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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
this topic comes up a lot, and many people say that fast food is a cheaper option. this graphic paints a different picture.
I have not stepped foot into a McDonalds literally in YEARS so I have no idea how much it costs now. All I am saying if that this graphic IS interesting, if it's accurate.
times graphic
I can't get the graphic to post, maybe someone else can. here is the link.
Message edited 6/13/2012 11:14:53 AM.
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Posted 6/13/12 11:13 AM  |
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PearlJamChick
No one sings like you anymore.
Member since 7/10 9264 total posts
Name:
Petticoated Swashbuckler
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
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| Posted 6/13/12 11:16 AM |
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CouponKT
Our family is complete
Member since 6/06 16494 total posts
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K
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
to some people, time is money and they prefer to spend the money over taking the time to cook
There are times when we wind up with fast food for a meal and I CRINGE when I hear the total. It's really not that far off from me going to a sit down dinner at TGIFridays with some coupons
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| Posted 6/13/12 11:19 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
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..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
Yes, fast food has gotten super expensive these days.
Except if you are eating off the dollar menu, but that really isn't a lot of food.
I also think there needs to be more healthier options for fast food and drive thrus. It's the convienence that gets some people.
You don't have to get out of the car in the rain or with your kids at McD's, yet to get, let's say, Subway, or a salad somewhere, you have to park, get out, etc
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| Posted 6/13/12 11:21 AM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
I am laughing at how little in common that whole chicken has with those little nuggets 
I think 30 bucks in INSANITY for that meal. I can't believe it's that pricey.
ETA: thank you Pearljamchick
Message edited 6/13/2012 11:27:10 AM.
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| Posted 6/13/12 11:25 AM |
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Ayne11
Yep
Member since 1/09 18021 total posts
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
I would rather spend $30 at a sit down restaurant where I know I'm not getting mystery meat.
Ever since I found a screw in my hamburger patty from McDonald's I've been pretty grossed out at all fast food places.
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| Posted 6/13/12 11:34 AM |
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WhatNow
Say Cheese!
Member since 1/06 8033 total posts
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A (formerly WhatNow?)
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
I have always said that McD is WAY too expensive! Especially for what you get! It probably WAS the much cheaper alternative 15-20 years ago, but certainly not anymore!
I have been there a few times with both my kids and my husband and the total for the 4 of us came to something ridiculous!
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| Posted 6/13/12 11:43 AM |
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Xelindrya
Mommy's little YouTube Star!
Member since 8/05 14470 total posts
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Veronica
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
Same math applies to ALL eating out.
Altho I agree McDonalds is 'unheathly' I think that its unfair to just focus on it compared to a home cooked meal financially.
A steak dinner at a restaurant vs at home is INSANE in price difference.
Mostly we eat out for Sushi lol, something I can't make at home.
ETA: The kids meal is LOT more than that these days. We get AJ the nuggets every now and then (like less than once a month, just if we're on the road after school and I know we won't be back in the house by 630).
Nuggets
Much smaller fries
Apples
Juice
Not that i makes a difference in the example. We dont eat at McDonalds just pick up her meal via drive through and go on our merry way to whatever errand it was. I have to say though, in the two times we've done it I found it AWESOME! In our case we did it because we were taking her to a movie after school (Yellow Submarine and it only played on two days both school days).
Message edited 6/13/2012 11:46:40 AM.
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| Posted 6/13/12 11:43 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
You know what else I find weird? That the calories and fat are HIGHER on the home cooked chicken and potato meal than the McD's meal?
What is up with that???
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| Posted 6/13/12 12:17 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
Posted by NervousNell
You know what else I find weird? That the calories and fat are HIGHER on the home cooked chicken and potato meal than the McD's meal?
What is up with that???
I find that weird too.
looking at the ingredients they have, I find it hard to believe unless the chicken is fried, the potatoes are fried, and it's a big portion.
oddly enough, I made a similar meal for my family last night. I made roasted chicken with baby potatoes and a salad. I find it hard to believe it was 1000 calories, knowing what I put into it, and more importantly, what I DIDN'T.
that being said, I would still eat the 1000 calorie meal of fresh acutal food ingredients no matter how yummy a Micky D's french fry is
Message edited 6/13/2012 12:42:51 PM.
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| Posted 6/13/12 12:37 PM |
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SweetTooth
I'm a tired mommy!
Member since 12/05 20105 total posts
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Lauren
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
Posted by Ophelia
Posted by NervousNell
You know what else I find weird? That the calories and fat are HIGHER on the home cooked chicken and potato meal than the McD's meal?
What is up with that???
I find that weird too.
looking at the ingredients they have, I find it hard to believe unless the chicken is fried, the potatoes are fried, and it's a big portion.
oddly enough, I made a similar meal for my family last night. I made roasted chicken with baby potatoes and a salad. I find it hard to believe it was 1000 calories, knowing what I put into it, and more importantly, what I DIDN'T.
that being said, I would still eat the 1000 calorie meal or fresh NATURAL actually food ingredients, no matter who yummy a Micky D's french fry is
Probably leaving the skin on the chicken would make the fat and calories add up pretty fast, and they don't say what they are doing with the potatoes.
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| Posted 6/13/12 12:43 PM |
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peanutbutter2
Carpe diem!
Member since 11/10 5287 total posts
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
Posted by NervousNell
You know what else I find weird? That the calories and fat are HIGHER on the home cooked chicken and potato meal than the McD's meal?
What is up with that???
I find that really odd.
I wonder if there's just such a huge gap between the kids meal calories and the big mac/larger fries/larger soda that the average is kind of skewed.
In either case, I think it's weird that the homemade food apparently has so many calories.
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| Posted 6/13/12 12:43 PM |
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BunnyWife
Insert Witty Comment Here
Member since 5/07 8274 total posts
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BunnyWife
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
Posted by NervousNell
You know what else I find weird? That the calories and fat are HIGHER on the home cooked chicken and potato meal than the McD's meal?
What is up with that???
i
I'm thinking they are frying the chicken and the potatoes. That being said, even with the added calories and fat, it's still healthier for you because nothing is processed.
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| Posted 6/13/12 12:51 PM |
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acm1899
LIF Adult
Member since 1/11 1085 total posts
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
Posted by BunnyWife
Posted by NervousNell
You know what else I find weird? That the calories and fat are HIGHER on the home cooked chicken and potato meal than the McD's meal?
What is up with that???
i
I'm thinking they are frying the chicken and the potatoes. That being said, even with the added calories and fat, it's still healthier for you because nothing is processed.
I wonder if the serving sizes are the same. I don't see where they mention that.
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| Posted 6/13/12 12:53 PM |
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DirtyBlonde
*****
Member since 11/07 7344 total posts
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
Looks like there's half a cup of oil in the picture...which is nearly 2000 calories. Olive oil is monosaturated fat, better for you than what the hell is in McD's. I'm guessing the whole chicken with dark meat and skin divided by 4 would be about 300 calories per person (very very rough estimation). Remove the oil and just bake the potatoes, the calorie count for this meal drops to under 500.
It's not just about calorie count - it's about where the calories come from.
Message edited 6/13/2012 4:34:07 PM.
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| Posted 6/13/12 12:53 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
But my time is worth $1000/hour (trust me, I'm worth it....   ), so cooking for an hour is $1000, but spending 6 minutes at the drive-thru is only $100, so I'm saving almost $900 each time I go to the drive-thru.....
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| Posted 6/13/12 1:40 PM |
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HoneyBadger
YourWorstNightmare.
Member since 10/06 15979 total posts
Name:
BahBahBlackJeep
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
for the simple fact that EVERY SINGLE TIME i eat mc donald's i feel SICK after i'm finshed is reason enough for me to eat something i've made myself.
no amount of time (or the savings of) compares to how i feel after eating something.
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| Posted 6/13/12 1:45 PM |
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LeShellem
A new beginning
Member since 2/07 3600 total posts
Name:
LeShelle
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
Very good graphic, but for the people who will say it's cheaper, they are probably ordering from the dollar menu. Even two hamburgers is cheaper than one big mac. If you look at Food Inc. There is a family who eats there regularly for $10 and that's for two adults, two children. Factor in food deserts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_desert and you could see why MD is a valid choice for some people.
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| Posted 6/13/12 2:01 PM |
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tink23
Step by step....
Member since 6/11 1061 total posts
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Lori
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
Posted by DirtyBlonde
It's not just about calorie count - it's about where the calories come from.
Exactly. But for the purposes of this graphic, I'm surprised they show the homemade meal higher in fat compared to the fast food meal.
I would think most people would see the homemade meal being higher in fat and think it was worse for you. Many people are unaware of "good" and "bad" fats.
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| Posted 6/13/12 2:01 PM |
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rkl1130
LIF Adult
Member since 10/07 1476 total posts
Name:
Rose Ann
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
I think most people know (or at least are marginally aware) that cooking at home is more cost-effective. Barring the nutritional facts, people will still eat out and buy fast food because of the convenience of it. We rarely eat McDonald's, but when we do it's for the convenience of it and because it's quick and we're on the run.
I'm a big advocate of home cooking and we rarely ever order take out, but for the sake of saving time, we sometimes do resort to some kind of take-out type food. Yes, I know that I may be paying more but I'm paying more in order to save some time.
I think that so long as it's not a regular occurence, then I don't see a problem with it. It's all moderation.
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| Posted 6/13/12 2:22 PM |
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HoneyBadger
YourWorstNightmare.
Member since 10/06 15979 total posts
Name:
BahBahBlackJeep
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
Posted by tink23
Posted by DirtyBlonde
It's not just about calorie count - it's about where the calories come from.
Exactly. But for the purposes of this graphic, I'm surprised they show the homemade meal higher in fat compared to the fast food meal.
I would think most people would see the homemade meal being higher in fat and think it was worse for you. Many people are unaware of "good" and "bad" fats.
I agree with this.
I'm surprised that the NYT would use a graphic depicting the home cooked meal in anything but a positive light.
To the untrained eye, all they see is "higher calories" admittedly, I'm one of those people. But when you dig deeper, or are more informed you see that it's really not a bad thing.
Now generally speaking, I don't think ANYONE is thinking McD's is in anyway, shape or form healthier than a home cooked meal, but again at a quick glance it could catch someone's eye and help them justify going to one of these crappy places.
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| Posted 6/13/12 2:37 PM |
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ChilisWife
God Bless America
Member since 5/05 3572 total posts
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A.K.
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
I would love to know where they went shopping to get that meal for four for $13. Has anyone bought a chicken lately? Plus, the cost is misleading because it doesnt take into account other costs of cooking at home - spices, condiments, napkins, dish/pan soap to clean, etc. Sure, cooking at home is healthier (and for me, tastier) but judging from my grocery bill for my family of 4 (buying mostly all sale items and store brands), its not always so much cheaper.
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| Posted 6/13/12 3:28 PM |
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Mrs213
????????
Member since 2/09 18986 total posts
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
I think it's really the dollar menu stuff that makes it cheaper...
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| Posted 6/13/12 3:34 PM |
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dlj97
LIF Adult
Member since 7/10 4399 total posts
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
Posted by ChilisWife
I would love to know where they went shopping to get that meal for four for $13. Has anyone bought a chicken lately? Plus, the cost is misleading because it doesnt take into account other costs of cooking at home - spices, condiments, napkins, dish/pan soap to clean, etc. Sure, cooking at home is healthier (and for me, tastier) but judging from my grocery bill for my family of 4 (buying mostly all sale items and store brands), its not always so much cheaper.
I was just going to post the exact same thing! That cost is way underestimated, and the calories on the home cooked meal seem way overestimated.
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| Posted 6/13/12 3:37 PM |
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Mrs213
????????
Member since 2/09 18986 total posts
Name:
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Re: Interesting NY Times graphic re: the cost of mcdonalds vs other option for a family of 4 with Link to graphic
Posted by dlj97
Posted by ChilisWife
I would love to know where they went shopping to get that meal for four for $13. Has anyone bought a chicken lately? Plus, the cost is misleading because it doesnt take into account other costs of cooking at home - spices, condiments, napkins, dish/pan soap to clean, etc. Sure, cooking at home is healthier (and for me, tastier) but judging from my grocery bill for my family of 4 (buying mostly all sale items and store brands), its not always so much cheaper.
I was just going to post the exact same thing! That cost is way underestimated, and the calories on the home cooked meal seem way overestimated.
Well I think they are basing it on average cost per meal. Of course you're not going To go out and buy 4 slices of bread only for 75 cents ya know? You can get chickens on sale buy one get one free sometimes. I think adding the cost of dishwashing soap and napkins is really nickel and dime-ing it lol
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| Posted 6/13/12 3:42 PM |
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