I Used to Love McDonalds, But These 6 Factors Have Turned Me Off From It

Ask many people about their favorite fast food restaurant, and they’ll likely tell you that it’s McDonalds. I’m with them. For many years, I was a fast food fanatic. I would go there several times per week for breakfast and lunch and have no regrets. As their prices started to increase, I started to get curious about what was really going on behind the scenes. I started researching, and while I used to love McDonalds, what I found out disturbed me a bit.

There’s a lot you probably don’t know about McDonalds, such as what’s really inside those chicken McNuggets or the Shamrock Shake that you get at St. Patrick’s Day. There are also other lessons that I have learned that have turned me off, such as how often they clean certain machines. There’s a lot of wild stuff going on behind the scenes. Read on if you dare. Then, make your own decisions.

Factor 1: It’s Too Expensive

Despite what you think about inflation, the prices at McDonalds are often higher than they should be. That’s been the case for many years, especially after they eliminated most of the dollar menu. We get it. They need to make a profit. However, you may not realize that you can make many of the same menu items at home for less money.

Make Your Own McDonald’s Food

Yes, it will take more effort than sitting at the drive-through, but if you want to save money, make your McDonald’s favorites at home. Go to the store, purchase some patties and a big bag of buns, and you can make your own Big Mac. You can even buy a huge bag of chicken nuggets at the store for less, and it could last you a week. Even if you buy the pickles, onions, ketchup, and all the fix-ins, it will still be less than going to the restaurant, especially if you’re going with your family. 

Factor 2: They Promote Unhealthy Habits

As an adult, you can make your own choices and eat wherever you like. You know the risks, and you have made an educated decision. However, the problem is that McDonald’s also spends a lot of time marketing directly to children. While McDonald’s is tasty, it’s far from healthy. If your kids start eating a lot of fast food when they’re younger, they’re likely to continue that trend as they get older, so you must be careful.

McDonalds is Not Healthy

Yes, McDonald’s may serve apple slices, but they really don’t make much healthy food. McDonald’s fries are loaded with sodium and fat. The Big Mac contains 540 calories, which is about 25% of your daily recommended caloric intake, and that’s for adults. Just imagine what it can do for kids. Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t ever bring your kids to McDonalds. Just try not to make it a habit.

Factor 3: The Food Has Too Much Salt

One of the reasons that the food seems to taste better than at any other fast food restaurant is that almost everything is loaded with salt. That’s why I used to love McDonalds. It’s essential that you’re careful about how much salt you consume on a regular basis. It’s hard to avoid salt, and it’s great for seasoning, but if you eat too much, it can be bad for your health. Too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure, fluid retention, and other health issues.

How Much Salt is There?

Almost anything you order at McDonalds will be loaded with salt. The Big Mac has 940 mg of salt. The McGriddles have a lot of sodium. The fries are also loaded with salt, which is why so many people love them. Just think, one meal could already get you close to the maximum of 2,300 mg of sodium that health experts say you should ever have in an entire day.

Factor 4: The McNuggets are Questionable

Many adults and kids enjoy going to McDonalds so they can order the McNuggets. They can be warm and tasty and fun to dip in your favorite sauce. However, while they are made out of chicken, they have other questionable ingredients. Plus, while there’s chicken involved, it’s not entirely clear how nuggets are made. If you don’t believe it, consider this next story…

The Melting Nuggets

I used to love McDonalds until I realized that the chicken McNuggets are not the healthiest food at McDonalds. Just the fact that they’re breaded means they’re relatively unhealthy. However, there are some disturbing stories about the nuggets. One of them is from a former Mcdonald’s employee who accidentally left a bag of nuggets in the heat. Later on, he remembered them, but when he went outside, he found that the nuggets had melted! Why would nuggets do that? Consider that next time you order.

Factor 5: The Milkshakes Aren’t Real

You may not have realized it, but when you go to McDonalds for a cold treat, you’re getting a “shake” and not a “milkshake.” That’s likely for a reason. While they are made of milk, there is no ice cream involved. They do use a bit of reduced fat soft serve, but in some states, that’s not even technically called ice cream. They combine that with flavored syrup. So, it’s not a legitimate milkshake. If you think that’s bad, wait until you hear about the Shamrock Shake…

The Shamrock Shake

The Shamrock Shake is often a favorite when March rolls around. However, you’ll notice that’s also not called the Shamrock Milkshake. First of all, that shake is very bad for your health. It includes 460 calories, 8 grams of saturated fat, and 63 grams of sugar. Worst of all, there’s no actual mint in the shake. Instead, it’s mostly food coloring. Blue 1 and Yellow 5 to be exact.

Factor 6: The Cleanliness of the Ice Cream Machines

I used to love McDonalds before I realized that there are two devices at most McDonald’s locations that are not cleaned very well, beginning with the ice cream machine.The problem here is that the machines take a long time to clean. The manufacturer has an 11-step cleaning process, which can take four hours to complete. Many managers don’t have the time to clean them, so they can go months without a proper once-over. However, there’s also another machine you should avoid…

The Coffee Machine

While the coffee machine is not as complex as the ice cream machine, it can also take a long time to clean, so it’s a task that is often avoided. Most times, it takes 30-40 minutes to clean them. Again, many managers don’t have time for that or feel like they don’t have time to provide the proper cleaning. This fact may not impact the taste of your coffee, but it’s something to consider anyway.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©RiverNorthPhotography / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images.