McDonald's is ending the Supersize option. Horrors! What other calamity will befall the world?
CNN Story

What?!

There is a GOD!! (Sorry Jim Allen)

My first job ever was at McDonalds. Before it was called super sizing, it was called Jurassic sized to tie in to the movie, Jurassic Park.

I see it as a step in the right direction.

This really pisses me off.....thanks to the overindulgent fat azz suit happy public, I have to suffer with no supersizing.....

I don't care what anyone thinks, I LOVE McDonalds....in moderation of course.

NJ

McDonalds isn't looking out for the public's health.... they are just looking to make an extra buck when you order that "second medium fries" to go with your value meal.

I read about this, this morning. An interesting move by McDonald's..maybe even a bit risky given our American attitude of bigger is better, but at the same time, it coincides with the fast food industry's efforts to offer more "healthful" fast food, if there is such a thing.

Nathan, you are the first adult I have heard say this in a very long time...will you marry me? We can get married under the Golden Arches.


[ March 03, 2004, 08:03 AM: Message edited by: bobby78751 ]

I enjoy McD's occasionally. I like their breakfast sandwiches, their new salads, their fries when hot, their shakes, and their new chicken nuggets - I actually like Wendy's SANDWICHES better though.

[ March 03, 2004, 08:30 AM: Message edited by: copman ]

Okay, do you eat all of your super sized fries in one sitting? Do you drink all of your super sized drinks in one sitting too? I highly doubt it. I can't, when I eat McDonalds (which still beats out all other fast food places in my eyes).

Good Lord yes Allen. Everytime.....

I allow myself a #7 Supersized with a Diet Coke once every two weeks....and I eat it all in one sitting.

Also, about once a month I hit Mickey D's for Breakfast burritos (3 of them) and a hash brown or if I am feeling particurally slim, I'll eat two hash browns.

I have one bad vice....and thats Diet Coke....I drink about 4 64 ounce jugs a day of the stuff....probably why I am so edgy.

I don't drink liqour, don't do drugs and eat in moderation.....but I'll chop the hand off of the person who attempts to keep me away from my Diet Coke. wink

NJ

The value meal options are currently "medium," "large" and "supersized." The large meal comes with a 32-oz. drink and the supersized comes with a 44-oz. But if I'm not mistaken, some years ago the "large" option USED TO BE "supersized."

Judging from the furor this change seems to have engendered in the consuming public, I wonder how long it will be before McDonalds' revisits the decision to abandon the "supersized" portions. Sort of like coca-cola bringing back classic coke after consumers railed against new coke.

~Adam

Supersize Classic, maybe? Nah, just wait until Summer 2005 and they will have the movie tie-in promotion of "King Kong-size it!"

I still remember the days when the "medium" fries were "large" and that size was as big as they got.

I still don't see what the big deal is. This is not Coca Cola dumping "classic" coke in favor of "new" coke. They have to think of their bottom line (along with the rest of us who have to think of our bottoms' line. wink

Are some of you serious in thinking this is a travesty? Would you rather be healthy than pounding an extra amount of fat into your system and clog your arteries a bit more? I'm waiting for someone to say they would rather see their Ikea store close than to lose super-sizing. wink

This sucks!
So now I have to rethink my traditional McDonald's order that I have had memorized for years:

1 Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese Meal
(Supersize fries and Orange drink)
1 10 piece (formerly 9) Chicken McNuggets
2 Regular Double Cheeseburgers (no onions)

Indeed, super sizing started out as a movie tie-in. it was originally called Dino-sizing, as a tie-in with Jurassic Park, and it was so wildly popular they stuck with it.

Anyway, what's the BFD? A large not enough fries for ya? Get 2 larges, or a large and a medium.

Tis sad, though. The passing of an era.

Their announcement makes it clear they are discontinuing super-size, except for possible promotions. So I think we'll expect a few times a year (particularly when the Monopoly promotions are run) super size will return.

They have just introduced a double fish sandwich. Let's see - two fried fillets of fish instead of one - how is that improving health?

I personally wish they'd offer more flexibility with their meals - I'd love to have a salad combo (one of their large salads, fries and a drink). Kind of like Subway allows you to take any menu item and add chips/pretzels and a drink for an additional $1.xx.

I also wish all McDonald's would carry what many New York City McDonald's sell - McVeggie Burgers.

The new McD's salads with grilled chicken are good. Sometimes I'll order the smallest size of fries to eat in the car until I get home to eat the salad. I also like the grilled chicken sandwich with no mayo. Their chicken has a very tasty seasoning (probably loaded with MSG), so I don't know why they like to put half a gallon of mayo on it.

I don't understand why this supersizing thing is such big news. Free advertising for Mickey D's I guess.

This is all in a single sitting? eek! eek! eek! eek!

Allen, I think the point is about choice....if people want to load up on fat thats their choice.....its part of a free society. When it becomes an irritant to me is when they begin to blame someone else for their own poor choice.

Its typical of alot of our society....its everyone elses fault but my own.

Next we'll see lawsuits brought against Ford by owners of Excursion's complaining they won't fit in the person's garage therefore Ford owes them a new house with a bigger garage.

"They made me buy it by offering it!"

Whats that saying by John Burroughs? "A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else."

NJ

[ March 03, 2004, 11:32 AM: Message edited by: NathanJones ]

There was a documentary that played at Sundance called Supersize Me, it's about a guy who ate nothing but McDonald's food (breakfast lunch & dinner) for a month and how it changed him healthwise (he -- duh! -- gained weight, cholesterol went up etc). It's said to be quite entertaining, done in a Michael Moore-ish style. It's going into general release soon and it well may be that McDonald's is trying to steer clear of the connection, at least temporarily.

I agree with you in theory, but the problem is we all pay for the health problems of society, through health insurance premiums, taxpayer provided free healthcare at clinics & hospitals. The same goes with other "self-induced" health problems. Like much in life, there is no easy answer.

Best thing is, I've met Mr. cattledog, and he has managed to maintain his girlish figure despite the caloric onslaught. wink

Totally agree....but I don't really think this is gonna make Joe Blow order that grilled cobb salad with fat free dressing instead of the Big Mac and large fries....he'll just have to pay more and McDonalds profits will rise. wink

NJ

I'm with ya there, SisterFriend. My girlfriend learned a long time ago that if she wanted me to be anything other than surly when I awoke, there'd better be a Diet Coke waiting on me at my bedside! Of course, she reaps other benefits in exchange. wink

What is it they put in it? Heroin? Slurm? Whatever it is, if lovin' Diet Coke is wrong, I don' wanna be right.

Above, someone else mentioned New York. When I was in NYC on a college trip about 8 years ago, I was surprised to see how much more expensive the food is at the Mickey D's in Times Square that was across Broadway from our hotel. It seems like with all the traffic they get there (isn't it a 2-story location?) it would make up for the cost of location.

Wonder if any politician would ever have the nerve (and guts) to propose a tax on unhealthy foods. But then you get into the debate as to what is healthy and what is not. Nothing wrong with a supersize meal from McDonalds in moderation, but it is when someone is having a supersize meal multiple times every week there is a problem.

Plus I'd probably be upset if someone tried to tax my TastyKake.

It's already happened. Last year, New York State Assemblyman Felix Ortiz (Democrat from Brooklyn) introduced legislation to put a $50 million tax on junk food (as well as video games). Two days of hearings were held, but the proposal went nowhere. Sounds to me like an idea about as popular as tinkering with social security.

[ March 03, 2004, 12:46 PM: Message edited by: HulaBoy ]

Yeah, last time I was in there (I had to hit the head after spending an hour in the Virgin Megastore) the "Value" Meals were, like, $10.

Hell, I order at least 9 items per Taco Bell visit!
You will notice that you won't see me post much on the "Fitness and Health" threads!

That's 'cause you're a Metabolic Freak of Nature™! wink

I know, right? Me, if I order that much, it's a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips.

This boy better swear off the supersizing until he loses about seventy pounds.

Wow! If I lost 70 pounds, I'd weigh 93 pounds!

I saw that this morning and no biggie to me, I jsut order the medium anyways.

Ba-DUM-bum.

I exaggerate a bit because I probably would be able to get away with losing roughly 50. Losing 70 pounds would put me at roughly 130 pounds (I'm 5'7").

As a longtime worker at McDonald's in the early 80's, I have no illusions about the healthiness of their food. One thing I learned is that making the fries correctly is tough--it's important to put the right amount of lard in the heater and to cook them EXACTLY as long as the timer indicates. When they're good, McD's fries are great.

I had the two sausage McMuffin's with egg meal this AM. Yummy! When the hash browns are hot, they're really good. One thing that's changed, at least around here, is that they don't make the food, wrap it and then put it in a heater like when I worked there. It's pretty much made to order now; I don't mind the extra wait.

I wish they'd make the McRib a menu regular. I think their new salads with the slab of chicken in it are really good. It's totally bad for me, but I like the $1 double cheeseburgers. I know that when I go there I'm not eating healthy, but that's OK. Speaking of death in a box, some of the McDonald's around here are offering double Big Macs, i.e. 4 patties. Yikes.

I went to a McD's in Dresden,Germany (only because I was exhausted after a long plane flight, otherwise I only eat "local" when travelling abroad) and was shocked at how small the patties for the Big Mac were.

Cattledog, damn you and your metabolism, damn you!

I always wanted to date a guy that works for McDonald's, but only if he could bring home the extras (cheeseburgers, Chicken McNuggets, etc.). In other words, I would only be dating him for his Quarter Pounder W/ Cheese's as opposed to dating him for his "Big Mac's". :cool:

Whore. Total, filthy, sleazy WHORE. [ala the Elephant Man] I'm a human being dammit!

I can see it now:

Cattledog: So, you're a doctor with a great place on 5th Avenue and season tickets to the Yankees huh?

Doctor: Yes. Do you want to go out sometimes?

Cattledog: To McDonald's?

Doctor: Uh, no, someplace classy.

Cattledog: Thanks, but I'll pass.

[ March 05, 2004, 02:05 PM: Message edited by: Jim Allen ]

He would be a Yankee fan, no? So, that means he would be cool enough to let me have my Yankee tickets and my McDonald's. In other words, I can have my McDonaldland cookies and eat them, too!

omg! eek! ....that shouldn't be legal!....anyone who dares to order a DOUBLE Big Mac deserves the congestive heart failure, clogging of the arteries and longterm health risks that will ensue.

Shouldn't the FDA get involved here?....that's gotta be more harmful than half of these so-called "recreational drugs" that the media is having an uproar about.

After reading about Cattledog's "regular order" I have to admit that I'm damn jealous!....I've had the pleasure of meeting Mr. #1 Yankee Fan (er, I mean Cattledog ) and he's got to have the best metabolism in the country if that's a regular part of his "diet"....I'm only 5'9'', 140 but I KNOW that if I had that order I'd likely turn into a beached whale.

Mmmmmmm....McDonaldland cookies and a nice, big ice-cream cone!

The McD's shakes are good too; I'm sure they'll have their usual St. Patricks Day green ones in a few weeks.

Gamecock, what cracks me up is they offer that monstrosity of a Big Mac in a value meal, with the supersize option!

Hee:


[ March 05, 2004, 11:11 PM: Message edited by: Jim Allen ]

Ooh, thanks for the reminder! I know a nice boy with some Irish descent with whom I could share that St. Patrick's Day shake.

Incidentally, I am probably going to have McDonald's today. But I will definitely go for a run to burn off those calories the next morning. So I hope I am not disappointing all of you with my "freak of metabolism" thing. Also, Mr. Gamecock is a pretty thin guy himself, and I saw him munching down those chips when were at GatorJamie's for college football!

Shhh, that was a temporary moment of weakness, influenced no doubt by the "evil" Gator faithful that I was surrounded by (to say nothing of a certain Aggie alum )....speaking of McD's I read in the Wash. Post this morning that "U.S. sales rose 20 percent in February, as salads and healthier choices such as white-meat Chicken McNuggets helped drive the biggest increase in purchases since the 1970's".

I must admit that I do LOVE their Cobb salads with grilled chicken, though -- they are absolutely scrumptious....and when I'm not rushed for time in the morning, the egg mcmuffin meal with an extra hash brown and a large O.J. still can't be beat....fortunately, I've resumed my regular visits to the gym to "balance out" those "healthy" hash browns, which remain one of the few deep fried foods that I can't resist.

[ March 06, 2004, 09:45 AM: Message edited by: gamecock ]

I dont think getting rid of the Supersize is a big deal. But its a marketing tactic, not an issue of health. You get rid of the Supersize, people will order something else. Which means theyll be steered to whatever new items McD's has, or to their dollar menu theyve been trying to get people to use.

But I think most people miss the point. If you want to eat healthy and really care about it, dont eat at McDonalds!! If you want to stay fat and dont care, like myself, eat there all ya want to. Its fairly simple.

I will continue to get my 20 piece nuggets and large fry about once a month or so. And yes I can eat it in one sitting.

I was also furious with McDonalds. I happen to like the Super Size menu. I don't go to McDonald's often, but I'm a big guy and when I eat I eat a lot. It's idiotic to stop selling Super Size just because people don't have the self control to limit what they eat.

Next thing you know they will cancel all half time activites at future Super Bowl's to prevent bimbos from showing their breasts.

OK, I'll say it. I wish the nearest IKEA store would close rather than Mickey D's stop supersizing.

When will the food police and health Nazis just let Americans eat what they want for Pete's sake? If someone wants to pig out on a 44-oz. Coke and Big Mac, let him. Isn't freedom of choice part of the American way of life?

Enough of this already!

And don't you DARE try to alter pizza! I will hunt you down like a dog if you even go there!!! :mad:

[ March 06, 2004, 07:35 PM: Message edited by: MIB ]

Why are you more concerned that a PRIVATE CORPORATION has decided, based on the market to cease offering an unhealthy food option, while you are NOT at all concerned that the government is trying to push through a discriminatory amendment to the Constitution? Food Nazis my bollocks!

I love Ikea! Affordable, colorful, attractive, easily assemblable European furniture--isn't this on the middle-class "gay agenda"?

McDonald's is free to do what they please; and we are free to go to other restuarants that DO offer Super Sizes.