DAILY DIARY – DEBUNK THE JUNK, APRIL 16, 2004

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Receipt available as a pdf.

“All substances are poisons; there is none which is not a poison.  The right dose differentiates a poison and a remedy.”  – Paracelsus

Day 16:  So how do you determine parameters to create a credible science experiment?  It’s the midway point and I’ve almost completed my first task in this diet of consuming at least one of every item offered on the McDonalds individual items menu.  Well that is, to the best of my ability.  When I started this project, I set up some parameters for my little experiment, which I hoped would be realistic enough to carry me through the month.  But have found that I needed to adjust these parameters.  My original parameters were,

1.  I have to eat each item offered on McDonald’s individual menu at least once during the 30 days.  PROBLEM:  Almost impossible to achieve, as there are regional offerings that are not readily available in my hometown area, but I do run across them in my travels.  My base menu has become the flyer A Full Serving of Nutrition Facts that can be found at McDonalds, but I understand that they are currently revising this flyer.  I hope they will be adding calorie counts for new items found on the revised menu.

2.  I would only drink tap water outside of McDonalds.  I quickly learned the impossibility of this when I was traveling in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Florida and had to drink bottled spring water purchased in one of the theme parks to stay hydrated. 

3.  I would try to maintain an 1,800 calorie per day diet.  PROBLEM:  This has now become a goal each day and a little over or under the 1,800 calories has become acceptable, depending on the items I chose during any given day.

4.  I did not have to finish my meals, I could stop when I was full.

5. My goal was to lose 10 pounds and show that a healthy diet can be achieved eating only at McDonalds.

I’m not very big on organized diets, though I do admit to using Slim Fast products in the past and did the diuretic driven Cabbage Soup diet a few times, actually losing 20 pounds during the first week I tried it, but never experienced the same results after that first time.  Therefore, doing something as simple as counting calories has been a new experience for me, and one that I have found very interesting.  The only problem I’ve had is obtaining calorie counts for certain items on the McDonalds menu such as the Key Lime Pie and the Flatbread sandwiches.  Then I have to make my best guess about the wisest choices to round out the days calorie count. 

So far, I believe I have achieved my goals and expect to feel the same way on April 30.  I feel healthy and energetic; I’ve lost 5 pounds, and I am not bored with the menu.  This has become a very fascinating project, because it has allowed me to explore my own food issues and heightened my awareness about intelligent consumption.  That’s what personal responsibility is all about.