Eating at McDonald’s is not advisable. But sometimes you are stuck in a situation where you only have a choice besides McDonald’s. When you are on a road trip and starving, you may find a McDonald’s branch and can’t stop yourself from ordering McDonald’s.
Meanwhile, one simple question that clicks your mind! Can diabetics eat McDonalds? You will get this answer in this blog and all related concerns about your favorite McDonald’s ( A famous American multinational fast food chain)
Question Arises: Can I Eat From Mcdonald’s?
Yes! A diabetic person can eat some low-carb, low-fat-containing foods when you have no other choice.
Keep reading this article to learn some diabetic-friendly McDonald’s options.
What Can a Diabetic Eat for Breakfast at McDonald’s without worrying?
Egg White Delight McMuffin
This contains only 2g of net carbohydrates.
People with diabetes must keep an eye on their carbs intake because high carbs consumption leads to a spike in glucose levels and can cause the worst diabetic complications.
Sausage McMuffin
It has 26 grams of carbs. You can order your food by asking them to lower cheese concentration; by doing this, carbs intake can be limited.
Fruit n’ yogurt parfait
It is the best light breakfast option for people with diabetes and contains only 30 grams of carbs.
Bacon Smokehouse Grilled Chicken
You have to order this without the bun and bacon onion sauce. And with dominion fried strings.
It contains only 5g of net carbs.
Artisan Grilled Chicken Sandwich With Cheese
You can order this dish without the bun and ask them to wrap all the ingredients in a lettuce wrap. That will contain only 2g of net carb.
Egg McMuffin Canadian Bacon
This meal has 300 cal, with 13g of fat and 30g of total carbs.
Protein is present in a good amount, approximately 17g, and also has 2g of dietary fiber.
I picked this one because it was on the lower fat and higher protein side. It is also a very filling breakfast, and it is my go-to breakfast option because it is tasty and doesn’t leave me unsatisfied.
Don’t order your McMuffin with sausage because it is high in fat, so I don’t recommend adding sausage.
Sausage Burrito
It is another good option, and it has 310 calories, 17g of fat, 25g of total carbs, and 13g of protein.
Tortillas, which pack different veggies and protein, are the best example of a balanced meal.
What should I Drink at McDonald’s?
- Black coffee with no added sugar is the best option.
- Low-sugar iced tea.
- Plain water is the best option to quench your thirst.
Diabetic-Friendly Lunch and Dinner Options
Limiting calories, carbohydrates, saturated and trans fats, and sodium is the goal for eating out.
I set aside 750 calories. 50 g of carbs, 5g of saturated fat, zero grams of trans fat, and 750 mg of sodium as our upper limit.
Can we make a real meal? Of Course, we can.
So, what will you order if you are going to McDonald’s with your mother, grandson, or friends?
Two meals fit within our limits.
Each meal includes a side salad with a one-half pack of Newman’s Own southwest creamy dressing and sliced apples.
These side dishes can be paired with either
Hamburger, or The Iconic File
You can complete your meal with unsweetened iced tea.
Always remember your drink counts.
A regular medium Coke would add more than 200 calories and 60 g of carbohydrates.
For insulin bolusing, the hamburger meal is 43 grams of carbohydrates, and the fish meal is 50 grams of carbohydrates.
If you are craving world-famous french fries, you can eat them by limiting the portion size and throwing away the bun of hamburgers.
Big Mac
Order this without a bun, without Big Mac sauce. This will provide you with 4g of net carbs.
Bacon MsDouble
Order this burger without the bun and ketchup. This will also give you 4g of net carbs.
Premium Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich and Walnut Salad
- Quarter Pounder
Which can be made leaner by leaving cheese.
- A bacon and grilled chicken salad with only 6.2 grams of carbohydrates is an option. When selecting a salad at McDonald’s, it is advisable to select low-carb dressings or skip them entirely.
- A Grilled Chicken (No Bun) sandwich has 160 calories and 2 grams of carbohydrates.
You can make these into the ideal low-carb supper by serving them with a salad.
Four-piece chicken nugget meal with small french fry, apple slices, and 1% milk or water
People with diabetes should be cautious about fat in addition to carbohydrates. Eat less than 10% of your calories from unhealthy fats like saturated and trans fats to keep intake minimal.
What Dessert Can I Eat at Mcdonald’s?
Unfortunately, there are few options because desserts have a high sugar content that will spike glucose levels.
If you are craving something sweet, just eat 3 or 4 slices of apple, and your craving to eat something sweet will be met.
Tips Before Ordering Your Meal
- Order food that is less processed.
- Order food with less saturated fats. Dieticians recommend not exceeding more than 10 percent of fat from saturated one.
- Less sweet order food.
- Order food that has not added salt and sugar.
- Try to take lean protein rather than protein from red meat.
- Avoid eating fried foods; prefer to eat boiled and grilled ones.
Ways to Monitor Calories and Carbs Content at Mcdonalds
My Plate Method
You can use this method to make a balanced meal.
According to this meal, you have half of your plate with non-starchy vegetables, one quarter with lean protein, and the remaining with carbs.
Glycemic Index
If you know about the GI of foods, then you can become efficient while ordering a meal.
The Glycemic index can be defined as how fast a particular food raises the body’s blood glucose levels. So you have to choose foods with low GI scores below 10.
Foods To Avoid at McDonald’s If you’re a Diabetic Person
The food for diabetics is typically a little different from that of others. All fruits, vegetables, cereals, and foods containing proteins are safe to eat. Additionally, nonfat or low-fat dairy products are a healthy alternative for people with diabetes. An individual with diabetes can always rely on these foods.
However, greasy and salty meals must be avoided. Candy, ice cream, baked products, and any sweet recipes on the menu should also be avoided.
Fries have a carbohydrate content of 29 grams for small fries and 44 grams for medium fries.
Southwest Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Salad contains 46 grams of carbohydrates because it includes breaded chicken and a corn-vegetable mixture, despite its seemingly healthful appearance.
Warning: The Buttermilk Crispy Chicken with Bacon Ranch Salad isn’t much better.
So try to avoid these options.
Avoid the majority of other sandwiches and beverages when dining at McDonald’s. They contain too many carbohydrates, which can cause an unfavorable blood sugar surge and make you feel exhausted all day.
Final Words:
It’s acceptable to crave junk food; you can get some of it on the McDonald’s breakfast menu.
You can enjoy certain foods if you properly monitor your diet, and managing your blood sugar levels may be simpler if you lead an active lifestyle.
Fortunately, McDonald’s offers a nutrition calculator that can be used to determine how many calories or carbs you are consuming with each menu item.
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