What to order at McDonald’s if you’re trying to keep weight off: expert
Fast food with a side of fitness.
One UK health expert claims you can indulge in the gluttony of the golden arches without completely wrecking your diet.
Seld-described fat loss coach Rosi May took to Instagram to share simple swaps to make your McDonald’s order more of a health-conscious happy meal. Better yet, there’s nary a bed of greens nor grilled chicken breast to speak of.
May says, “This is how you lose weight by eating McDonald’s, and don’t worry, I’m not about to tell you to swap your burger for a salad because nobody’s going to Maccies for a salad.”
She explains that to lose weight, the body must be in a calorie deficit, meaning you burn more calories than you consume. In this sense, the aim shouldn’t be deprivation but thoughtful calorie counting. She maintains, “Losing weight isn’t about cutting everything out that you enjoy.”
May claims that by following her fast food advice, you can save yourself over 500 calories per order and pave the way to weight loss.
“500 calories over the course of a week adds up to 1lb. If you did that every single week that’s 52lbs in a year.”
Meal number one getting an upgrade? A double quarter pounder with cheese, large fry, and large Coke clocks in at 1,385 calories, which for most people edges towards the recommended daily limit for caloric intake.
May suggests that the easiest swap is to change out that large Coke for Coke Zero or a Diet Coke which saves 212 calories. This is not to suggest that either Coke Zero or Diet Coke is a healthy choice, as both contain aspartame, which a 2022 French study linked to an increased risk of stroke.
May downsized her large fry, which contains around 444 calls, to a medium, which clocks in at 337, thereby saving herself over 100 calories.
Finally, she swapped that double Quarter Pounder with cheese for a standard double cheeseburger, saving an average of 200 calories while keeping the double patty delight.
May explains,”Altogether, this will save you over 500 calories, and you still get to have a double cheeseburger, fries, and a drink. But it doesn’t take up all your calories for the day.”
May concludes by telling her followers that weight loss doesn’t have to mean deprivation or repetition, “You can still enjoy things like McDonald’s whilst you’re on a weight loss journey. But it doesn’t have to be boring. You just have to get clever with it.”
Her advice is echoed by registered dietitian, freelance writer, nutrition consultant, and sustainable food blogger Kelsey Kunik, who admits she also patronizes Mickey D’s, “In the world we live in, many of us are incredibly busy, and it’s more than likely you’ll find yourself out and about and hungry. So, while I don’t recommend eating McDonald’s every day, it can absolutely be a part of an overall healthy diet.”
