I love eating out. It is one of my favorite forms of entertainment. Living in the south, all social gatherings revolve around food, and then we talk about the next meal or time while we are there. Growing up I ate fast food. Not a crazy amount, but we played a lot of sports, so there was a lot of “on the go” going back and forth from basketball practice to track meets to home late. We never really though twice about what was in the fast food, it was fast, it was cheap, and you didn’t have to get out of the car to get it. I loved McDonalds as much as the next kid, but when I saw the ingredients for the McRib I was a bit disturbed.
A little history (in case you have seen the McRib commercials saying it is “back” and didn’t know it had gone anywhere.) It was first introduced in the early 80’s, and was on the menu for years. Eventually it just made its appearance in select regions at select times of year as a special menu item.
Here are the nutrition facts:
490 calories, 220 calories from fat, 25 g fat, 8 g saturated fat, 75 mg cholesterol, 1040 mb sodium, 44 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 24 g protein, 11 g sugars.
Here are the ingredients:
McRib Pork Patty:
Pork, water, salt, dextrose, preservatives (BHA, propyl gallate, citric acid)
McRib Bun:
Enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, yeast, high fructose corn syrup, contains 2% or less of the following: salt, corn meal, wheat gluten, soybean oil, partially hydrogenated soybean and/or cottonseed oils, dextrose, sugar, malted barley flour, cultured wheat flour, calcium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, soy flour, dough conditioners (sodium stearoyl lactylate, datem, ascorbic acid, azodicarbonamide, mono- and diglycerides, ethoxylated mono- and diglycerides, monocalcium phosphate, enzymes, guar gum, calcium peroxide), calcium propionate (preservative), soy lecithin.
McRib Sauce:
Water, high fructose corn syrup, tomato paste, distilled vinegar, molasses, natural smoke flavor (plant source), food starch-modified, salt, sugar, spices, soybean oil, xanthan gum, onion powder, garlic powder, chili pepper, sodium benzoate (preservative), caramel color, beet powder
(source)
(source)
So….about 70 ingredients and I can pronounce about eight of them. But yet people are so obsessed with this thing there was near rioting when it got taken off the menu last time.
Did you know that the bun contains some of the same ingredients as a yoga mat? Dis you know it also contains ingredients that are banned in Europe and Australia? I don’t know about you, but I have no desire to eat something as durable as my yoga mat and try and digest it through my system.
I am no saint. I crave McDonalds fries every now and then, or a fast food burger. Some of their stuff is really good! I try to limit my amount of processed food but it is unrealistic for me to totally get rid of everything bad for me out of my diet. The only “fast food” I will occasionally eat is Subway or Chick-Fil-A if at all possible. Even then it’s rare. Be mindful of what you are putting into your body, it can have lasting effects on your health! I DO have a problem when people eat 3-4 of these sandwiches a week, or everyday for lunch, fearing it will be taken off the menu. So think about what you are feeding your family in the name of quick eating.
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I had kind of a blah day yesterday, I think it’s from not being able to run and the gloomy weather we have been having. My sweet husband came home with a dozen roses for me! It made my night. This is not normally his “thing” so it made me happy he was thinking of me!
The funniest part is after he gave them to me he told me as he was checking out he thought to himself “I guess I will be on the blog tomorrow!” Silly boy. He assures me he didn’t think of that until after he bought the roes though.
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QOTD: What are your thoughts on the McRib and other food products like it? How do you find a balance between healthy eating and processed foods?
Aww so sweet of Bobby to surprise you w/ flowers! I agree. The gloomy weather always puts me in a bad mood.
That Eww picture made me laugh — that’s my #1 reaction to McDonalds. The only ingredient I recognized was high fructose corn syrup…that’s not good. Instead of going to fast food, I run into grocery stores — usually there is a salad bar, or even a protein bar + bag of baby carrots makes a convenient on-the-go meal 🙂
Okay A) the mcrib freaked me out before, and now it’s confirmed that it’s not really food. at least to me!
and B) it’s so great that Bobby is a thoughtful husband and is supportive of you! it’s so great to see that the good guys are out there! 🙂
Ok, that Mcrib looks gross beyond words to me. Yuck! When we went to Italy and then came back home I could barely eat here for days because the food here is so terrible!!
That was really sweet of Bobby!
We watched Supersize Me this weekend—Yuck! We will be staying away from fast food as much as possible now. I am looking forward to moving into the new house and having a completely empty pantry and fridge to fill with REAL food. I think it will be a great way to make the switch to eating as little processed foods as possible. The focus will be on shopping at the farmers market and the perimeter of the grocery store!
Ohhhhhhh…I love McRib! hahahahaha. I have only eaten 2 since they have been back, though. Admittedly, I was pretty grossed out with the yoga mat ingredient, but it didn’t deter me from having a mcrib on my birthday for lunch. LMAO! My friend said that ingredient is the flour bleach, so don’t eat the bun if you don’t want to eat a yoga mat. lol. Honestly, I’m sure I eat/have eaten way worse stuff than a McRib. BUT…I do think twice now before I order one, despite it being one of my favorite McD’s sammys. haha. We eat WAY too much fast food and eat out way too much. I’m sure that’s what is contributing to my doughy self lately. I really need to eat better, as I think middle age is creeping up on me.
I’m jealous that you have a thoughtful husband that brings you flowers. (although mine did get me a kindle touch for my b-day after I said I didn’t need a present).
Aww what a sweet husband! Kudos to him! 🙂
Love this post! Thanks for the McRib info. I’ve learned a ton about processed/fast foods from Michael Pollan’s books, and it’s really shocking how much crap goes into those foods! I really think people need to be educated – so thanks for sharing!
The McRib has always been a mystery. Quite frankly, it freaks me out. While I don’t always eat the healthiest, I also don’t understand the appeal of eating food that is pretty much 100% fake. Yikes.
Gotta admit I love the McRib. I remember working there in high school one of the first years it was “back” and the big deal people made. The sauce is sooooo yummy. I have terrible eating habits though and I know it.