Tag Archives: french fries

Practical Tips: Make Small Changes

Posted on by
23

I just did the math and wrote this into a grant proposal for the National Institutes of Health. How big of an impact small changes can have over time…

2 friench fries“An obesity prevention program that was successful in getting its participants to lower their caloric intake by only 25 calories (e.g., 1.75 peanut M&Ms, 2 Doritos or 2.5 French fries) per day would effectively halt unhealthy weight gain in the majority of overweight individuals.”

Point is, you would never notice two fries missing from your extra value meal but that is exactly what is making America fat- consuming just a tiny bit more than what we need to.  Think about it- very few people get fat overnight.  In fact, it’s such a gradual process that most barely even realize it until they have to buy a bigger pant size.  I say, if you’re going to get fat, you should at least enjoy the journey.  Tragedy is people don’t.  We call it passive overconsumption.  Don’t live in denial until you are looking for a dress in a 12 and don’t starve yourself.  Start now, all you have to do is cut out a few calories each day- just the ones you won’t miss!

Informative: McDonald’s French Fries

Posted on by
Reply

McDonald’s French Fries not only unhealthy but not vegetarian!

FriesNUTRITION (large): 500 calories, 25 grams fat, 63 grams carbs, 350 milligrams sodium, 6 grams fiber, 6 grams protein

INGREDIENTS: Potatoes, vegetable oil (canola oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor [wheat and milk derivatives]*, citric acid [preservative]), dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate (to maintain color), salt and dimethylpolysiloxane. The oil used for frying also mentions tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ).

*Natural beef flavor contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk as starting ingredients.

Some people claim that the beef flavor comes from the milk mentioned above.  When was the last time you had a glass of milk that tasted like beef?  There is beef extract (contains beef!) and wheat and milk in the beef flavoring added to the fries.  They specifically mention the wheat and milk for liability purposes, as these are common allergens.

For decades, McDonald’s fries were cooked in beef tallow (beef fat), which gave a slight beef flavor. When they were mandated by the government to switch to vegetable oil, they didn’t want to change flavor so they started adding beef flavor (beet extract). They are NOT vegetarian.  They had “natural flavor” in ingredient list before being sued in 2001, at which point they added “beef” to the ingredient list.  Yes, it’s a tiny amount but it is in there.

Otherwise, they contain a smorgasbord of chemicals and preservatives, but who doesn’t love a little tertiary butylhydroquinone every now and then?  As freaky as it is to know you’re consuming silicone and antifoaming agents when you eat fries, the reality is the nutritional value is so dung poor that you’re likely to die from diabetes long before the chemicals harm you.

Overall: starch, oil, sugar, preservatives, salt & silicone.  Fried.  What’s not to love?

Read the full story at livestrong.com