Not everything on the menu is detrimental to your health.
It's unlikely that "healthy" comes to mind when you think about fast food. However, according to one qualified dietitian, having a McDonald's meal now and again isn't as detrimental for your health as you would assume. In truth, several of the beloved fast-food chain's offerings can provide adequate nutrition, especially for individuals with limited options.
McDonald's (or a similar
institution) is the closest place near their home where they can acquire a hot
supper for some folks. According to the USDA, 23.5 million Americans lived in a
food desert in 2009. A low-income area more than one mile from a supermarket or
large grocery store is considered a food desert. For rural locations, the
cutoff is 10 miles.
Having no access to a vehicle or reliable transportation, in general, might make it much more challenging to obtain affordable, nutritious foods. In some circumstances, fast-food selections can provide more health benefits than packaged foods found at a gas station or convenience shop, for example.
"Everyone's access to food looks different," says Sammi Haber Brondo, MS, RD, author of The Essential Vegetable Cookbook: Simple and Satisfying Ways to Eat More Veggies, "and fast food outlets generally have a variety of options."
"Both chicken nuggets and burgers may be rather healthy," she says. "They're both good sources of protein, and the serving sizes are reasonable."
She says that McDonald's fruit and maple oatmeal is a healthy breakfast option because it contains natural fruit and is high in protein and fibre.
"Even seemingly small items," she continues, "may contain nutrients and be helpful," such as porridge with fruit in the morning and lettuce and tomato on a burger for dinner. "Also, to guarantee that your meal is satisfying, make it as balanced as possible." French fries and a milkshake, for example, are low in protein and fibre, so they're unlikely to keep you satisfied."
Brandon recommends replacing those French fries with chicken nuggets, which will deliver more protein and keep you fuller for longer. Another excellent side of a McDonald's meal is apple slices.
Of course, fast food has one main drawback: menu items are frequently rich in sodium. The American Heart Association warns that overeating sodium regularly, or more than the recommended 2,300 milligrams per day, can harm your heart health in the long run. Even yet, if you eat McDonald's once or twice a week, Brondo says you shouldn't be too concerned.
"Salt keeps food fresher for
longer and is a simple, low-cost way to add taste," she explains. "Unless
you eat McDonald's for every meal, every day, I wouldn't worry too much about
it." Some higher salt fast food items aren't a problem in the context of a
diversified, well-balanced diet."