Friday, June 8, 2012

A Berry Merry Summer: Taste Testing McDonald's Cherry Berry Chiller and Blueberry Banana Nut Oatmeal

By: Finance Foodie

This summer, berries are everywhere – in food, fashion, beauty, home and lifestyle, berries are a summer “must have.” To capitalize on capture this trend, McDonald’s has premiered two of its newest menu innovations, the Cherry Berry Chiller and Blueberry Banana Nut Oatmeal,  featuring seasonal berries as on-the-go meals or snacks. I'm always excited to see new menu innovations from McD, so obviously I had to try these two berry babies out.

First up to bat - the Cherry Berry Chiller, an ice beverage made with 100% fruit juice that combines the flavors of cherry and raspberry in a sippable, icy blend. To be honest,  after remembering the unpleasant high fructose of the Frozen Strawberry Lemonade of last summer, my expectations were quite low for this cherry drink.
Surprisingly, the drink was not bad. Not as much of a sugar headache as expected and the cherry, raspberry (along with a tinge of apple) were distinctly noticeable in the blend. I must mention that I had one of these chillers as I was heading into a non-air conditioned subway car during rush hour on quite possibly the hottest day of the year - so the drink was truly a refreshing burst of coolness in an otherwise hot and sticky situation. (200 calories for 12oz small serving, Retail Price: $2.29) 


~*~*~*~*~

Moving on to the Blueberry Banana Nut Oatmeal, McD's newest breakfast item made with whole grain oats, walnuts and (like the name implies) blueberries and bananas. Now I know when it's 100 degrees outside, the last thing I'm thinking is, "mmm I could really go for a nice hot bowl of oatmeal now" - so why McDonald's would introduce a "warm-you-up" menu item smack dab in the middle of summer is completely beyond me. But hey, this site is called Finance Foodie, not Marketing Foodie....
Anyways, beside the fact that I was sweating as I was eating the oatmeal, I did very much like the generous helping of real blueberries and the nice crunchiness of the walnuts in each bite. The oatmeal also had a nice consistency (glad they corrected this -- last year's Fruit and Maple Oatmeal was plagued with oatmeal that was either too runny or too dry). I  probably wouldn't buy this again soon (NYC summers can be quite the rice cooker), so hopefully MCD will keep this product running into the fall. (290 calories for 8.6oz serving, Retail Price: $2.49) 


****Giveaway****
McDonald's wants financefoodie.com's readers to "berry" it up with a month of free McCafe drinks and oatmeal! Two lucky reader will win either a $25 Arch Card or ten (10) coupons good for any McCafe Drink and Oatmeal (5 each)!

Grand Prize: $25 Arch Card - Congrats JC! 
1st Prize: 5 McCafe Drink and 5 Blueberry Oatmeal free product coupons - Congrats Ann! 

There are THREE ways to enter
1. REQUIRED: In my comments section, tell me what is your favorite summertime fruit (I like blueberries and mangos!). 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 Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 5pm EST. Winners will be chosen via random integer generator on random.org announced on the financefoodie.com site shortly afterwards!!

Full Disclosure: The  coupons are being provided by McDonald's. Finance Foodie Media Productions purchased the Arch Card. I was not compensated for this post.

187 comments:

willdebbie said...

I like Mango and papaya
willdebbie97 at yahoo dot com

willdebbie said...

follow on twitter
willdebbie97
willdebbie97 at yahoo dot com

js22 said...

I love peaches!!
Thanks for the giveaway!

js22 said...

i follow Finance Foodie on twitter - js22222222 . Please follow me back :-) I keep hitting the max number of followers and have to delete people to follow others. The more followers I have the more I can follow.
email in blogger profile.

js22 said...

tweet- https://twitter.com/js22222222/status/211141871504867329
email in blogger profile.

peg42 said...

I love Pineapple and peaches. Thanks so much.
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

peg42 said...

I'm a twitter follower (peg42)
Thanks
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

favorite is watermellon



ptreskovich at hot mail

Anonymous said...

follow on twitter


ptreskovich at hot mail

Anonymous said...

https://twitter.com/pattie43/status/211179077606969344



ptreskovich at hot mail

Anonymous said...

follow on twitter


ptreskovich at hot mail

Unknown said...

Peaches are my favorite!
jedoggett@embarqmail.com

daniellehall30 said...

i love strawberries and rhasberries

Unknown said...

Following on twitter @annedoggett
jedoggett@embarqmail.com

daniellehall30 said...

i like strawberries and rhasberries

daniellehall30 said...

following on twitter (dsweetiepie)

kroch said...

I love peaches

dancehottie1621 at aol dot com

kroch said...

I Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter @katier6678

dancehottie1621 at aol dot com

susan1215 said...

I love grapes and strawberries

s2s2 at comcast dot net

susan1215 said...

follow you via twitter susan1215

s2s2 at comcast dot net

susan1215 said...

https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/211206081874112512

s2s2 at comcast dot net

Ann Fantom said...

Peaches are my favorite summer fruit are peaches.

abfantom at yahoo dot com

JC said...

I like melon and blueberries

JC said...

follow on twitter@tcarolinep

JC said...

https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/211266230575824898

Janice said...

My favorite is pineapple and watermelon
tweety800265(at)yahoo(dot)com

Janice said...

I follow you on twitter @disneyfan40
tweety800265(at)yahoo(dot)com

Janice said...

Tweeted
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/211275471000846336
tweety800265(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Raspberries and cherries are my favorite summer fruits.Coconut is another favorite but they aren't locally grown so I don't categorize them as a "summer fruit".
Great blog. kirstenhalpin@rogers.com

Leslie B. said...

I love pineapple and mango!

lesliexhope @ gmail.com

Jen said...

I like peaches ahedden12at gmail.com

debbie said...

I like watermelon and raspberries.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

sweepmom said...

I love a good, fresh peach.

Mami2jcn said...

Definitely summer peaches!

mami2jcn at gmail dot com

Mami2jcn said...

tweet:


https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/211437935692754944

mami2jcn at gmail dot com

Steph said...

Watermelon
mnsteph[at]gmail[dot]com

Steph said...

Tweeted
https://twitter.com/mnsteph/status/211483925493723136

skitsbits2000 said...

My favorites are peaches and strawberries

Anonymous said...

Strawberries!

radiodisneyfan(dot)helent(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

following on twitter -iDisneyGirl

Anonymous said...

http://twitter.com/iDisneyGirl/status/211565111712813056

radiodisneyfan(dot)helent(at)gmail(dot)com

Daniel M said...

i like apples in the summer - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

Unknown said...

i have to go with watermelon.

ferriza2(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

twitter follow @xferriza2

ferriza2(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cujo hmb said...

I love watermelon during the summer.

jzagarjr said...

I like watermelon

Anonymous said...

I like peaches.

rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

Follow you on Twitter: rhoneygee

rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

Robin T said...

I love watermelon in the summer

rtrexel@gmail.com

Robin T said...

I follow you on Twitter - Imawinnertoday

rtrexel@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Strawberries are my favorite summertime fruit!

Jennifer Marie

lilnursejen at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

following you on twitter (JenniferCNP)

Jennifer Marie

lilnursejen at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

tweeted!

https://twitter.com/JenniferCNP/status/211815221533224962

jennifer marie

lilnursejen at yahoo dot com

CEB said...

My favorite summertime fruit are strawbereries.

kyl neusch said...

like mangos

kyl neusch said...

Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter: bleush

esldiane@gmail.com said...

I love strawberries and bananas
Diane Baum
Esldiane@gmail.com

sksweeps said...

I love blackberries, raspberries and watermelon!

sksweeps (at) earthlink (dot) net

Anonymous said...

I love raspberries and bananas

Anonymous said...

I follow you on twitter
fairydancer35

Anonymous said...

I like mango & Watermelon!

leetaylor644 (at) hotmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

I follow you on Twitter!

Twitter Handle: @LT38

leetaylor644 (at) hotmail (dot) com

Ellie Wright said...

Strawberries are my favorite
Thanks for the giveaway!
eswright18 at gmail dot com

Ellie Wright said...

I follow you on Twitter @eswright18
eswright18 at gmail dot com

Ellie Wright said...

tweet
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/211957362670575616

Tom Shewbridge said...

I love raspberries, but blueberries are just as good, don't make me choose! :-)

medictom@gmail.com

Tom Shewbridge said...

I follow you on twitter....woot!

@medictom

medictom@gmail.com

Tom Shewbridge said...

I tweeted...I did, I did!!

https://twitter.com/medictom/status/211963699588640769

medictom@gmail.com

Tina said...

I like watermelon
merleandtina@yahoo.com

Tina said...

Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter
merleandtina@yahoo.com

Tina said...

https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/211974962238586880
merleandtina@yahoo.com

Crystal F said...

I love watermelon. Yummy! thank you!

crystalfaulkner2000 at yahoo dot com

tavernie said...

I love Water Mellon!
ptavernie at yahoo dot com

Derk Thomas said...

blueberries and strawberries

pauline15 said...

For me, it's mango's and watermelon!
pauline15_01(at)hotmail(dot)Com

pauline15 said...

twitter follower (pauline15)
(pauline15_01(at)hotmail(dot)com

Traumajunky said...

Watermelon

Joseph said...

My favorite summertime fruit are Watermelon and raspberries.

jjboltz @ gmail .com

Anonymous said...

I like strawberries and raspberries:)

higginspl[at]hotmail[dot]com

MizVickik said...

Black cherries are my favorite!
MizVickik at gmail dot com

Chip said...

Blueberries are my favorite!!
chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com

Chip said...

Follow you on Twitter @chipdip2010
chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com

Chip said...

Tweeted http://twitter.com/chipdip2010/status/212156099271462913
chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com

jenspurg said...

Like strawberries and watermelon.
huntandride@hotmail.com

jenspurg said...

https://twitter.com/jen_r_horn/status/212158419124236290
huntandride@hotmail.com

jenspurg said...

twitter follower. @jen_r_horn
huntandride@hotmail.com

Julie said...

strawberries and raspberries
thanks
aunteegem@yahoo.com

cswoveland said...

strawberry

Anonymous said...

My favorites are fresh raspberries and blackberries.

Anonymous said...

My fav is watermelon.
shawnac68@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

chrisdeglen tweeted:
twitter.com/chrisdeglen/status/212188305234735105

shirley H said...

watermelon is my favorite



cpsnsamples@aol.com

McKim said...

I love watermelon.
kimkmc at yahoo.com

Sarah G. said...

I like watermelon and canteloupe

tina reynolds said...

I love watermelon @eaglesforjack eaglesforjack@gmail.com

tina reynolds said...

i follow on twitter @eaglesforjack

Unknown said...

mango and raspberry

Kim Smith said...

I love strawberries and watermelon

luvdatmouse at charter dot net

1porkchop said...

My favorite summertime fruit is watermelon and cantaloupe. It is a tie between those two. In order to pick just one, watermelon and cantaloupe would have to fight to the death.

1porkchop said...

I am a follower on twitter

Denise Donaldson (MistySunrise) said...

I like strawberries

itsjustme62613 at gmail.com

Leslie S. said...

Strawberries and the wild blackberries that grow out here in the country are my favorite.Thanks!
lstanziani(at)yahoo(dot)com

Leslie S. said...

I follow on twitter as lstanziani.Thanks!
lstanziani(at)yahoo(dot)com

katecontestgirl said...

cantelope
kate contest girl @ gmail . com

Valerie Taylor Mabrey said...

strawberries
vmkids3 at msn dot com

Pat said...

My favorite summertime fruits are watermelon and canteloupe
pbabcock2004(at)yahoo(dot)com

Pat said...

Twitter follower (@chvydupont24)
pbabcock2004(at)yahoo(dot)com

1froglegs said...

My favorite is cantaloupe, but I don't put salt on it like some people do.

1froglegs said...

I follow you on twitter

Also, my email is attached to my profile

Sandra K321 said...

Strawberries!
seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

Storm, The Psychotic Housewife said...

I adore strawberries myself, and I'm stalking my plants at the moment waiting for them to ripen enough to pick.

stormraven at gmail dot com

Storm, The Psychotic Housewife said...

I follow on Twitter (@psychotichouse)

stormraven at gmail dot com

Roxann said...

My favorite are raspberries.
ladyt64 at gmail dot com

Roxann said...

I Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter. ladyt64
ladyt64 at gmail dot com

Nicole Larsen said...

Strawberries and Peaches are my favorite summer time fruits!

pittsy82@hotmail.com

Nicole Larsen said...

i follow you on twitter @pittsy82

pittsy82@hotmail.com

Patricia Wojnar Crowley said...

My favorite Summer fruit is Strawberries!!!

tcrowley122 at hotmail dot com

Breanne said...

Black raspberries

Ms Penny Pincher said...

My favorite summer time fruit is papaya!

PDWinner523 at gmail.com

laurasloves said...

My favorite is strawberries and peaches.
lauraemerson17 at yahoo dot com

laurasloves said...

I follow you on twitter.
laurallee56
lauraemerson17 at yahoo dot com

Lo said...

I love peaches.

Dawn Reid said...

watermelon and strawberries
mightynaynay(at)cs.com

JD said...

watermelon

jdmimi at gmail dot com

sottovoce said...

Raspberries...but love blueberries too. :-) Thank you.
jaquerichards at yahoo dot com

sottovoce said...

I retweeted this giveaway here: https://twitter.com/financefoodie1/status/179349334368845824

AEKZ2 said...

Watermelon is my favorite

annettekz2@yahoo.com

kellyr78 said...

I like Strawberries
kellywcuATyahooDOTcom

kellyr78 said...

I follow you on twitter(kellydsaver)
kellywcuATyahooDOTcom

kellyr78 said...

tweeted
https://twitter.com/kellydsaver/status/212387219191767041

kellywcuATyahooDOTcom

tattwo said...

My favorite summertime fruit is watermelon. Love it.
ditkaren at aol dot com

LAMusing said...

Love Nectarines and Mangos!
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

LAMusing said...

I follow you on Twitter
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

Norma said...

My favorite is watermelon!
bingomamanorma(at)gmail(dot)com

Amy Dalrymple said...

I love peaches!

amyldalrymple@gmail.com

slehan said...

Summer peaches and bing cherries
Thanks for the contest.

slehan said...

https://twitter.com/slehan/status/212449560986001408

Unknown said...

i like iced coffee herroyalpieness@mail.com

Unknown said...

Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter @jtwark herroyalpieness@mail.com

Unknown said...

https://twitter.com/jtwark/status/212469560337637377 tweet herroyalpieness@mail.com

Anonymous said...

Iced tea

droopydog63@hotmail.com

chadro said...

Cantalope I would have to say- luv it!
retirenavalflyer(at)gmail.com

Brian E. said...

Thanks for the giveaway...we love raspberries & watermelon in the summertime !

senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com

Brian E. said...

Following YOU via Twitter: @brianpiero

senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com

clynsg said...

Nectarines, but a lot of others as well.

cgclynsg0 @ gmail dot com

Sue C. said...

My favorite summer fruits are cherries and white peaches.

behapATyahooDOTcom

Sue C. said...

I follow you on Twitter - thehappyone

behapATyahooDOTcom

Sue C. said...

I sent a tweet about the giveaway:
https://twitter.com/thehappyone/status/212520868071477249

behapATyahooDOTcom

tlcfromtn said...

Cantaloupe is my favorite

braaisjo at gmail dot com

tlcfromtn said...

I follow on Twitter- tlcfromtn

braaisjo at gmail dot com

Mandi M said...

i love fresh strawberries

mandi martin at yahoo

tlcfromtn said...

https://twitter.com/tlcfromtn/status/212532355817148417


braaisjo at gmail dot com

Jo said...

y favorite summertime fruit is strawberries
jofo120 at yahoo dot com

Jennafer211 said...

I love a good sweet piece of watermelon in the summer. Thank you!

Jennafer211 said...

I follow you on twitter.

Nicole C. said...

My favorite is watermelon and strawberries.

choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

My favorite summer time fruit is watermelon.
repose4jr at gmail dot com

Sand said...

I love watermelon and honeydew.

Unknown said...

I love watermelon & berries.
discriminating_diva at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

Follow you on twitter @dddiva
discriminating_diva at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

https://twitter.com/dddiva/status/212571220871356419
discriminating_diva at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

Peaches are my favorite summer fruit.

val said...

I like watermelon

Amy delong said...

watermelon,also like strawberry shortcake
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com

Amy delong said...

follow you on twitter
amyhd29
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

My favorite summertime fruit is strawberries

gjsrjs@sbcglobal.net

nobimbo said...

Strawberries and raspberries are my favorite!

nobimbo said...

I am now following you on Twitter!
@nobimbo1

Abbyyy said...

My favorite summertime fruit is watermelon!!!

Abbyyy said...

I follow on twitter

@abbywins86

Trisha McKee said...

My favorite summertime fruit is strawberry.

tridingermckee at gmail dot com

Trisha McKee said...

I have followed you on twitter. (wordromancer)

skipthelaundry said...

strawberries and bananas
skipthelaundry at gmail dot com

skipthelaundry said...

follow you on twitter
skipthelaundry2
skipthelaundry at gmail dot com

mail4rosey said...

Strawberries are my favorite.

msurosey@yahoo.com

mail4rosey said...

I follow you on Twitter (mail4rosey).

msurosey@Yahoo.com

Anna said...

My favorite summertime fruit is strawberries! Preferably coated in lots of sugar

khristalsweeps @ gmail dot com

Mysharona said...

I like strawberries

spirit_kim said...

My favorite summer fruit is watermelon.
gabe411 at hotmail dot com

buzzd said...

pineapple

buzzd said...

tweet
https://twitter.com/buzz8/status/212713547405336576

elangomatt said...

I think my favorite summer fruit are all of the berries, most specifically the strawberries. It seems like they are no more than $2 a pound most of the summer so it is a pretty good deal

elangomatt at gmail dot com

Niko said...

My favorite is *easily* strawberries! Yum!

Thanks for the wonderful giveaway :)

Niko O.
niko2004 at hotmail.com

Niko said...

I also follow you on twitter (niko2k4)

Niko O.
niko2004 at hotmail.com

Unknown said...

I love blackberries & dark cherries,

Unknown said...

Following on Twitter~ @lyndeislucky

Ames said...

Fresh PEACHES!!!!

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