The ever popular “Men’s Health Magazine” has supplied readers with an easy way to seek out healthy food options by grading popular fast food chains. However, I was shocked by some of the grades. Read the report card below and tell us what you think!
Men’s Healthmagazine has compiled a searchable Eat This, Not That! Restaurant Report Card. The magazine put 66 major chain restaurants “under the nutritional microscope” and came up with number grade. Here’s how they did it:
— Calculated the total number of calories per entree to determined the restaurant’s average serving size—a key indicator of unhealthy portion distortion.
— Rewarded restaurants with whole grain options and fruit and vegetables side dishes.
— Penalized places for excessive amounts of trans fats and menus with too many desserts.
The report card then outlines the good and the bad and a survival strategy. Here are 10 grades that caught my eye.
Boston Market: B+
Burger King: C+
Cici’s Pizza Buffet: B+
Five Guys Burgers and Fries: C
McDonald’s: B+
P.F. Chang’s: D+
Panera Bread: B-
Romano’s Macaroni Grill: D-
Subway: A-
Wendy’s: B+(source)
I understand the criteria for grading these restaurants … however, McDonald’s getting a “B+” seems to be a bit “rigged!” This chain was openly bashed for adding sugar to all of it’s items! Even the fries have sugar in them! The extra sugar tricks the consumer into eating more and craving the product!
The other grades seem to be a little bit more accurate with the exception to CiCi’s Pizza buffet. I find that grade a bit hard to believe as well. While I am sure that there are healthier options with a salad bar added to the mix; I don’t believe that many people go to a “pizza buffet” to take advantage of the great salad bar!
Adria Ali
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