#dumbchoice

I don't subscribe to the idea that oatmeal is some sort of miracle health food, like so many other bloggers, but I definitely don't think it's the worst thing you could eat for breakfast (most cold cereals take that honor).

McDonald's, in a half-hearted attempt at offering healthier breakfast fare, decided that it would serve up oatmeal. Of course, they screwed it up. According to this New York Times article by Mark Bittman (found via Dori's Facebook!):

...The company is doing everything it can to turn oatmeal into yet another bad choice. (Not only that, they’ve made it more expensive than a double-cheeseburger: $2.38 per serving in New York.) “Cream” (which contains seven ingredients, two of them actual dairy) is automatically added; brown sugar is ostensibly optional, but it’s also added routinely unless a customer specifically requests otherwise. There are also diced apples, dried cranberries and raisins, the least processed of the ingredients (even the oatmeal contains seven ingredients, including “natural flavor”).

I'm also LOLing at this part of the article:

A more accurate description than “100% natural whole-grain oats,” “plump raisins,” “sweet cranberries” and “crisp fresh apples” would be “oats, sugar, sweetened dried fruit, cream and 11 weird ingredients you would never keep in your kitchen.”

Since we know there are barely any rules governing promotion of foods, one might wonder how this compares to real oatmeal, besides being 10 times as expensive. Some will say that it tastes better, but that’s because they’re addicted to sickly sweet foods, which is what this bowlful of wholesome is.

...Others will argue that the McDonald’s version is more “convenient.” This is nonsense; in the time it takes to go into a McDonald’s, stand in line, order, wait, pay and leave, you could make oatmeal for four while taking your vitamins, brushing your teeth and half-unloading the dishwasher. (If you’re too busy to eat it before you leave the house, you could throw it in a container and microwave it at work. If you prefer so-called instant, flavored oatmeal, see this link, which will describe how to make your own).

Apparently, the McDonald's oatmeal contains more sugar than a Snickers bar and only 10 fewer calories than a McDonald's cheeseburger. But really, who's surprised that the fast food giant failed at one of the most basic ingredients around by making it significantly less healthy than it actually is? And who's surprised that people actually think they're making a better choice? Might as well slap on a "Smart Choices" label and call it a day!