3 ms·

I have a theory, backed by evidence, that supports the exact opposite. Things like McDonalds and others adding expanding the healthy options in their menus, lis

by moate 9y ago

I have a theory, backed by evidence, that supports the exact opposite. Things like McDonalds and others adding expanding the healthy options in their menus, listing calories/ingredients more visibly, switching from frozen to fresh ground beef in their burgers. Isn't science (postulating and then proving/disproving theories) fun?! (Oh, and as an aside: one dude's story about how he personally thinks that a sense memory from 30 years ago is not the same as a more recent sense memory is definitely something to investigate. Real hot lead right there.)

jbob2000 9y ago
None of the "health" benefits you listed have any objective benefit to health. How does listing a big mac meal at 1200 calories suddenly make it more healthy? Eating non-frozen beef does't magically reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, it's still red meat. And a handful of iceberg lettuce covered in fatty, sugary dressing (I think McDonald's calls this a salad?) doesn't magically make me lose weight. It sounds like you're getting wrapped up in the marketing of corporate food and confusing it for valid science (I'm not saying my comment or the parent comment is valid science, just that what we're doing distinctly isn't science, so don't throw your stones in a glass house).
- gamblor956 9y ago
  Providing calorie counts lets people make a more informed decision about how much food they are consuming. It has a small but measurable impact on calories consumed. McDonalds salads come with the dressing on the side in a separate container so you can determine how healthy or unhealthy the salad is... McDonalds has also embraced converting their supply chain to higher-quality sources of chicken and beef, though due to the scale involved the conversion is measured in years and not weeks or months. McDonalds is never going to be healthy. But they are making an effort to be healthier.
  - jbob2000 9y ago
    Right, so I think we should make a distinction between "healthy choices" and "eating healthy food". I'll agree with you that McDonald's is providing healthy choices. But just because the choices are there, doesn't mean the food is healthier - iceberg lettuce and hamburger buns are still empty calories. High quality chicken/beef does not mean it's more healthier. Quality does not correlate to health. That'd be like saying a high quality cigarette is better for your health than a low quality one.

by moate 9y ago

jbob2000 9y ago

None of the "health" benefits you listed have any objective benefit to health. How does listing a big mac meal at 1200 calories suddenly make it more healthy? Eating non-frozen beef does't magically reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, it's still red meat. And a handful of iceberg lettuce covered in fatty, sugary dressing (I think McDonald's calls this a salad?) doesn't magically make me lose weight. It sounds like you're getting wrapped up in the marketing of corporate food and confusing it for valid science (I'm not saying my comment or the parent comment is valid science, just that what we're doing distinctly isn't science, so don't throw your stones in a glass house).

gamblor956 9y ago
Providing calorie counts lets people make a more informed decision about how much food they are consuming. It has a small but measurable impact on calories consumed. McDonalds salads come with the dressing on the side in a separate container so you can determine how healthy or unhealthy the salad is... McDonalds has also embraced converting their supply chain to higher-quality sources of chicken and beef, though due to the scale involved the conversion is measured in years and not weeks or months. McDonalds is never going to be healthy. But they are making an effort to be healthier.
- jbob2000 9y ago
  Right, so I think we should make a distinction between "healthy choices" and "eating healthy food". I'll agree with you that McDonald's is providing healthy choices. But just because the choices are there, doesn't mean the food is healthier - iceberg lettuce and hamburger buns are still empty calories. High quality chicken/beef does not mean it's more healthier. Quality does not correlate to health. That'd be like saying a high quality cigarette is better for your health than a low quality one.