.21, a savings of more than two dollars. 

I can agree with that, because money saved means more money for something else.

Now, let's take a look at this, nutrition wise.  I know, some people would say that if I cared about nutrition and my health, I wouldn't eat at McDonald's.  Well, that's your right, but I eat where I want, thank you very much, and you should, too.  If you choose your eating establishments based on what others think of you, then you are a sad person, and I cannot help you.

Besides, I've noticed that quite a few people eat at McDonald's, and their website is very generous with the nutritional information for their food.  I do believe in using the resources available at hand to make a thoughtful choice, and I believe that you can have a good meal if you pay attention to what you're doing and make good choices based on what you learn.

First, let's take a look at the two cheeseburgers in the Extra Value Meal.  You not only get 600 calories, you also get 24 grams of fat, 66 grams of carbohydrates, and 1,360 mg. of sodium.  You will also get 35 grams of protein, 540 International Units of Vitamin A, 400 mg. of calcium, 6 mg. of iron and 2 mg. of Vitamin C.

Compare that with the McDouble sandwich.  This has 390 calories, 18 grams of fat, 34 grams of carbohydrates, and 850 mg. of sodium.  There is also 22 grams of protein, 280 International Units of Vitamin A, 210 mg of calcium, 3.5 mg. of iron and 1 mg. of Vitamin C.

Buying the McDouble sandwich over the two cheeseburgers saves you not only financially, but it saves you more than 200 calories, 6 grams of fat and 32 grams of carbohydrates and more than 500 mg. of sodium.

How about the fries?  Well, it should be obvious that the small fries saves you in more ways than one.  A small order of fries gives you 230 calories, compared to 510 calories in a large order.  The small order has 11 grams of fat, 30 grams of carbohydrates and 130 mg. of sodium.

The large order will not only give you the 510 calories, but it will give you 24 grams of fat, 67 grams of carbohydrates and 290 mg. of sodium.

A small order will do me, thank you.

Now, when I go to McDonald's, I always get the same thing to drink: A large Hi-C Orange Lavaburst.  Why?  I can get a carbonated soda somewhere else (and usually do), and I happen to like the Hi-C drink.  It's a holdover from my youth.

McDonald's charges $1 for any size soft drink, and I prefer the large size.  What do I get for that?  Well, it's 310 calories, no fat or sodium, but a hefty 84 grams of carbohydrates.  I also get 244 mg. of Vitamin C, an impressive 410 percent share of the vitamin's recommended daily allowance.  Of course, Hi-C is a vitamin-enriched drink.

So, not only does the McDouble sandwich, small fries and large drink save me more than two dollars, it gives a savings of almost 500 calories, 19 grams of fat, almost 70 grams of carbohydrates and 670 mg. of sodium.

Until McDonald's changes their prices and menu options again, I've found a new meal of choice.

But, I have to tell you, I really, really miss the Cheddar Melt sandwich.

Peace be unto you.