Caution: Food Items in Photograph May Appear Healthier Than They Are
Published on Feb 8th, 2008 in Amusing, Nutrition with
I saw this among the weekly mailed advertisements/coupons, and I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself… or maybe it was more like a brief smile and a snort.
(OK, so the picture isn’t the greatest; I know. It’s something I need to work on! Let me just tell you that the food items looked very fresh, pretty, and relatively healthy. )
The advertisement reads: We promise
- To use only quality, wholesome ingredients.
- To support agricultural & economic growth in our communities.
- To partner with leading industry supplies & trusted brands.
- To meet or exceed food safety standards & regulations.
- To monitor our food, to assure freshness, quality & safety.
And we also promise to save you money.
Now I just skimmed what was written and paid more attention to the pretty food pictures. But what is the message here? That you can save money by eating at McDonald’s? That they serve fresh, appealing, and healthy food items as shown in this picture?
Save money at McDonald’s? Well, if you eat out all the time, maybe this would be true. I personally prefer to avoid the fast food joints and eat food from home. In fact, my husband and I only go out to eat maybe a couple times a month! It’s healthier, and we save money by avoiding the restaurant price tags.
My husband and I did go out to eat at Panera Bread last week. We shared a hearty and pretty healthy meal that ended up costing a total of $8.00. This sum would be extremely close to a McDonald’s salad for me and a cheeseburger, small fries, and Coke for my husband. And in my opinion, Panera just tastes better and has a more comfortable ambiance.
As far as the fresh, eye-catching, relatively healthy foods are concerned, I sure haven’t seen them at McDonald’s!
But then again, I haven’t eaten at a McDonald’s in over a year. Maybe McDonald’s did a complete overhaul of their foods and made them all healthy. Maybe the foods at McDonald’s now really do look like the photograph. Maybe these attractive, healthy foods are hiding out at an undisclosed, secret McDonald’s location.
Or maybe I’m just going to resort to the phrase, “Negative Ghostwriter!” 
McD’s = Bad! Perhaps they have changed the quality of some of their food in the past couple of years but overall it’s bad for you.The book Fast Food Nation opened my eyes to the world of fast food and what they do to produce their items. It’s a real eye opener! I can’t say I eat perfectly but I avoid mass market fast food as much as possible.
Well, I will confess to still eating McD’s from time to time. But I will tell you the food looks nothing like those pictures! The hamburger is missing the grease dripping off of it. Nasty!
Well, so technically, they aren’t lying with those bullet points. But it’s not just about fresh ingredients, it’s also about preparation. And they lose points in that respect! So I’m skeptical about the first and last bullet points - those are a bit embellished.
And the picture is an outright lie, lol.
FFB ,
Thanks!
Fast Food Nation. I haven’t read it, but I just may. Sounds interesting (and frightening)!
Lynnae,
Greasy, thin hamburgers - nasty is right!! I like homemade hamburgers on the grill. Ooo - good stuff!
I put green onions, pepper, and garlic in lean ground beef before grilling. Then let a little bit of cheddar and a little bit of pepper jack melt when the meat is just about done. Top with a fresh tomato slice and maybe some avocado (don’t forget mustard and ketchup or barbecue sauce!) - MMMM, boy that’s good!!!
deepali,
True. The bullet points aren’t necessarily lying… but they’re pushing it. What I found amusing were the pictures. Their fresh, healthy look was so un-McDonald’s that I laughed - not the reaction McDonald’s is hoping for I imagine!
that ad is just ridiculous!! It has a picture of whole potatoes—does McD’s have baked potatoes these days? Or grapefruit? The saddest part is that this will marketing will work and many people will go there thinking it really is healthy. (sigh)
workout mommy,
It is sad that some people will actually believe it, or at least want to believe it.
Well, they may be in for a big surprise!