Monday, January 24, 2011

Shape Up Series: Taste Testing McDonald’s Fruit and Maple Oatmeal

By: Finance Foodie

It’s Monday! And you know what that means – it’s time for my weekly weigh in! Now, I’ve gotten a few comments/criticisms about this Shape Up series on how short term diets are not the key to long term weight loss. Therefore, I feel the need to re-address the purpose of these posts: First, the 10 lbs I gain over the holidays is something that happens almost every year (bad on my part, but pretty much unavoidable with all the delicious homemade food at home), so this Shape Up is what I do EVERY WINTER so I can get back to 130lbs, the weight I keep during other ~300 days of the year. I've been 130lbs for about 5 years now and it’s the weight I feel most comfortable at (where I can eat healthy most of the time, but still indulge once in a while). Furthermore, even after I lose my 10lbs, I still plan to use/eat all the tips, recipes, and food options I've posted -- and I encourage you to do the same!
This is what 130 lbs looks like!
With that off my back, let's get on to the recap of last week!

Height: 5'1''
Goal Weight: 130lbs
Week 1: 140lbs (Starting Point)
Week 2: 138lbs
Week 3: 137lbs
Week 4: 136lbs (almost halfway there!)

Goal Body Fat: 20.0%
Week 1: 25.0%
Week 2: 24.0%
Week 3: 24.0%
Week 3: 23.5%

Exercise Plan (and actual results in red)
Day 1: 45 minutes on the elipitcal trainer, level 5 – Check!
Day 2: 30 minutes on the recumbent bicycle, level 7; 30 minutes weight training using 5lb to 8lb weights – Check!
Day 3: 45 minutes on the treadmill, speed 3.5, incline 2.0 – Check!
Day 4: 30 minutes on the recumbent bicycle, level 7; 30 minutes ExerciseTV’s Cardiokie with Billy Blanks Jr.; 30 minutes weight training using 5lb to 8lb weight – It was a snowy slushy cold mess outside, and I didn’t want to slip and break a hip to go to the gym. Thank God for ExerciseTV from On Demand and my hand weights at home. Plus I got to change my routine up a bit…Check!
Day 5: 30 minutes on the elipitcal trainer, level 5; 10 minutes on the recumbent bicycle, level 7 – Check!
Day 6 &7: Rest – An Easy Check!

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by the McDonald's team to taste test their new Fruit and Maple Oatmeal from the breakfast menu. Since I’ve had high cholesterol pretty much my entire life (d*mn genetics!), I try to eat oatmeal regularly for breakfast, due to its magical cholesterol reducing abilities and ease of preparation. Frankly, I was highly skeptical that McDonald's oatmeal would be palatable, but given that their recent healthier menu items (fruit smoothies, salads, yogurt parfaits, etc) have been actually tasty, I decided to give it chance on one frightfully chilly Boston morning.
WOW! Color me shocked because this $1.99 bowl of heart attack prevention tasted much better than my usual Instant Quaker Oats. The generous portion of fresh sliced apples, raisins, and dried cranberries really gave the oatmeal a nice flavor profile and meshed well with the hint of maple flavor. But the best thing? This bowl only contains 290 calories and kept me full and satisfied until lunch (full nutrition profile here)!

***Giveaway***
Congrats Frank (Grand Prize) and Lara @ GoodCookDoris (1st Prize)!

I totally applaud McDonald's push for healthier menu items (that still taste good), so I am offering a $25 gift card (I don't mind if you spend it on fries and a Big Mac, but I totally recommend you try the oatmeal/smoothies/healthy menu items!) and 2 coupons to try their new Fruit and Maple Oatmeal for two financefoodie.com readers.

Grand Prize: $25 Arch Card (the Mickey D's gift card) - one winner
1st Prize: 2 free product coupons for McDonald's Fruit and Maple Oatmeal - one winner

There are THREE ways to enter 
1. REQUIRED: In my comments section, tell me what is your favorite oatmeal topping? (Mine is fresh strawberries - maybe McDonald's can add that in their oatmeal too (Hint Hint)!). Also please include your email address so I can contact you if you win!
2. Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter (leave separate comment telling me this)
3. Reblog / Retweet this giveaway (leave separate comment telling me this)

Contest ends Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 5pm EST. Winners will be chosen via random integer generator on random.org announced on the financefoodie.com site shortly afterwards that night! 

Disclosure: McDonald's provided me with the free product coupons to try the product and for the giveaway. I bought the Arch Card myself. 

315 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   201 – 315 of 315
DarcyO said...

Brown sugar is my favorite.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

DarcyO said...

tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/darcy1956/status/30106504103206912

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

Anonymous said...

I like Dried Cranberries on my oatmeal!!

jmcharries@cox.net

Anonymous said...

I follow you on Twitter under the name JCHARRIES

jmcharries@cox.net

Anonymous said...

I tweeted at http://twitter.com/#!/JCHARRIES/status/30107707675508737

jmcharries@cox.net

LAMusing said...

I like raisins and brown sugar
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

Norma said...

My favorite is blueberries
bingomamanorma(at)gmail(dot)com

Suz said...

Brown sugar

txhottie_86 at yahoo dot com

Kris said...

I love strawberries and bananas on my oatmeal! My email is mickiejames92@yahoo.com.

tina reynolds said...

I love apples and Cinnamon thanks for the chance to win eaglesforjack@gmail.com

tina reynolds said...

I follow on twitter @mrstinareynolds

tina reynolds said...

http://twitter.com/mrstinareynolds/status/30119395141361665

theolotto said...

I like blueberries on my oatmeal.

theolotto@yahoo.com.au

theolotto said...

Email subscriber.

theolotto@yahoo.com.au

cpage2323 said...

I like butter, brown sugar and cream...i guess that is not horribly healthy, huh?
trixie420247 at yahoo dot com

cpage2323 said...

twitter follower(@trixie420247)
trixie420247 at yahoo dot com

cpage2323 said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/trixie420247/status/30123940613459968
trixie420247 at yahoo dot com

sweetsue said...

I love a little milk and sugar.
smchester at gmail dot com

Nikki said...

My favorite oatmeal topping is bananas and cinnamon. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I have ALWAYS had my oatmeal with milk only, but after reading all these posts I think I might try my oatmeal a different way every day!

missmoshellbell1@aol.com

Jinxy and Me said...

I like almonds on mine!

nesta 67 {at} live dot com

Jinxy and Me said...

I'm following you on Twitter (I'm @LuckyJinxy).

Jinxy and Me said...

tweet http://twitter.com/#!/LuckyJinxy/status/30147841124995073

Life Is A SandCastle said...

My favorite topping is chopped apples.

mccullar07@yahoo.com

elango said...

My favorite instant oatmeal flavor when I was young was the strawberries and cream. I don't like that fake tasting stuff anymore, but still love strawberries on oatmeal, better yet are the freeze dried strawberries since they don't spoil like fresh.

elango said...

I Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter with user elangomatt

elango said...

I tweeted about this giveaway. http://twitter.com/elangomatt/statuses/30154462165204992

elangomatt at gmail dot com

Roxann said...

My favorite topping is raisins.

Roxann said...

I follow you on Twitter.

Hbomb said...

brown sugar would be my favorite oatmeal topping! bananas and strawberies are a second though :)
xbeautifulcoma at yahoo dot com

Hbomb said...

twitter follower @xbeautifulcoma
xbeautifulcoma at yahoo dot com

Hbomb said...

retweet -http://twitter.com/xbeautifulcoma/status/30172500142850048
xbeautifulcoma at yahoo dot com

foreverheavenly said...

cinnamon and rasins

intime said...

i love oatmeal and maple syrup as a topping intime@myself.com

Breanne said...

Mine is brown sugar

clc408 said...

I eat oatmeal every morning with brown sugar, raisins and cinnamon. Sometimes I substitute berries for the raisins.

Anne said...

My favorite topping is walnuts and cinnamon
ajolly1456 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

fresh strawberries

jdmimi at gmail dot com

Barbarawr said...

Just this morning, I had oatmeal with Sunsweet's berry blend in it. I don't like the dried cranberries as much as the blueberries and raisins - it's too early in the morning for such strong flavor. But any of the other dried berries are sweet enough that I don't need sugar, which is good.

Email address is in blogger profile

Barbarawr said...

I tweeted http://twitter.com/bsw529/status/30248204301770752

Email address is in blogger profile

Holly said...

I just need raisins on my oatmeal.

Unknown said...

Apple and cinnamon are our faves. trinitygsd at yahoo dot com

Leslie S. said...

I add pecans an brown sugar to my oatmeal.Thanks!
lstanziani(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

Peaches and cream - email w/user name

Unknown said...

I follow you on twitter dddiva

Unknown said...

http://twitter.com/dddiva/status/30257383066304512

Anonymous said...

My favorite oatmeal topping is also strawberries! :) And I have been making healthier eating choices as well so if I win my toothpick husband will enjoy eating double cheeseburgers and fries while I munch on the oatmeal or apple slices lol

Anonymous said...

I followed you on Twitter natashaharmon519@yahoo.com

Erin said...

My favorite oatmeal toppings are brown sugar and dates.

glycinemax at gmail dot com

Erin said...

I follow you on Twitter as @one_of_three.

glycinemax at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

apples are my favorite topping
cindy0462@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Two of my 'favorite' oatmeal toppings are peaches and raisins!

Yum! Yum! Yummy!

Thanks for the great giveaway offering!

Good Luck to All!

Anonymous said...

I follow you on Twitter!

Twitter Handle: LT38

leandrew_taylor@yahoo.com

tombetz said...

Ummm... "butter"

tombetz said...

@tombetz is following you on Twitter

tmbetz@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I Tweeted this giveaway to All my Twitter Friends!

http://twitter.com/LT38/status/30281933711736833

leandrew_taylor@yahoo.com

Erin said...

I blogged about your giveaway: http://coffeecritical.blogspot.com/2011/01/hooray-for-clowns.html

glycinemax at gmail dot com

Nicole Larsen said...

My favorite oatmeal topping is bananas and strawberries!

pittsy82@hotmail.com

Nicole Larsen said...

tweeted http://twitter.com/pittsy82/status/30287769318195201

pittsy82@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

strawberries and a little powdered sugar

titans_arrow@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Peaches are my favorite oatmeal topping. garrettsambo@aol.com

Anonymous said...

I like brown sugar and raisins.


stephanie_adkins@yahoo.com

susansmoaks said...

blueberries
susansmoaks at gmail dot com

susansmoaks said...

i follow you on twitter @fdp4life
susansmoaks at gmail dot com

susansmoaks said...

http://twitter.com/#!/fdp4life/status/30304340698730496

susansmoaks at gmail dot com

Rose said...

PB and cinnamon! It's heavenly swirled into apple oatmeal on a chilly morning.
gulledgr@si.edu

mail4rosey said...

Brown Sugar and Apple Slices are my favorite toppings for oatmeal.

msurosey@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Maple and brown sugar

farmbound@comcast.net

Anonymous said...

My fave is apples and brown sugar.

hebert024 at aol dot com

pat jasmin said...

i am folling on twitter, my favorite with oatmeal is rasins and walnuts

esldiane@gmail.com said...

My fave topping is raisins and brown sugar
Diane Baum
esldiane@gmail.com

07violet said...

my favorite is with banana, cinnamon and a little maple syrup

alterna7 at hotmail dot com

Becky said...

As bad as it is for you mine is sugar and butter.

ShesAnAngel said...

My fave oatmeal topping is brown sugar!

justine417@comcast.net

ShesAnAngel said...

I tweeted

http://twitter.com/ShesAnAngel417/status/30326469917933568

justine417@comcast.net

shelley said...

I agree with you! Fresh Strawberry's are my favorite!

shelleymikey at gmail dot com

Heidi said...

Dark chocolate chips on top of oatmeal = amazing!

heidihooks {at} gmail {dot} com

Mercedes Beaudoin-Lobb said...

I like blueberries on my oatmeal!

mbeaudoinlobb@hotmail.com

Kathy P said...

my favorite is brown sugar :)

kathypease(at)gmail(dot)com

Kathy P said...

http://twitter.com/klp1965/status/30333117784924160

Mercedes Beaudoin-Lobb said...

Following finance foody on twitter!

mbeaudoinlobb@hotmail.com

Mercedes Beaudoin-Lobb said...

retweeted on twitter
mbeaudoinlobb@hotmail.com

@sadieloveskevin

Sandra K321 said...

My favorite is real maple syrup.
seknobloch(at)Gmail(dot)com

lyndseyluvsjj said...

My favorite topping is raisins and brown sugar. Yum!

lyndsey.rullman at hotmail dot com

lyndseyluvsjj said...

I am following you on Twitter as lyndsey1stunna.

lyndsey.rullman at hotmail dot com

Dawn Reid said...

Brown sugar with bananas.
mightynaynay(at)cs.com

js22 said...

I like raisins & diced apple with either brown sugar or maple syrup on top!
Thanks for the giveaway!
email in blogger profile.
js22 [at] yahoo [dot] com

Dawn Reid said...

Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter
mightynaynay(at)cs.com

js22 said...

i follow Finance Foodie on twitter - js22222222 .
email in blogger profile.

js22 said...

tweet: http://twitter.com/js22222222/status/30345144502849536
email in blogger profile.

littlelatina said...

I just had a mcd's salad for lunch. I like the fruit topping

adaM said...

I like the little apple bits and cinnamon on my oatmeal.

adaM said...

I like the little apple bits and cinnamon on my oatmeal.

hale2005 said...

My favorite oatmeal topping is milk.

hellrzr(at)juno(dot)com

hale2005 said...

Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter
mrcheapo

hellrzr(at)juno(dot)com

hale2005 said...

tweet

http://twitter.com/mrcheapo/status/30353240637837312

hellrzr(at)juno(dot)com

cman said...

Strawberries and Cherries.
My email is in my profile..

dvice12 said...

My favorite oatmeal topping is raisins

dvice12 said...

I Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter

dvice12 said...

I tweeted - http://twitter.com/#!/dvice1/status/30355103261130752

smdrm said...

My favorite oatmeal topping are apples with cinnamon.

kg4rmt at arrl dot net

Amy delong said...

strawberries are yummy on top!
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com

Frostine said...

Favorite topping has to be brown sugar, I know, not very healthy.
frostine at thatreallyfrostsme dot com

Heather W said...

brown sugar
Lovefool827 (at) yahoo (dotcom)

Heather W said...

brown sugar
Lovefool827 (at) yahoo (dotcom)

/\Heather/\ said...

Lemme see...I guess raisins and craisins and pecans and walnuts. I gotta have some trail mix on my oatmeal. lol
heatherpooh (hotmail)

/\Heather/\ said...

I follow you on twitter - choochoo428
heatherpooh (hotmail)

/\Heather/\ said...

Tweeted - http://twitter.com/choochoo428/status/30378167059353600
heatherpooh (hotmail)

magic5905 said...

Blueberries and honey are my favorite. Thanks.
magic5905 at embarqmial dot com

Sand said...

I love walnut in my oatmeal!

magic5905 said...

I follow you on twitter,
harvester5905
magic5905 at embarqmail dot com

magic5905 said...

1/26 tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/harvester5905/status/30380734082449408
magic5905 at embarqmail dot com

EmmaPeel said...

Caramel, love that on almost anything.
emmaspeel(at)gmail.com

EmmaPeel said...

I'm Following you on Twitter, id Emma__Peel

emmaspeel(at)gmail.com

katg said...

blackberries!

katgrice at gmail dot come

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