McDonalds Versus Wendy's

I try not to frequent fast food restaurants very often. My daughter and husband, however beg to disagree and we wind up choosing fast food more than I care to admit. I have to say that there are times when the convenience is a big advantage. When I do wind up getting talked into fast food, it's always a debate between McDonalds and Wendy's. I personally like to choose Wendy's but if my 7 year old daughter has a say, she will choose McDonalds.

Let me begin by saying that I am very conscious of nutrition and the foods that I eat. I like to make healthy choices in the foods my family eats. I know that fast food is typically not considered healthy but I feel that with careful choices, fast food doesn't have to be all bad. In fact, given the choices some fast foods places are giving us today, there are better choices that we can make.

I find that generally Wendy's gives more options than McDonalds. Wendy's let's me choose healthier foods without spending a lot of money. I can choose healthier foods in my "value meals" rather than ordering overpriced entrée salads that both establishments offer.

McDonalds and Wendy's both require you to stand in line to order your food. While McDonalds typically has several cash registers available, Wendy's usually has one cashier at the sole cash register. At both restaurants, you place your order and food is placed on a tray or in a bag. Both have "value meals" where sandwich, side item, and drink are given one total price. Prices are comparable at both establishments. Service is similar at both restaurants as well; basically it is hit or miss depending on the location and the manager at the time.

The difference comes when you choose a side item to go with your sandwich. At McDonalds, value meals come with fries and a soft drink. There is no choice except which soft drink you will choose at the soda fountain. At Wendy's, sandwiches come with your choice between fries, side salad, side Caesar salad, baked potato, or chili plus your choice of a fountain drink. I have also been able to choose low fat milk to drink instead of a soda at Wendy's. McDonalds would not honor this request when I asked.

When it comes to kids meals, McDonalds does give a healthier choice. With the hamburger, cheeseburger, or chicken nuggets, a child can choose either fries or apples with caramel dip. At Wendy's, however, a child can choose not only a hamburger, cheeseburger or chicken nuggets but also a fresh deli sandwich, either ham and cheese or turkey and cheese. In addition, as a side, children can choose from fries, mandarin oranges, or yogurt with granola. Again, we see that Wendy's offers more choices. Both McDonalds and Wendy's offer either soft drinks or low fat milk as a choice of beverage for children. Wendy's also gives the option of a junior sized frosty instead of a regular beverage.

Both McDonalds and Wendy's do offer entrée salads. McDonalds has four entrée salad choices and Wendy's has five. McDonalds, however, gives the option of grilled chicken or crispy (i.e. fried) chicken breast in their salads. Both establishments also offer grilled and fried chicken sandwiches and both offer a fish sandwich.

McDonalds has a full selection of breakfast items available from the infamous Egg McMuffin to hotcakes and sausage to breakfast burritos and more. Wendy's is not open during breakfast hours at all.

Another reason my daughter especially likes to go to McDonalds is the play area. It is full of tunnels and slides and is a totally fun place for her to play. It is especially great on very hot summer days or rainy days when outside play is not possible. I figure if she's going to eat fried foods then at least she can get a little bit of exercise to help ward off the effects of the fatty foods.

So, it is my opinion that Wendy's offers more choices and healthier choices. I will choose Wendy's when forced to eat at fast food restaurant!