McDonald's Asian Salad

[karenM]

There's a very short break during the night class I've been taking, and not many food options in the area if one wants to grab a bite to eat during that period. So... I just tried the new Asian Salad at McDonald's (without the chicken). It wasn't bad, and definitely better than I expected for a fast food chain like McD's.

Pros: Nice mix of greens, (canned) mandarin orange segments, edamame, carrot shavings, red peppers and a few peapods. Sliced almonds are served on the side. The sesame-ginger dressing is low-fat, and I thought it complemented the salad very nicely. The whole thing appears to be vegan - woot! :pibo: And the staff seemed completely prepared to deal with my request to "hold the chicken".

Cons: With the plastic bowl, plastic lid, dressing packet, plastic bag of almonds, and plastic-wrapped fork & knife, we're talking quite a bit of packaging for one salad. :-/

Price I paid: $3.29

Nutritional Info (from McDonald's web site):

..................... Salad .............. Dressing
. Serving Size: 8.6 oz ............... 1.5 fl oz
........ Calories: 140 .................... 90
............... Fat: 7 g .................. 2.5 g
........ Sodium: 35 mg .............. 680 mg

I wouldn't really go out of my way to get one of these salads, but at least I know there's something decent I can eat at McDonald's.

[Tofu-N-Sprouts]

Good deal - I was wondering myself...

The school where I work is far from ANY eating establishment - except Starbucks and McDonalds - of course... I get 1/2 hour for lunch and nearly ALWAYS remember to pack a lunch... but I have had a few times where I forgot, so simply went without lunch... and ended up being one VERY grumpy camper by day's end...

This salad would at very least hold me over until 6pm in a "no-lunch" emergency...

[kpickell]

Thanks for the info. It's too bad you don't get a discount for withholding the chicken.

[rabid_child]

Is it the Newman's Sesame Ginger Dressing? That's my favourite dressing EVER!!

That is all :)

[purrpelle]

Is it the Newman's Sesame Ginger Dressing? That's my favourite dressing EVER!!

That is all :)

that's my favorite too.

[anatta]

If you're worried about packaging, chances are you are worried about corrupt business practices too. I'm certainly no expert, but McDonalds isn't known for their fairness - not to mention the support going towards making more hamburgers. Just a thought. Don't mind me.

[hopejoy]

The salad sounds good (w/ out the chicken). Does anyone know if it contains wheat as I can't consume wheat products. I looked at the Mc Donalds site and it was not listed yet...

[healthnut32]

If you're worried about packaging, chances are you are worried about corrupt business practices too. I'm certainly no expert, but McDonalds isn't known for their fairness - not to mention the support going towards making more hamburgers. Just a thought. Don't mind me.

I agree.

[karenM]

The salad sounds good (w/ out the chicken). Does anyone know if it contains wheat as I can't consume wheat products. I looked at the Mc Donalds site and it was not listed yet...

It's there, but it might be easier to find it you use this link:
http://www.mcdonalds.com/app_controller.nutrition.categories.ingredients.in dex.html#3

The salad itself is wheat-free....

Asian Salad (without chicken):
Salad Mix, Asian Blend, Mandarin Oranges, Almonds
but the dressing does contain wheat (in the soy sauce):

Newman's Own® Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing:
Water, soy sauce (water, wheat, soybeans, salt), high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup solids, distilled vinegar, sugar, freeze dried orange juice concentrate, soybean oil, sesame seed oil, salt, corn starch, ginger, garlic*, corn vinegar, brown sugar, red bell peppers*, garlic, guajillo peppers, parsley, apple cider vinegar, xanthan gum, spices, citric acid, caramel color, onion*. *Dehydrated. Contains wheat and soybean ingredients.
They do have a low-fat Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing that is vegan and doesn't contain any wheat.

[frenchie]

Nice to know if you're in a pickle. I heard that they discontinued their veggie burger. I ate it a few times, and it was yummy.

[hopejoy]

It's there, but it might be easier to find it you use this link:
http://www.mcdonalds.com/app_controller.nutrition.categories.ingredients.in dex.html#3

The salad itself is wheat-free....

but the dressing does contain wheat (in the soy sauce):

They do have a low-fat Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing that is vegan and doesn't contain any wheat.

Thank you much! Now I actually have something decent to order if I am dragged into Mc Donalds =)

[elibrown]

Thanks for the info. It's too bad you don't get a discount for withholding the chicken.


You DO get a discount. I ordered the Asian salad and figuring I'd probably be charged for the chicken, I just asked for it on the side so my husband could eat it. But I was surprised to see on my receipt that the salad was listed for $3.50 or whatever and the chicken was separately priced for a dollar something.

I also noticed that the staff was very prepared to deal with my "chicken on the side" request. I think the higher ups of McDonald's anticipated that this dish would be popular with vegetarians.

[deb9017]

It is Newman's Ginger dressing and the whole thing is really good!!!


It made me HAPPY!!


:bobo: :vebo: :bobo:

[rainbow_clouds]

After reading this thread I wanted to try it... Today I woke up (very very) late and needed something quick to hold me over until I go out to dinner.... so I went through McD drive through and ordered it. You DO get a discount without the chicken, it was $1 for me.

I must say I am QUITE disapointed with it. It was only ok. I wasn't impressed at all. It was basically a bowl with lettuce and carrots, and a FEW other greens, (very few) 1 pea pod and like 2 oranges. *yawn*.

The dressing was really the only good part of the salad.

Don't expect anything more tastey than a bowl of lettuce and carrots though.

For almost $4, I'll pass unless I'm dying of hunger and that's ALL there is.

[Tesseract]

Mmm. A bowl of lettuce. And you have to give your money to McDonald's. :tired:

It's nice that they don't charge you for the chicken, though. That's a big step ahead of most restaurants. I predict we'll see more of that type of price structure as veg*nism becomes more mainstream. The next step would be to post it on the menu with the no-meat price first, then an additional charge for meat.

[soilman]

--------------------------
Newman's Own® Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing:
Water, soy sauce (water, wheat, soybeans, salt), high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup solids, distilled vinegar, sugar, freeze dried orange juice concentrate, soybean oil, sesame seed oil, salt, corn starch, ginger, garlic*, corn vinegar, brown sugar, red bell peppers*, garlic, guajillo peppers, parsley, apple cider vinegar, xanthan gum, spices, citric acid, caramel color, onion*. *Dehydrated. Contains wheat and soybean ingredients.
--------------------

for all you obsessive veg's who don't like white sugar or corn syrup, this is not the dressing for you.

High fructose corn syrup and corn syrup solids. I've seen so many complaints here on veggieboards about those. Distilled vinegar -- made from wheat, barley, rice, or other grain. Sugar. That is ordinary white sugar there. brown sugar is ordinary white sugar with some molasses sprayed on it. It is a silly ingredient for a prepared food. It is easier and cheaper to put the sugar and molasses in separately. Caramel color is burnt white sugar. There is nothing natural about this dressing.

[karenM]

for all you obsessive veg's who don't like white sugar or corn syrup, this is not the dressing for you.
Gasp! But I already ate a WHOLE PACKET (1.5 oz) of that dressing! That's about 1 entire TEASPOON of high-fructose corn syrup! How soon d'ya think before I'm diabetic/obese/dead?

Since I eat at McD's probably once every 2 or 3 years, I think I'm okay. Not all veg*ns are concerned about healthy eating 100% of the time. :)

[emilybarrington]

After reading this thread I wanted to try it... Today I woke up (very very) late and needed something quick to hold me over until I go out to dinner.... so I went through McD drive through and ordered it. You DO get a discount without the chicken, it was $1 for me.

I must say I am QUITE disapointed with it. It was only ok. I wasn't impressed at all. It was basically a bowl with lettuce and carrots, and a FEW other greens, (very few) 1 pea pod and like 2 oranges. *yawn*.

The dressing was really the only good part of the salad.

Don't expect anything more tastey than a bowl of lettuce and carrots though.

For almost $4, I'll pass unless I'm dying of hunger and that's ALL there is.
i think, you must have gotten just a bad salad, because i had one and i was quite impressed. not even like quite impressed for mcdonalds... quite impressed in general. there is a mcdonalds right across the street from my work so one of us ALWAYS runs over there to get food. i usually just decline and starve... but after i read this thread i tried it... has anyone had the fruit and walnut salad?

[soilman]

--------------
Gasp! But I already ate a WHOLE PACKET (1.5 oz) of that dressing! That's about 1 entire TEASPOON of high-fructose corn syrup! How soon d'ya think before I'm diabetic/obese/dead?
-------------------

I am sure you will be fine.

---------------
Since I eat at McD's probably once every 2 or 3 years, I think I'm okay. Not all veg*ns are concerned about healthy eating 100% of the time.
-------------------------

Myself included. Just 95% of the time. I would not generally eat something like that at home, but if stuck for something to eat when away from home, yea, I woulnd' worry about it.

However Newman's has this reputation for natural and healthy and I don't see it as being deserved. I might add that the packet of dressing probably has more calories than everything else in the salad put together.

And I'm wondering if all those people who complain about how white sugar being without micronutrients, and involving bone-char filtration, for some reason give Newman's Own special dispensation.

[isabelleo]

I had the canadian version of this salad a while back... I agree it was REALLY GOOD. I would only buy it in a pinch, though, as the best thing about it was the dressing and my homemade lunches are better (and cheaper).

[krista82]

I am glad to hear that you can ask for the salad without the chicken. I might be interested in trying it sometime when I am out and need a veg option. Most fast food places make the salads up ahead of time, like Wendy's, so it is hard to ask for no meat. I like places like Panera Bread where they make the salad as you order it and I can ask for no chicken. They actually charge me less at Panera when I ask for no chicken.

[Georgia678]

[QUOTE=krista82] Most fast food places make the salads up ahead of time, like Wendy's, so it is hard to ask for no meat. QUOTE]

Speaking of Wendy's, I used to get their Spring Mix Salad, which was all greens and veggies with walnuts and balsamic vinaigrette. They have recently discontinued it, so unless I want a baked potato, that's it for Wendy's. Would it kill them to leave ONE thing on the menu without meat? That salad saved me from starving on more than one road trip!

[snownose]

has anyone had the fruit and walnut salad?


Yes! Its very yum.

[krista82]

Would it kill them to leave ONE thing on the menu without meat?

I know! I went into Arby's with my parents on Saturday for a snack and there are no sandwiches or salads without meat. If you are like me and can't even have dairy, there is honestly nothing to eat but the fries or potato cakes. I think the turnovers are vegan (I heard theirs were from Pepperidge Farm, which are supposed to be vegan). They have baked potatoes but have dairy products on them (sour cream, cheese, butter) and then the mozzerella sticks are not vegan, but probably vegetarian. It does make me mad when I can't go into a fast food place with my friends or parents and get anything but fries to eat. And fries are not healthy! I can go to almost any restaurant though and get something vegan, or at least vegetarian. Usually restuarants are cool about my dairy allergy and try hard to help me out.

[rainbow_clouds]

--------------------------
Newman's Own® Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing:
Water, soy sauce (water, wheat, soybeans, salt), high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup solids, distilled vinegar, sugar, freeze dried orange juice concentrate, soybean oil, sesame seed oil, salt, corn starch, ginger, garlic*, corn vinegar, brown sugar, red bell peppers*, garlic, guajillo peppers, parsley, apple cider vinegar, xanthan gum, spices, citric acid, caramel color, onion*. *Dehydrated. Contains wheat and soybean ingredients.
--------------------
I'm sitting here with a BOTTLE of this dressing and the ingredients are different.

water, distilled vinegar, sugar, soysauce, ginger pulp, ginger puree, sesame oil, canola oil, salt, pineapple concentrate, lemon juice, garlic, onion, toasted seasame seed, xanthan gum, carmel(color), spice.