Boxer Oscar De La Hoya at a McDonald’s in February. McDonald’s is teaming up with Weight Watchers in New Zealand. (Todd Wawrychuk/Feature Photo Service for McDonald’s)
By Mike Hughlett | McDonald’s has teamed up with Weight Watchers in New Zealand, serving up three meals that win the diet group’s seal of approval.
New Zealand is Oak Brook-based McDonald’s first market to offer Weight
Watchers approved meals. A McDonald’s spokeswoman said she wasn’t aware
of plans to partner with Weight Watchers in other markets.
The Weight Watchers approved meals include a Filet-O-Fish sandwich or Chicken McNuggets partnered with a salad or side salad, water or a diet drink. Each of the meal combinations have 6Weight Watchers points.
McDonald’s said the switch to healthier canola blend cooking oil means that the Filet-O-Fish and Chicken McNuggets contain 60 percent less saturated fat than they did six years ago.
According to McDonald’s New Zealand web site, a Filet-O-Fish in that country has 2.5 grams of saturated fat and 14.9 grams of fat, respectively comprising 10 percent and 21 percent of the recommended daily intake there.
This is McDonald’s in NEW ZEALAND! What does this have to do with the McDonald’s restaurants in Chicagoland, other than the fact that the corporate HQ is in Oakbrook? This does not mean McDonald’s offers healthy meals…weight watchers, beware!
McDonald’s is based in Oak Brook. The Tribune reports on business news in the Chicago area. Therefore, it’s a perfectly legitimate story, no matter if they’re doing it in New Zealand.
there are just too many things wrong with this story.
Morgan Spurlock, where are you when we really need you?!!!!
Give back that fillet of fish, give back that fish. I’m sure the average Mac eater has the combo with the fries, and not the diet beverage.
Let me know when the Angus Third Pounder with Swiss and mushrooms makes the list.
I would have expected the three items to be water, ice, and hot water.
Wanna lose weight?
Eat more fruits and veggies, drink LOTS more water, and avoid McDonald’s. Avoid ALL fast-food franchises.
Next question
These are not the only low-fat, low-calorie items at McDonald’s. As with any restaurant, one can eat healthily there if he or she is selective. Order the grilled chicken sandwich with tomato and lettuce but NO mayonnaise and, even more so, without the bun, plus a salad without the dressing, using lemon juice instead. No one forces anyone to order the Big Mac with extra large fries and a shake. Want to lose? Ditch the carbohydrates. The choice is up to the individual. The problem lies with the person, not the restaurant….any restaurant.
I agree with Terry. You will never get a meal rich in UNPRESERVED foods, fresh fruits, vegetables and UNPROCESSED meats from McDonalds. Even the salads have iceberg lettuce, which is 0 nutrition value. Diet soda is not “healthy”. When are people going to get it? Weight Watcher’s point system does not teach you how to cook and shop for yourself, avoid junk quality restaurants and eat a well rounded diet.
If you are on Weight Watchers, you know to check the nutrition info before you eat anything. I used to go to McDonalds and order the Angus burger with large fries. These days, I try to stay away from McD’s because it’s not good for you, as anybody knows…however, there are days when I crave a burger from McDonalds, and on those day’s, I’ll grab a plain hamburger (5 pts.) and a small fry (5 pts.) with tea or water. For 10 pts., it’s not alot of food. But, I think the message here is that IF you want to give into that craving – you have a couple of options that won’t be damaging to your diet.
Coffee, orange juice, and unsweetened iced tea…?
One Filet-O-Fish sandwich contains 470 calories (234 from fat), including 26g fat (40% daily value) and 730mg sodium (30% daily value).
There’s worse things to eat than this high-fat, salty sandwich, but, surely, it’s in the “occasional treat” category, not “healthy to eat everyday”? Especially considering that most people with either eat it with (salty, fatty) fries, or will eat two of them?
Good for McDonalds. As always, they offer a wide variety of foods corresponding to what their customers want. Don’t blame a merchant for selling you something if you can’t be bothered to do the research regarding what you put in your mouth. As far as “processed” foods goes, I have rarely heard such a class-based criticism. These people would not likely criticize my purchase of a pheasant sausage from the local farmer’s market (mmmmm…good), even though it is just as “processed” as anything a fast food chain might offer. Indeed, I tend to “process” most foods before I give them to my family. There is even evidence that our development of large brains and small teeth is a result of learning to process foods. If you are really interested in “unprocessed” foods, I suggest you adopt an austropithecine lifestyle. I will join the late Julia Child and enjoy the occasional Big Mac.
“Weight Watcher’s point system does not teach you how to cook and shop for yourself, avoid junk quality restaurants and eat a well rounded diet.”
Jill, clearly you’ve never been on Weight Watchers because it DOES teach you how to cook and shop for yourself and eat a well-rounded diet. It specifically encourages the education behind what you eat. BUT it’s also realistic that when you’re out with friends or on a car trip, you can’t always pull over and whip out a stove.
I eat at McDonald’s pretty regularly. I get a Big Mac and water. That is it. It is not that terrible, but fries and a coke push you into hedonistic territory, loosen that belt one notch.
Jill, you are simply off base. Weight Watchers does teach you to cook and shop for yourself. I am a WW member, and have lost 50 pounds…and I shop and cook for myself. I occasionally purchase the frozen WW meals, but primarily, I cook complete meals for myself (gasp!), far more often than any of my friends, relatives, and most of my co-workers do…I modify recipes to make healthier alternatives to classic recipes. The basic principles of WW are to eat healthy, within the good health guidelines, eating all your fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, etc. WW does in fact, teach you to avoid junk food, but it does emphasize that this is a lifestyle change, and that you can have occasional indulgences…anything in moderation (a glass of wine? That’s fine…an entire bottle…probably not smart! A slice of cheesecake for a celebration with your hubby? Of course, but weekly or daily? That’s not smart either!) WW gives you the tools you need to succeed in your weight loss journey…I would know. 50.3 pounds gone forever.
It’s all about balance. If I were to eat in McDonald’s every single week, then I’d be worried about nutrition facts… but I only eat there rarely, let’s say once each 3 months, so when I do eat there, I don’t want to order some fish weird burger, a salad and… water! No, no, no!
Since I eat well almost every day I can afford to eat “crap” (saturated fat, too many calories, loads of sodium, etc) and those gigantic fries and big coke that’ll accompany my (huge) burger will not cause me any harm whatsoever. Actually it’s the opposite: since I don’t feel any “guilt” in eating “badly” once in a while, I can truly enjoy my burger and fries.
Exactly Correct Marcos- I like to follow the 80 20 rule 80% of the time I eat very healthy (fruits veggies whole grains lean meats low-fat dairy) the other 20% I enjoy the foods that taste good. How come no one mentions that in the amount of time it takes to drive to McDs order and get your food you could make a delicious burger at home. My Favorite swiss cheese and avocado bacon burger. Yes I said BACON!!! For less calories than the burgers at any fast food chain.
Do we get that “healthier” canola blend cooking oil over here too?
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