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A French Fry Make-Over? Still Not Healthy

By Expert HERWriter
 
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Healthy Eating related image Photo: Getty Images

I read online recently that Wendy’s (the fast food chain) is making over their fries to appear more "real". They will be leaving the skins on their fries, using only russet potatoes, and sprinkling them with sea salt to encourage consumers to believe they are now--more natural?

My question to them is: are they still deep fried?

If you take a mix of potatoes, peel off all the skins, deep fry them and call them the "old, less real" French fries, how is taking one type of potato, leaving the skin on and deep frying them suddenly create "real" fries? Aren’t French fries fried up potatoes no matter how you slice it? (Pun absolutely intended!)

These new real French fries also have more sodium – 500mg in a medium size compared to 350mg in the older version.

Think what you want but I’m not fooled.

Now let’s say you are absolutely desperate and have to eat at a fast food restaurant or you will starve. Please read over the nutritional information and you will see how much sodium, calories and fat are in their foods. Choose simple things like baked potatoes (not fried), chili without cheese on top, a basic hamburger without cheese or secret sauce, a simple salad with dressing on the side, a plain chicken breast, or a turkey sandwich with vegetables.

Skip out on the soda (diet because of the aspartame and regular because of the sugar) and drink plain water. Water may be boring but it’s needed to flush out all the sodium in your food choice.

Did you know that a basic McDonald’s cheeseburger has 300 calories, 12 grams of fat, 750 mg of sodium and 6 grams of sugar while a Big Mac has 540 calories, 29 grams of fat, 1,040 mg of sodium, and 9 grams of sugar?

A Burger King cheeseburger has 300 calories, 14 grams of fat, 710mg of sodium, and 6 grams of sugar while a Whopper has 670 calories, 40 grams of fat, 980mg of sodium and 11 grams of sugar.

If the world is wondering why there is so much obesity, take a look at what you put in your mouth. I understand that fast food is cheap and full of 99 cent meals, but is it worth your health and your weight?

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Dr. Carrie Jones
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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