One of the greatest questions of our day: should we or shouldn't we hit up fast food joints like McDonald’s for our Friday night dinner? For health reasons, we know the answer probably won’t be yes.

But when you need some take away, it’s crucial to know the ins and outs of the menu. The hamburgers we used to rely on for a cheap family meal aren’t as family-friendly as they seem to be because of their ingredients.

So, how do you decide which items to order and which to skip? Nutritionist Susie Burrell shared her professional opinion on all the healthier options on the Macca's menu.

‘Ultimately, Macca’s, like all fast-food takeaway, is ultra processed food that adds a lot of fat, refined carbohydrate, salt, and sugar to the diet. But there are some options that are much worse than others,’ she said.

Burrell recommends ordering these three options for next time:

Chicken McBites

Chicken McBites come with less than 200 calories per 10 pieces, and contain 11 grams of fat. Pairing this with a salad makes for a moderately-healthy and filling meal too.

Wholemeal Grilled Chicken Snack Wrap

Another healthier takeaway option when you need something fast is this snack wrap – mentioned nothing the grilled variety – contains just 9 grams of fat and 200 calories per serve. Plain and simple, and you can lighten your order by not adding mayonnaise to your order.

McChicken

Burrell suggests going for the McChicken option, which has 450 calories, 22 grams of fat and 600 mg of sodium. A much better option than other burgers on the Macca's menu, which are way too high in fat and calories anyway.

Here are the three healthier choices you should order at Macca's. Credit: Seniors Discount Club

When looking for a healthier snack in Macca’s, there are several items you should leave in the store.

According to Burrell, the top of the list is the BBQ Bacon Angus, which contains 800 calories, over 40 grams of fat, and 1600mg of sodium in total.

Additionally, like burgers, you'd best avoid the Crispy Caesar Salad as it comes with 40g of fat and 1500mg of sodium.

The Big Brekkie Burger is another meal to look out for. With over 1500mg of sodium and 40g of fat, even it’s name is misleading this hearty meal will cost you not only financially, but nutritionally too.

When looking for a healthier snack at Macca’s, there are some items you may need to avoid. Credit: Unsplash

Finally, if you want to keep your sugar levels low, remember to opt for the Zero sugar beverage option as opposed to the regular when available. Otherwise, if you order a regular Frozen Coke, you'll be drinking 10 teaspoons of sugar.

Key Takeaways

• A nutritionist has revealed which McDonald's items she would and would not purchase based on their nutritional value.
• She recommends the Chicken McBites, Wholemeal Grilled Chicken Snack Wrap, and the McChicken as healthier options.
• Items to avoid include the BBQ Bacon Angus, Double Quarter Pounder, Crispy Caesar Salad, Big Brekkie Burger, and the regular Frozen Coke for their high fat, calorie, sugar and sodium content.
• Despite the name, the Crispy Caesar Salad is not a healthy option, with a whopping 40g of fat and 1500mg of sodium.

So, when the mood for McDonald's strikes, keep our tips in mind and make your next fast food meal or snack a healthier one. Enjoy!

Are there other healthier options that weren’t mentioned? Share them here in the comments below!

 

[Gsr]

Very rarely eat Maccas now but when I do I always have the quarter pounder. Don’t think one every 3/4 months is going to be too bad for me.

 

[DiRose]

I"m sorry but not a single item from Maccas resembles those stock pictures. They have at least HALF of the content inside them.