McDonald's: The Secret of Their Success

I read that article. One of the women interviewed stops there almost every business day for a "snack" of a burger, fries, and soda after her night shift. *shakes head*

Yes, it's sadly so true, and affects people of all ages, like some elderly relatives I know that go to McDonald's on a weekly basis. A few months ago while visiting with them they were telling me about the chicken snack wrap and how healthy it was. First, it's made with regular white flour tortillas (refined grains, hydrogenated oils) rather than at least whole wheat tortillas; the main filling content is breaded, fried chicken pieces, along with a small amount of shredded iceberg lettuce. If people think that is healthy, no wonder our country has such problems.

While I agree the food they serve is crap, as the owner of a small business, I have nothing but respect for McDonald's business strategies. After reading a case study about them, I implemented 3 strategies they'd based their business on and saw my own business grow threefold over the course of 4 months.

I love that picture!
I had no idea they had things like cafes and widescreen TVs. So it's hip to eat at McDonalds now? I think I'll pass. What a terrible excuse for food.

Claire, a lot of stores here now have 4 or 5 computers with broadband and sometimes a wi-fi network you can use too. I don't think the US ones are doing that yet, but Burker King had just arrived in the country offering the wi-fi and the free refills for the soda, so they had to top it somehow.

So who is twisting people's arm to eat at Fast Food Restaurants? Isn't it about time that people started taking responsibility for their own actions? If there wasn't a market for this, these businesses would not be so successful. WAKE UP....

I wish people would take responsibility for their actions, or show willpower, or just say no, but that isn't what has or will happen. If things are to be different, other answers must be found. Because, like it or not, or believe it or not, we are in trouble. Or as Ashley would say, we are in deep dark chocolate!:-)

I don't eat at McDonald's, never have. I don't care how many whistles and bells they add, or how good their business strategies are--their food is lousy. No thanks.

Of course their food is lousy! (But so are cigarettes.) The high fat, sugar and salt contents are addictive and that is the problem and the real secret to their success.

?WHAT THE H*** IS HEALHY FOR YOU NOW AND DAY .H*** SOME SAY VEGTABLE ARE GOOD FOR THEN SOMEONE WILL COME RIGHT BEHIND THEM AND SAY THEY ARE NOT!!!SO WHAT SRE WE REALLY SOPPOSE TO EAT I SO TRIED OF THESE YO-YO DIETS PROMISE THE WORLD, BUT ALL THEY DO IS EMPTY YOUR POCKETS.

iris smith: If I had to pick one single source to hand to a person and say "here, this is what you should be eating", it would be Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig. As far as weight loss goes, just switch to natural foods and stay active. When your habits change in a positive direction, so will your body.

To be honest - i'm like, addicted to McDonalds. But theres also a McDonalds right by me, most of my friends work there (i'm 15, and theres not many places that hire people 14-15 so most of my friends got jobs there), and I mean, if i'm at wal-mart and get hungry its right there. I find the food pretty good. Although I haven't had it much since christmas break (went to l.a for a week after it where i couldnt find one so i ate subway instead, and then been too busy with school and my new friends don't have a mcdonalds on the way to their house) I still love it.

I find that McDonald's IS in fact responsible for a lot of the obesity in the U.S. It's true that everyone chooses whether or not they eat at a fast-food restaurant, but McDonald's is very dishonest with their information.

In their advertisements, McDonald's fools people into thinking that their food is much healthier than it actually is. I saw one commercial for their new types of salads where women were talking about losing weight by eating them (By the way, most fast-food salads have as many or more calories than most of their popular sandwiches).

When people see these types of advertisements, they rarely feel the need to look at nutritional info at the restaurant. They assume that the food is healthy. Most people don't think of trans fats, saturated fats, sodium levels, and various other aspects of their food. A lot of people don't even know the difference between the different types of fats.

Also, most people think the exercise they get burns a lot more calories than it actually does.

When it comes down to it, in my opinion, the majority of American people are uninformed, mislead, and tricked into thinking they can have health AND convenience through a fast-food chain. That just simply isn't true. McDonald's is the leader in creating this hype.

So to sum it up: YES, McDonald's should be held responsible for being a leading cause of obesity in America.

Staci said:
YES, McDonald's should be held responsible for being a leading cause of obesity in America.[...]

I think the 24 hour day is not to keep us eating all day, but to recognize the consumers want flexibility. We don't all want to be locked into breakfast at 7 am, lunch at noon, dinner at 6 pm mode. I for one think that is great.

It is possible to lose weight while eating nowhere but McDonald's, which has been demonstrated. I don't like the food all that much, but I don't blame it for fattening anyone.

Jim said:
[McDonald's are very persuasive in their advertising]

Not only that, but they aggressively and deliberately start targeting customers in childhood and don't let up even with the seniors. It's a "hook 'em for life" campaign.

Enkay said:
This is my first reaction.I think McDonald should rethink its policy towards calorie management ]

I agree with Marie here. Ginger and Enkay, the people that McDonald's is grabbing by their advertising and business strategies would be eating junk regardless, at other fast-food restaurants or at home. Their salads are not really healthy - ok, and neither is most of what is sold as healthy in other fast-food restaurants and supermarkets.

I don't think anyone who cares about health or even about food that tastes decent will eat at McDonald's no matter how much they advertise. But their aggressive advertising keeps people from choosing Taco Bell, Burger King, KFC, etc.

I am one of those who has been sucked in by the advertising (when I was very young), and then got "hooked". I don't blame McD's for my Binge-eating Disorder, but I do consider them an active contributor - one of the foods that I crave (seriously, CRAVE) is their cheeseburgers. I don't know why - I know how bad their food is, how fattening, etc., but it is like a beer to an alcoholic: it takes a serious physical effort for me to "just say no". Which, I am happy to say, I do more often than not. Still working on that "not" part...

That said, I agree with those that say that it's not the 24-hour thing that makes them so successful, it truly is their advertising. When I was a kid, it was "You deserve a break today".... meaning that I had worked hard all day, and this was my reward. As a child (middle-school-ish) who didn't receive a lot of positive reinforcement, this was like salve on a wound - here, finally, was my reward! Sick? Yes. Typical? Absolutely yes. This was, and still is, the mindset that ALL fast-food places rely on to keep their businesses thriving... 'You deserve a break, and we're here to provide it for you'.

What should be done about it? Well, nothing - it's their perogative to advertise like that. Now, as for their misleading advertising and practices, like misrepresenting nutritional values? Those should be punished. But the rest is just part of the game. And it's up to us, as educated consumers, to see through the ploy and save ourselves.

Laura, I really believe that addiction is the correct way to look at it. From when many of us were children, we were addicted to salt in baby food. Then sugar and fat. If you look at all the 'new' food choices that fast food outlets introduce, they always increase the fat, or sugar, or salt content to supply 'our' addictive needs. Once one has broken the addictions you come to understand what food really tastes like. Not that greasy, or suggary, or bitter taste that too many think is 'tasty' or 'juicy' etc. From what I've read on her I know there are others who comment who have discovered this also.

I'm not a part of the "let's blame McDonald's for making us fat" crowd. But I agree they have marketed themselves to feign they are healthy when clearly they are not.

It takes ridiculous publicity stunts like this to see just how far they have stooped to polish off their image in the minds of the consumer.

Can they really be blamed if people are suckered into their conniving ploy? I think not. Americans need to start thinking for themselves and making better choices for themselves and their families.

Hint, hint: You won't find ANY good choice at the golden arches. :)

Jimmy Moore, author of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb"
LivinLaVidaLowCarb.com

Jimmy Moore said:
I'm not a part of the "let's blame McDonald's for making us fat" crowd. But I agree they have marketed themselves to feign they are healthy when clearly they are not.[...]

The asian grilled chicken salad is pretty good. I believe it is about 270-300 calories without dressing which is great for a whole meal. I don't like salad dressing, so I just ditch it. So yeah, that's a good choice. It's not, like, the most delicious thing EVER, but it's not awful if you don't have another choice.

A lot of the problem I have with McDonald's is that they seem to sell you the idea that you have to be eating something every waking hour of the day and they advertise that. You wake up: must have McDonald's Big Breakfast in order to function! Mid Morning: time for a fruit and yogurt parfait! Lunch: You're busy and late for a meeting, have an extra value meal! Snack time: better get a snack wrap or you'll get delusional! Dinner: kids are hungry, let's get happy meals. Late night: time for a McFlurry and some fries as a good late night snack! Geez, no wonder so many people that eat at McDonald's regularly are indeed pretty obese. You can't eat 4000+ calories a day and expect to be thin.

Not to mention if you are in there that many times a day, you don't even have time to do household chores, much less exercise, haha.

of course fast food giants are to blame for our increased weight gain. There wasnt nearly as much food around when our parents grew up and certainly not available ALL hours of the day.

It a shame we are all going to die in our fat, because rich no-names dont give a rats butt about the public. Health is a joke to them. Money is everything.

Like Laura, I'm a fast food addict. Burgers and fries have been the All-American meal since the 50's, but in the past most people still ate the majority of their meals at home. Now all of us are eating on the road. The heavy marketing as I was growing up in the 80's-90's hooked me for life. Like Laura said, fast food is the ultimate reward. My parents would never let me eat as a kid, so I feel satisfaction getting it now. Its cheap and I can stuff my face in my car, alone. My weakness is salt and fat which fast food provides in ample amounts. No matter how much of it I eat - I never feel full.

mcdonalds makes me have weird stomach reactons.

i think i pooped out my baby!

Pam K said:
So who is twisting people's arm to eat at Fast Food Restaurants? Isn't it about time that people started taking responsibility for their own actions? If there wasn't a market for this, these businesses would not be so successful. WAKE UP....[...]

Mc donalds need to close down all of them.

I believe they are putting something like if not the very same MSG in their foods.. all of them. what i don't get is what they're after trying to kill the exact same people they are making money from.

i live in the midwest and McDonald's around here pander to seniors and children but most of all minorities.. everyone who is likely to be on a fixed income or low income bracket.

sounds pretty underhanded.