This post is sponsored by McDonald’s.
When I was growing up, going to McDonald’s was a treat. In the summer when school was out, my grandma would load my brother and me into the car for her weekly errands. If we were good, our last stop would be at McDonald’s, where we’d get Happy Meals. I have a lot of fond memories of sitting with my brother, grandmother and great-grandmother around a McDonald’s table.
While I think some of the people who are anti-McDonald’s can be intense, I do think they bring up good points. For me, it really comes down to choice. You get to choose where you want to eat, and you get to choose what you want to eat once you’re there. If you don’t like McDonald’s, don’t eat there. I honestly don’t choose McDonald’s often. I’m more likely to eat there when I’m alone (I like their salads, oatmeal, and yogurt parfaits) but I can count on one hand how many times I’ve taken my family there. Annabel likes two things on their menu: pancakes and apple slices. She’s not a big meat eater and she has a rather picky palate. She doesn’t even like their french fries. (I know.)
I’m not naive, though. I know Annabel’s tastes will change as she grows, and I feel it’s my job to make sure she’s informed about her options. I don’t subscribe to the “This Is Forbidden Because I Said So” style of parenting. Instead, I want to teach my kids how to weigh their options so that they start learning about the power of decision-making and consequences at an early age.
At the beginning of the year, I was asked if I would be interested in taking a behind-the-scenes look at the processes that go into making their food, from visiting the farms they source their eggs from to taking a tour of their kitchens to talking with their executive chefs. I was intrigued but uncertain: People feel strongly about McDonald’s, and I wasn’t interested in starting drama. But at the same time, I was curious to know more about the process that goes into creating the menu. Mike and I talked about it extensively, and decided it would be important to show our kids that you must go into things with an open mind.
When I was invited to visit McDonald’s enormous suburban Chicago campus, I arrived at my on-site hotel and got a good giggle at all of the McDonald’s-inspired artwork hanging in the hallways.
The next morning, I walked around the campus and was taken aback by its beauty. Lakes, flowers, trees and quiet bridges – it feels like you’re on the grounds of a resort.
I visited their main corporate building where I was greeted with more artwork – some far-out, and some exactly what you would expect.
After breakfast in the on-site McDonald’s, I sat down in the test kitchen to pose questions to Chef Jessica Foust, RDN, Director of Culinary Innovation, Cindy Goody,PhD, MBA, RDN, LDN, Senior Director of Nutrition, and Darci Forrest, Senior Director Marketing, Menu Innovation Team. I asked questions for over an hour; this is the edited result:
My conversation with Jessica, Cindy and Darci focused on the process that goes into developing food, but I also asked questions about their own food choices. They all eat McDonald’s food several times a week (Chef Jessica said she eats it every single day), and Cindy and Darci both feed their children McDonald’s food a couple days a week as well. We also talked a bit about the evolution of the Happy Meal, including where they see it heading. I was happy to hear that they are committed to offering more balanced options that are affordable, because our choices are often dictated by our wallets.
I’m not sure what questions my kids have in store for me when it comes to fast food, but I am glad I can point to this experience to help answer whatever they might throw my way.
DefendUSA says:
When my kids were little, Happy Meals contained all Disney Movie toys, and then Burger King got them. We used to do breakfast mostly. They never got the toy until they finished the main meal item. I still love McD’s fries, strawberry shakes, and the Caramel Sundae.
I lived about five minutes from that campus in my year of the Chicago Burbs life and a neighbor worked there. It is very pretty and seems like a great place to work…I now need a hash brown.
Susan says:
Fast food was so a definite treat when I was growing up. We did not get it much mostly do to expense with big family. We enjoyed our special treat when we got it though I don’t partake much now as an adult nor did I excessively indulge when my kids were younger. Mostly because of calories =) I do love their shakes and French fries and probably always will but just don’t much of them.
Rachel says:
Growing up, the nearest fast food restaurant was 100 miles away (other than the family run drive in diner that was only open Jun-Sept), so McD’s was a treat. My kids are 17 & 14, and get fast food quite often as they both are busy with traveling sports, but their favorites are sandwich shops (jimmy johns, erbers & gerberts, subway, etc) or mexican (chipolte or qdoba). When my 14 year old was younger he wouldn’t eat ANY potatoes (not mashed, steamed, baked, or french fries). So I was very excited when McD’s came out with apple slices. Salads, oatmeal, chicken snack wraps & the yogurt parfaits are what we typically order from there, but I do love a cheeseburger with fries & a shamrock shake! =)
rachel says:
You can actually order “no salt” on the fries. They are then really good…
Jane says:
My nephew and his wife got married at that campus three years ago. Their wedding photos are amazing and so beautiful. One of the highlights of the reception was McDonald’s wait-staff barging onto the dance floor with platters and platters of cheeseburgers while singing along to Jimmy Buffet’s “Cheeseburger in Paradise” song. It was delicious and an unexpected treat.
Kitty Deschanel says:
I want to see photos of that!!
Jana Frerichs says:
I think McDonalds has done a great job of offering different varieties of healthier food. The oatmeal is great and so are the parfaits. I’ve really enjoyed their new McWraps that you can get with grilled chicken and has cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, and carrots in it. Of course, some of the options are not healthy, but everything in moderation is okay. And that is the real lesson.
steph says:
i so appreciate this real and honest post on mcdonald’s. i fully agree with your thoughts.
Sandy says:
Used to go there more often, but rarely now. I agree with Annie-their pancakes is pretty good. Their fries USED to be great, but where I live, they are gross now. My husband said they changed the grease they cook them in, but the only way I can eat them now is if they are piping hot.
KateB says:
I took my wedding party pictures at that lake! Very bizarre now that I think about it. =0)
Rie says:
We rarely do any kind of eating out, much less any fast food. However, I am not “anti-McDonalds”. We have, on occasion, eaten there. We went recently and I got the kids Happy Meals with the Go-Gurt yogurt and apple slices instead of one or the other with fries. We also did chicken nuggets with the breading picked off and I watered down the apple juice. While it wasn’t my first choice of where I would have liked to eat, we made it work.
Anna says:
I’m a total sucker for the Egg McMuffin meal, but I’m trying to cut back. It’s difficult because it’s so good!