I have a confession to make. I like McDonald's. Now, it's just a guilty pleasure. As a teenager, however, it was a cheap, convenient lunch option on my way home from school and college. I looked forward to my drive thru treat a couple of times a week. Even the documentary Super Size Me wasn't enough to put me off!
Childhood Memories
I have many childhood memories of fun-filled trips to McDonald's. It was a weekend treat with my parents, or even the place where my friends and family held birthday parties. I was about 5 when Happy Meals were released in the UK. Whenever anybody asked me why I went to McDonald's, I would give them a sweet, childlike smile and respond 'for the toy!' The toys in those days didn't "do" very much, but for many years, I loved collecting them.
Healthy Options
In recent years, McDonald's have added several healthy options to their menus. Fruit juice, wraps and even fresh fruit in Happy Meals are just some of the ways they have catered for increasingly health conscious customers.
However, what I've just read takes the biscuit- or should I say, the chocolate doughnut.
Calorie Counts
Today, the UK Department of Health has announced that from this Wednesday, McDonald's will start to add calorie count information to menus in all of its UK restaurants.
Other popular restaurants including KFC and Pizza Hut have also signed up to what the Department of Health are calling a "calorie labelling pledge."
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "One in six meals are now eaten outside the home and for those meals we often have no idea how many calories we are eating."
He said the policy would help people "spot those hidden calories in their favourite foods and keep an eye on their waistlines."
Jill McDonald, chief executive and president of McDonald's UK, said: "In March we announced our intention to extend the communication of nutritional information to our customers to include displaying calories on our menu boards across the UK.
"This move, as part of the Public Health Responsibility Deal, supports the principles we believe are important: giving our customers clear information to help them make decisions that are right for them and provide a choice on our menu."
Where's The Fun?
That is all very well. I can even understand that health conscious people eat McDonald's because it's the first restaurant they find on the drive home after school, college or even work. People like this may want to know how many extra calories they are eating.
But for me, personally, a calorie count on the menu would take all the fun out of my fast food. If I want to count calories, I'll eat a salad sandwich, not a Happy Meal.
Jill McDonald and Andrew Lansley can keep their health kick. Give me McDonald's chips any day of the week- covered in salt and swimming in oil!
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Sarah Ismail - Sarah Ismail is a physically disabled journalist and blogger. She edits her personal blog, Same Difference, which covers all kinds of ...
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