FOOD FOR THOUGHT
McDonald's salads tasty, high in calories
By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Columnist
Here's an idea whose time has clearly come: meal-size salads in fast-food restaurants.
McDonald's just replaced its Salad Shakers with a new line of three salad meals — California Cobb, Caesar and Bacon Ranch. Wendy's has Mandarin Chicken, Taco Supremo and Chicken BLT salads. Burger King offers a Chicken Caesar. Simple garden side salads also are available at many outlets.
Wendy's Mandarin Chicken Salad already was a favorite before we tested the McDonald's line. It is flavorful, attractive and fresh-tasting, but frighteningly calorie-heavy at 590 calories and 34.5 grams of fat with almonds, rice noodles and dressing.
A group of Island Life section staffers tried McDonald's new salads recently, and the good news is the salads aren't bad. The bad news is some of them are more calorie-laden than hamburgers.
The salads:
• California Cobb with grilled chicken, 280 calories, 14 fat grams; with crispy chicken, 380 calories, 23 fat grams.
• Caesar with grated parmesan and grilled chicken, 210 calories, 7 fat grams; with crispy chicken, 310 calories, 16 fat grams.
• Bacon ranch with cheese with grilled chicken, 270 calories, 13 fat grams; with crispy chicken, 370 calories, 21 fat grams.
Add to these the Newman's Own dressings:
• Cobb, 120 calories, 9 fat grams.
• Creamy Caesar, 190 calories, 18 fat grams.
• Light Vinaigrette, 90 calories, 8 fat grams.
• Ranch, 290 calories, 30 fat grams.
Do the math: A bacon ranch salad with ranch dressing tops out at 660 calories and 51 grams of fat (compare a Big Mac at 590 calories and 34 grams of fat). The slimmest choice: Light Vinaigrette over a grilled chicken Caesar at 300 calories and 15 grams of fat.
What about taste?
"Look," said one editor, waving a fork on which she had speared a leafy green that was neither iceberg nor Romaine, "this is the gourmet stuff!"
The grilled chicken was praised as tender, neither overcooked nor undercooked and well-seasoned.
"I would buy this if I ever found myself actually in a McDonald's," said one staffer. The crispy chicken, however, tasted overly salty to several tasters.
"Yummy enough so I could eat it without dressing," said another, who had a bacon ranch salad.
Comments from another fan on the crispy chicken salad with Caesar dressing may sum it up: "Now that I know I can go through the drive-through and order this — sold!"
The comment is indicative of the hunger many have for guilt-free fast food. But unless you choose wisely and go light on the dressing, fast-food salads aren't going to ease your conscience.
