Fast Food Calories

[BierGarten]

So I have wondered about this for a while.  We all know that a combo meal at Wendy's or McDonald's or name your fast food chain isn't good for you but here is what I don't understand.

Every now and again I see a link on Drudge or an article on cnn.com regarding Burger King's new sandwich or name your fast food venue's new burger.  The article discusses outrage at how many calories the sandwich has.  600 calorie sanwich this or 800 calorie sandwich that.  

An adult male needs 2000 calories, on average, a day, just to stay status quo.  In this day and age, with many people only eating 2 meals a day, what is the big deal about an 800 calorie sandwich.  Common sense tells you that you can't eat at Burger King three times a day.  Why is a fast food venue taking the heat for offering a high calorie meal?  I mean, if I skip breakfast, eat an 800 calorie sandwich for lunch, and a sensible dinner, I am maintaining status quo.

Why does the media make a big deal about a high calorie sandwich every time a fast food chain creates a new one?

[EricP]

Somebody doesn't wanna go on a diet

It's not just calories... it's all of the ingredients. It turns out they are absolute garbage. Saturated fat, cholesterol... plus the fact that if you are only eating 2 meals a day, you are helping to kill your metabolism and increase your odds of becoming overweight. Breakfast ACTUALLY IS the most important meal of the day, it's not just made up

People get pissed because the fast food companies take 1 step forward with some slightly helpful menu changes then 12 steps backwards with retarded sandwiches like the monster thick burger.

[circassia]

Eating the occasional, and by occasional I mean once a week, McD's sandwich will not kill you. The problem lies in people. People are too lazy to cook for themselves. They need a scapegoat, and fast food will take the hit.

I worked at McD's for 7 years as a kid. It put me through high school and college. I knew that eating there every single meal wasn't good for me, but unfortunately on a college kids salary, free food seemed to fit my budget.

Common sense will tell you that most fast food places aren't healthy. They weren't meant to be substitutes for a good home cooked meal.

We've become a society that will not take responsibilities for our own actions. We'd rather place the blame on someone else. Right now fast food places are taking the blame for the American publics obesity problem.

[we vs us]

What EricP said.  

It ain't the calories themselves, it's what the calories are made of.  

I could get my 2000 calories a day eating Twinkies and drinking Orange Fanta, but you can pretty well imagine what my life would be like. Unpleasant to say the least.

Fast food calories are a lot like that. Bad fuel.  Almost none of the real stuff your body needs to function correctly, like nutrients, vitamins and minerals, etc.  

[azbadpuppy]

It also has to do with how many calories are from fat, and how many calories you consume in one sitting. It's healthier to eat fewer calories per meal and eat more often. I eat 4 times a day and consume around 400 calories each time. The average male doesn't necessarily need to eat 2000 calories. If you run or are really physically active then yes. I am 6'1 and weigh 170 and do just fine with 1600 calories daily. I don't typically work out though but my job does keep me pretty active.

Also, add a large french fries and large soda to that sandwich and there's another 1000 calories- you just ate your entire daily caloric allowance in one meal.

[citizen72]

I had a breakfast sandwich at QT and thought I had picked something save on calories and fat. Well, wow!  I checked the wrapper on the wraper. The
dietary information listed 850 calories and 40 grams of fat. Not all that healthy.

[Ed W]

Read "Fast Food Nation" for a good discussion of the business.

And then there's the movie "Super Size Me" if you need to be nauseated.

[YoungTulsan]

Adult males need more like 3000 calories a day.  However, 800 calories in a small sandwich is not a good use of those calories.  Eating twice a day is also a horrible practice.  Ideally, you'd eat small meals throughout the day.  500 calories, 6 times a day would be ideal for an active adult male.

Don't forget what kinds of calories you are drinking too.  You might drink 1000 calories a day in soda, coffee, beer, etc very easily if you are anything like the average American.

On the other hand, if you are the active adult male like I mentioned before, an 800 calorie sandwich isn't going to slow you down at all - so long as you have one now and then, not for every meal you eat.  Hell, I usually go for two of something at a fast food place

[azbadpuppy]

quote:Originally posted by YoungTulsan

Adult males need more like 3000 calories a day.  However, 800 calories in a small sandwich is not a good use of those calories.  Eating twice a day is also a horrible practice.  Ideally, you'd eat small meals throughout the day.  500 calories, 6 times a day would be ideal for an active adult male.

Don't forget what kinds of calories you are drinking too.  You might drink 1000 calories a day in soda, coffee, beer, etc very easily if you are anything like the average American.

On the other hand, if you are the active adult male like I mentioned before, an 800 calorie sandwich isn't going to slow you down at all - so long as you have one now and then, not for every meal you eat.  Hell, I usually go for two of something at a fast food place

3000 calories? Wow- only if you are about 240 lbs (or want to be 240 lbs).

[EricP]

lol 40 grams of fat in a breakfast sandwich...

Wifey has done Weight Watches for a while now and lost over 60lbs and counting, the factors are calories, fat and dietary fiber. Calories and fat combine to increase points, dietary fiber reduces it a bit. I can tell you something with 40 grams of fat in it would be about 2/3 a day's worth of points.

[Ed W]

We all should be eating healthier food.  I think I'd like a salad, please.



Yep, that's a salad in a bowl made of bacon!

[we vs us]

quote:Originally posted by Ed W

We all should be eating healthier food.  I think I'd like a salad, please.



Yep, that's a salad in a bowl made of bacon!

Pshaw.  Try the Big MacChicken, for your day's entire caloric requirement in one "sandwich."

Yes, it's a Big Mac with three McChicken patties for the bun.  

Yum.

[jamesrage]

quote:Originally posted by BierGarten

So I have wondered about this for a while.  We all know that a combo meal at Wendy's or McDonald's or name your fast food chain isn't good for you but here is what I don't understand.

Every now and again I see a link on Drudge or an article on cnn.com regarding Burger King's new sandwich or name your fast food venue's new burger.  The article discusses outrage at how many calories the sandwich has.  600 calorie sanwich this or 800 calorie sandwich that.  

An adult male needs 2000 calories, on average, a day, just to stay status quo.  In this day and age, with many people only eating 2 meals a day, what is the big deal about an 800 calorie sandwich.  Common sense tells you that you can't eat at Burger King three times a day.  Why is a fast food venue taking the heat for offering a high calorie meal?  I mean, if I skip breakfast, eat an 800 calorie sandwich for lunch, and a sensible dinner, I am maintaining status quo.

Why does the media make a big deal about a high calorie sandwich every time a fast food chain creates a new one?

Fast food is taking the heat because of greedy ambulance chasing rat lawyers trying to make a buck,politicians trying to find something else to tax and stupid idiot liberals who think the government should control what you eat.Common sense dictates that if you do not want to get fat then do not over eat,its really that simple.If you do not like eating no more than what your body uses then you have no one else to complain to when you get fat.

[BierGarten]

quote:Originally posted by YoungTulsan

Adult males need more like 3000 calories a day.  However, 800 calories in a small sandwich is not a good use of those calories.  Eating twice a day is also a horrible practice.  Ideally, you'd eat small meals throughout the day.  500 calories, 6 times a day would be ideal for an active adult male.

Don't forget what kinds of calories you are drinking too.  You might drink 1000 calories a day in soda, coffee, beer, etc very easily if you are anything like the average American.

On the other hand, if you are the active adult male like I mentioned before, an 800 calorie sandwich isn't going to slow you down at all - so long as you have one now and then, not for every meal you eat.  Hell, I usually go for two of something at a fast food place

Why is it a "horrible" practice?  Understood that eating four 400 calorie snacks a day would be better (good gosh how hard would be to do that day in and day out?), but if one is trying to cut back on daily caloric intake, why is dropping a meal such a bad way to do it?

[we vs us]

quote:Originally posted by BierGarten

quote:Originally posted by YoungTulsan

Adult males need more like 3000 calories a day.  However, 800 calories in a small sandwich is not a good use of those calories.  Eating twice a day is also a horrible practice.  Ideally, you'd eat small meals throughout the day.  500 calories, 6 times a day would be ideal for an active adult male.

Don't forget what kinds of calories you are drinking too.  You might drink 1000 calories a day in soda, coffee, beer, etc very easily if you are anything like the average American.

On the other hand, if you are the active adult male like I mentioned before, an 800 calorie sandwich isn't going to slow you down at all - so long as you have one now and then, not for every meal you eat.  Hell, I usually go for two of something at a fast food place

Why is it a "horrible" practice?  Understood that eating four 400 calorie snacks a day would be better (good gosh how hard would be to do that day in and day out?), but if one is trying to cut back on daily caloric intake, why is dropping a meal such a bad way to do it?

One of the arguments for lots of small meals vs. two big ones is that it's easier to overeat when you have fewer meals.  You'll spend more time hungry rather than satiated, and hence eat more at each sitting. It's the same reason that you shouldn't go to the grocery store hungry.

Also, more meals help to level off the ups and downs of blood sugar spikes. When I had my day better organized and I could eat four or more smaller meals, I completely dodged the after-lunch doldrums and could keep a steady pace all afternoon long.  Of course, your mileage may vary, but it worked smashingly for me.

The average male will burn 2000 cals on an average day.  Of course, age, health, level of activity, etc can change that number.  If you're an office bound drone like some of us (*raises hand) it's possible that the number is less.