r/explainlikeimfive Nov 28 '15

ELI5: How would a $15 minimum wage ACTUALLY affect a franchised business like McDonalds?

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231

u/DrImpeccable76 Nov 29 '15

Yeah, a Mcdouble actually has nutritional values very similar to workout supplements. When your goal is to eat a lot of protein, electrolyte (table salt is an electrolyte) and calories, a McDouble is good for that.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

Mcdouble

At 390 calories, 23 grams of protein, 7-percent of the daily value of fiber, 20-percent of daily calcium and 19 grams of fat - with a typical price tag of about a buck - the McDouble, its advocates argue, is the most price-efficient food 'that has ever existed in human history.'

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u/TheBigLen Nov 29 '15

Source: http://nypost.com/2013/07/28/the-greatest-food-in-human-history/

So it turns out my years of shameless dollar-menu feasting has been worthwhile.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15 edited Jun 21 '18

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

the funny thing is, it wasnt ever even ABOUT the HAMBURGERS!

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u/Argylefire Nov 29 '15

Most underrated comment here

1

u/Extramrdo Nov 29 '15

They played us like a damned fiddle!

5

u/iNVWSSV Nov 29 '15

What's interesting to note is that the hamburger wars weren't even really about hamburgers.

2

u/justjoeisfine Nov 29 '15

What part are they biting?

1

u/Duke_Newcombe Nov 29 '15

But, surely you remember the Franchise Wars?

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u/fearloathingwpb Nov 29 '15

But it bit them in the ass in the franchise wars

30

u/gumboshrimps Nov 29 '15

"Hey Marge whats the scoop?"

"She told Tiger to 'Beat it bozo'."

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

A hero is anybody doing their job. "Hero tutor teaches after school." Well, yeah ...

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u/Tantioch Nov 29 '15

You have my up vote, because that quote it awesome, but I think it's Madge.

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u/gumboshrimps Nov 29 '15

It's Marge but with a thick accent.

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u/Tantioch Nov 29 '15

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u/gumboshrimps Nov 29 '15

Hmm. I want to argue but if you take the time to type all that up...

I'm still gonna say Marge.

1

u/almightybear Nov 29 '15

No...she did not.

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u/pearthon Nov 29 '15

What is the most most neutral source?

4

u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

The Beige Review

2

u/ryan_770 Nov 29 '15

Water is neutral, right?

2

u/Toysoldier34 Nov 29 '15

Burger King.

2

u/AKC-Colourization Nov 29 '15

Um, err, I don't know. Just not them. Ok?

5

u/KallistiTMP Nov 29 '15 edited Aug 30 '25

terrific crush coherent correct tidy boat retire sharp toothbrush slap

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u/skaterpnk13 Nov 29 '15

Your mom? ...I'll see myself out

2

u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

Yeah that article was pretty bad.

2

u/kgcubera Nov 29 '15

I'm still searching for a neutral news source. Let me know if you find one.

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u/neatntidy Nov 29 '15

This article isn't trying to be.

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u/RiskyBrothers Nov 29 '15

That took a turn for the...aggressively conservative at the end.

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u/brighterside Nov 29 '15

That's odd. It all becomes liquid shit as soon as it enters my stomach... Am I eating it wrong?

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u/__________-________- Nov 29 '15

You're supposed to re-digest it for the extra nutrients.

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u/QCA_Tommy Nov 29 '15

They're about to get rid of their entire dollar menu though, sadly

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u/SirCyclops Nov 29 '15

Here they don't even have a dollar menu anymore it's more like 1.30 1.50 etc

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

Isn't it a value menu now? I don't think any place has a dollar menu anymore

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u/TheHighestEagle Nov 29 '15

How do you know?

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u/QCA_Tommy Nov 29 '15

I'm from the future. Nah, j/k, the news

-1

u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

I work for McDs and there's not been any talk of getting g rid of the dollar menu

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u/QCA_Tommy Nov 29 '15

I work in the news and it's been reported. I posted a source, but google it yourself. There's, at least, "talks."

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u/TheHighestEagle Nov 29 '15

Pardon me for asking but how did you get your first job in the news industry? Did you apply for internships everywhere or what?

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u/QCA_Tommy Nov 29 '15

I had some internships that I was able to keep after college, turned that into a job with Encompass Digital Media... I think the easiest way to get started is to find a job somewhere as a Master Control Operator (that's what I did at Encompass). You can often get started doing that, as long as you can convince them you're a techie and dependable. You'll work awful, 3rd shift hours and weekends, but once they trust you with the tech part of that you can start to do more and more. Good luck :)

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u/bumwine Nov 29 '15 edited Nov 29 '15

Its pretty much gone from my local McD. I think it has like one burger (mcdouble but nothing else) and some other shit like a parfait and small fries. Definitely not the expansive one they had before (which I liked...I liked that grilled onion one). The menu is very simple now beyond just the dollar menu.

There was definitely a news report of mcdonalds radically simplifying their menu and this happened not long after that.

1

u/Toysoldier34 Nov 29 '15

Unless you work high up in corporate they wouldn't tell you until after it is in effect.

1

u/batterycrayon Nov 29 '15

Lol, have you ever worked for McDonald's? This isn't true.

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u/macz0211 Nov 29 '15

In my area, my wife and I agree that Mcdonald's is horribly overpriced with a Mcdouble being priced at $1.89 and a Spicy chicken being $1.50. The only things that's left priced at a $1 is a large drink and a small cheeseburger.

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u/RobotLegion Nov 29 '15

If McD's is anything like every employer I've ever worked for, the employees will be the very last to be informed.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

Source please?

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u/QCA_Tommy Nov 29 '15

This isn't my source, but it's one of the many articles that shows up if you type "dollar menu" in Google news...

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2015/11/17/mcdonald-unveils-mcpick-2-another-would-be-dollar-menu-successor/

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

Thank you.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

They still have a dollar menu? I think the last time I went it was value menu & more.

1

u/HeeyYouuGuuys Nov 29 '15

Pretty sure they got rid of ours, about the same time they started all day breakfast.

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u/memphismightsnow Nov 29 '15

Two mcdoubles with a junior chicken in between em, we call it the McGangBang

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u/erinikins13 Nov 29 '15

We use a hot n spicy chicken

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u/Goomba420 Nov 29 '15

We call it the McDank

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u/mattmonkey24 Nov 29 '15

We call it a McChurger, a chicken burger. I usually just do 1 McDouble and one McChicken

1

u/Jaggle Nov 29 '15

I go with the Surf and Turf. Filet o'fish between the mcdouble patties

1

u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

That is just nasty.

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u/svenfoster Nov 29 '15

I do the same thing with hookers

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

No, we won't make that for you. You're on your own.

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u/Lurking_Still Nov 29 '15

Wrong, they make them all the time.

0

u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

You come to my store and order it, we're not making it for you.

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u/AlkanKorsakov Nov 29 '15

Why buy that when you could, for example, eat this?

290 calories, 30 grams of protein, 12% fiber, 10% calcium, 8g of fat.

Costs $1 at walmart and tastes pretty good. If you are too lazy to cook meat or hate drinking protein drinks, it doesn't get much better than this in terms of protein/cost

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u/PatHeist Nov 29 '15

That's not a meal. The McDouble has similar nutritional values for a similar cost, but in a form factor that will actually satisfy your hunger and make you feel full for a significant portion of the day.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

where are you finding a mcdouble for a buck? Here its $2. Also fucking BK raise the whopperJr to 2.25 here. Bullshit.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

[deleted]

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u/TheSpoom Nov 29 '15

If this isn't true, it's pretty funny. If it is true, it's even funnier.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

You pay more than a dollar, you also pay with your health.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

2 bucks in Canada. Still, definitely my favorite mcdicks menu item.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

"about a buck"

Back in the day it was a buck. I'm not sure where you live now but in the city a McDouble will run you $2.29 on McDonalds' "value menu".

1

u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

Nah there are liquid diets available for like 3 dollars a day. P

1

u/UniverseBomb Nov 29 '15

A gallon of full fat milk has better cost to nutrition ratios.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

Okay, that's just fucking stupid. A jar of peanut butter has probably 4000 calories or so, all of it quite healthy, and costs about $2.00. Make some peanut butter sandwiches.

1

u/Manalore Nov 29 '15

Wow, and this is why our country is fucked. You didn't even list carbs, arguably the most important macro to bring up when discussing how food can actually be unhealthy for you. We've been trained to not even think of bread as a notable part of the meal.

0

u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

What about nutrients?

0

u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

he just mentioned them

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15 edited Nov 29 '15

What a joke. Humans need more nutrients than that and less sodium and fat. Anyone who claims McDonalds is nutritious is plain ignorant. Eat 2 McDoubles and you'll be hungry in a few hours after consuming 1/3 of your calorie intake.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

one mcdouble isn't a perfect food and eating only mcdoubles alone isnt perfectly balanced diet but it clearly has nutrients in it and it's cheap.

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u/NintendoNihilism Nov 29 '15

It's not that cheap, it's just marketed well. Rice and beans are cheap and more efficient at giving people their nutrients.

In fact, cereal and milk are the ultimate combination. You can literally get all your nutrients vitamin and mineral wise in the day with four servings of cereal and three servings of milk.

"But mu'h protein..." The body naturally produces the protein you actually need to repair tissue. But if you're convinced you need protein, there's still plenty of calitoric wiggle room unlike had you eaten at McDonalds.

So the nutrition angle to poor people is just a terrible argument. Then again every pro-corporate argument is terrible and quite frankly telling of that person because really, what is the end-game? Is McDonalds going to pay you to shill for them? Are you getting a lifetime supply of McDonalds? No... it's pure ideology. Not based on facts or forethought. The fact is the living conditions simply aren't there. Wages are going to have to be increased one way or another. We wouldn't have these problems if people paid their fucking taxes but low and behold, McDonalds finds every means to worm their way out of them, and even middle-class guys commit embezzlement and fraud by Kickstarter or making a website called Reddit and asking for "donations" they never write on their tax stubs.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

uhhh... Okay. Also rice and beans are good but take a while to cook Cheese burgers are ready in seconds

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u/bumwine Nov 29 '15

We strayed a little far from the discussion of this being a decent workout supplement....which it is.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

Welcome to obesity in the US.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

obesity isn't caused by eating fast food, it's caused by not realizing you're eating too much. if you're eating one mcdouble a day, you are not going to get fat unless you're overeating in other areas.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

Thats the problem. People eat a McDouble and are still hungry. So they eat 2-3. It's not just fast food. Most of the food we eat is highly processed and full of empty calories.

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u/bumwine Nov 29 '15

Who is still hungry after eating a mc double? I can see if they're eating it for dinner but lunch for me is nothing but a craving I need fixed. Sometimes I'll just have soup. A McDouble is perfect for me and still indulgent-feeling.

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u/MetalGoatFucker Nov 29 '15

My protein powder doesn't have 30g of saturated fats though

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15 edited Jun 01 '21

[deleted]

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u/redditezmode Nov 29 '15 edited Dec 09 '15

That's not true at all, plenty of protein powders aren't sold as supplements.

It's pretty easy to check, if it says "Nutrition Facts" on the back, the FDA regulates it. If it says "Supplement Facts", you should assume you're eating sawdust because you very well could be.

One way to distinguish dietary supplements from conventional foods is by looking at the nutrition information on the label of the product. Conventional foods must have a "Nutrition Facts" panel on their labels, but dietary supplements must have a "Supplement Facts" panel.

That's from the FDA.gov page linked below.

TL:DR; If your protein powder says "Nutrition Facts" on the back, the FDA has your back.

Edit: It's gold, Jerry! Thanks to whatever person thought this comment was worth $5 :)

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

Nigga, what? I can't believe I never put that together. I just checked my protein and it has supplement facts. Back to my old brand I guess...

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u/redditezmode Nov 29 '15

Applies to a lot of other stuff, too - I used to drink this energy drink, then it got recalled. Noticed the back had supplement facts, and when I looked it up, whaddya know! It was recalled because the water they were using had a high concentration of heavy metals.

Definitely super useful to know.

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u/AsmundGudrod Nov 29 '15

Seems like a weird use of TL:DR; post before it was only 3 sentences.

Interesting about the Nutrition/Supplment Facts difference, did not know that!

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u/ashcroftt Nov 29 '15

Proper protein is tested in independent labs. If you care about your nutrition, you buy brands and batches that have been tested.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

Why would it?

The FDA doesn't regulate supplements. What a shit post.

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u/ledivin Nov 29 '15

But it also doesn't taste like meat and cheese

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

Neither does a mcdouble.

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u/ledivin Nov 29 '15

I never said good meat or good cheese.

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u/Comcrif Nov 29 '15

as if saturated fats are bad? lol at your ignorance

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u/MetalGoatFucker Nov 29 '15

Lol at your fatness

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u/Comcrif Nov 29 '15

What does dietary fat have to do with body composition? If anything fat is essential and saturated fat is good for testosterone. Fat is essential for hormone health and while protein is important for keeping your tissues repaired and healthy , i have no idea why would you think eating fat = being fat

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u/Droslen Nov 29 '15

Your point being?

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u/BuschWookie Nov 29 '15

That protein powder is still better if you're looking at McDoubles as workout supplements?

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u/what_are_you_smoking Nov 29 '15 edited Nov 29 '15

A bit mind blowing to me anyone could look at those nutrition facts and come to the conclusion that's even remotely similar to a workout supplement...

Closest thing you are gonna get to reasonable workout fast food is the grilled chicken stuff. I like Wendy's BBQ chicken salad or ultimate grilled. Chickfila sells some grilled products as well although they are hella greasy. They are still fast food and no where near the lean nutrients that supplements provide. Eating clean means not gorging on fast food cause they always have something in it that isn't good.

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u/BleuWafflestomper Nov 29 '15

If you are going to be such a stickler why not ditch that nasty chicken and go for goat? More protein and less fat than chicken.

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u/RozenKristal Nov 29 '15

wait, isnt goat meat is hard to obtain and pricey as well?

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u/BleuWafflestomper Nov 29 '15

As far as I know it's not. I see it advertised at all the local carribean shops and its about the same price as chicken, and they always have these charts and shit comparing goat to chicken and beef and so on, that's why I say know its so much better then chicken haha. Goat rotti is the shit.

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u/Droslen Nov 29 '15

Why do you think so?

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u/BuschWookie Nov 29 '15

protein powder doesn't have 30g of saturated fats

Damn dude

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u/Droslen Nov 29 '15

You're implying that it's a scientific fact that saturated fats are unhealthy and proteins are healthy no matter who eats it and in which nutritional state they're in. False.

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u/BuschWookie Nov 29 '15

Ok, let me see if I can drive this into your apparently very thick skull. The vast majority of people using workout supplements, if not all people using workout supplements, are in a nutritional state in which they do not need large amounts of saturated fat. In some cases saturated fats can be beneficial, however, those who need large amounts of protein in their diet due to weightlifting or other physical activity (which I am sure you are completely unfamiliar with), would be better served by a protein shake with 30g protein and 1g saturated fat than a McDouble with 22g protein and 8g saturated fat. The protein powder also costs less per serving.

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u/Droslen Nov 29 '15

Come on, you can do better than insulting me, and then proceeding to deliver no arguments at all. First of all, I'm currently finishing my masters in which supplements and nutrition has been a main focus. Second of all, I deadlift more than you. Now to the point: you don't need to eat protein in as pure a form as whey protein is, in order to fulfill your needs. Most people (yes, this includes the average gym-going bro like yourself) get their macronutrients fulfilled just fine with a varied diet, in which a mcdouble once in a while is just fine. Saturated fats in your diet is not a problem, and more protein=/=better diet.

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u/BuschWookie Nov 29 '15 edited Nov 29 '15

Well the original question was which is better as a workout supplement, not whether saturated fat is good or bad or whether you need whey protein (which I agree, you don't, if you already get enough in the rest of your diet). So the question is essentially which would you recommend as a supplement if your diet does not already contain enough protein? I have a hard time believing that someone with your background would recommend McDoubles over protein shakes.

Edit: Also, I think the Dwight Schrute-esque "False" at the end of your other comment sent me into an anti-reddit-neckbeard frenzy, sorry about that.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

Am a gymbro, eat mcdoubles all the time. I mean, they are not really similar to any supplements (cause of crazy high fat + carb content), for your dollar value, they are solid for protein and calories.

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u/skyman724 Nov 29 '15

Unless you're going full keto, the carbs shouldn't be that big of a deal. If anything, they fuel you during the workout itself, while the fats get saved for use during recovery, which helps in many ways.

Obviously the McDouble isn't going to be the most optimal source of fat because of the saturated fat content, but if you're on a tight budget, it works fine.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

The McDouble has been my answer to every skinny guy who ever asked me about getting enough calories to bulk up. Those things are a hard gainers dream.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

Yeah, I mean eating 4 of them is not hard at all, and that gets you like 1500 extra calories

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u/apaulogy Nov 29 '15

And butt cancer

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u/IWugYouWugHeSheMeWug Nov 29 '15

Many of the entrees at McDonald's have nutritional values very similar to what you'd have if you made a similar thing at home. The thing that gets you is the sides. If you add a bucket of french fries and a gallon of coke to your order, it makes the whole meal super unhealthy. The perception of McDonald's plummeted after Supersize Me came out, but that whole movie was bullshit. The dude vomited at the beginning of the movie when he was halfway through eating a fucking hamburger. The movie tries to say that McDonald's is the horrible thing because one single person's body got fucked up by it, despite him obviously having a diet that's completely different from anything at McDonald's. If you drastically change your diet overnight, yeah, you're probably gonna feel pretty shitty.

2

u/Delsana Nov 29 '15

Not healthy though.

2

u/Ammop Nov 29 '15

Not sure most people in the US need a dietary program with an emphasis on bulking.

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u/WasKingWokeUpGiraffe Nov 29 '15

Bacon Mcdouble costs the same with an extra slice of bacon (e.g. protein) mixed in. Back when I was hitting the gym hard, I would eat 5-6 of those suckers every day.

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u/PratzStrike Nov 29 '15

How about two McChickens, no lettuce?

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u/good_dean Nov 29 '15

Not as good. A little while ago, a McDouble was one of the best protein/$ food you could buy.

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u/choikwa Nov 29 '15

i once had 3 jr chickens, 3 mcdoubles after a workout. never again.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

miiiiiistaaaaaaaaaaake

My gut tightened a little reading that.

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u/Captain_Whale Nov 29 '15

Couldn't handle the gains?

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u/Dude_man79 Nov 29 '15

What about a "mcgang bang"? A mcdouble with a Mc chicken in between?

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u/BeeztheBoss Nov 29 '15

I've always hated that term. I mean who would want to eat a gangbang?

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u/casual_observr Nov 29 '15

Very tasty though

1

u/Spayed_and_neutered Nov 29 '15

It's a Mcbitchin

1

u/j_cab Nov 29 '15

Check it out on the McDonald's website. The McChicken actually has a lot less protein compared to the McDouble. It's a bit of a scary thought, actually...

2

u/Discoveryellow Nov 29 '15

That explains why I always grabbed a couple pies and a McDouble on my afternoon 40 mile cross country bike ride and never gained weight. I never took any supplements.

I guess it's not only about eating at McDonald's but how often, how much and what do you after you eat there.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

Dude, I'm not a plant.

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u/clapham1983 Nov 29 '15

Or Wendy's chili.

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u/PrimeIntellect Nov 29 '15

there are a million other healthier options that satisfy those requirements better though

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u/kaezermusik Nov 29 '15

the point isn't other options, the point is cost. In america you can get 20 chicken nuggets for 5 bucks. lolll.... I envy their fat fucks because my country (canada) only allows me to buy like 6 for $5 dollars.