On February 21, as an experiment to determine how unhealthy McDonald’s food is and how it hurts your diet, our journalism class ordered from the fast food restaurant. Our writers and editors consumed meals from McDonald’s that included one or two burgers and/or sandwiches, plus fries, salads, sodas and other foods. With the exception of a few people we ordered in accordance with our personal tastes and with blatant disregard to nutritional facts.

Many people found that after adding up all the nutritional information in the meals, they ate enormous amounts of fat and sodium. Even the people who tried to eat in a healthy way found that their meals were still very unhealthy in a few aspects. For example, student Dani Gilmariam, and our journalism instructor, Ms. Motamedi, ordered carefully, with meals consisting of salads and yogurt parfaits, but they were dismayed by the high amount of sodium and fat they ate. Michael Luo found that his meal was unhealthy, but took comfort in the fact that he exercises daily and rarely eats fast food. Along with many students, he was shocked at how unhealthy the food at McDonald’s is. As a group, we decided that we would try to rely on other foods to remain healthy and active people.

Eric Hansen: Big ‘N Tasty, Yogurt Parfait and medium Diet Coke

My meal was not healthy at all. In one sitting I ate one half of my recommended daily average for calories, so I guess I will go home to eat light for the rest of the day. The meal was delicious, however, leaving me blind to the fact that it was terrible for me!

James Szeto: Two double cheeseburgers, and a McChicken

I don’t feel as though I’m eating unhealthy food when I eat Mickey D’s. I always get the same thing and I never feel bad after eating it. It is probably because I exercise a lot. I was not surprised at the nutritional facts of what I ate. I thought they would be worse.

William Wings: Cheeseburger, Premium Chicken Select, french fries and Diet Coke

The total calorie count (1060) wasn’t that shocking, considering it’s McDonald’s. So in that aspect it wasn’t that unhealthy. The worst part was the to tal sodium, which took up 84% of my daily value. I would also try to reduce the amount of sodium and saturated fat because it’s astounding how much of a person’s daily value it takes up. It makes eating at McDonald’s really unhealthy.

Dani G. Mariam: Grilled Chicken Club, Medium Diet Coke

The most important thing I learned about at our fast food evaluation day was nothing, as it seems. My choice seemed healthy enough in terms of fat content but the food guide revealed quite the opposite. The sodium level my grilled chicken sandwhich contained blew the roof off all the other food choices at the table.

Phillia Brown: Big Mac Meal, apple pie, Yogurt Parfait and french fries

I really liked my meal, it was good but everything was very unhealthy. I felt good, but not really.

DeJohn Muhammad: Classic Grilled Chicken Sandwich, apple pie, fries and Diet Coke

The McDonald’s meal wasn’t healthy but tastes extremely good. In just one afternoon, I consumed at least one portion of what a teenage boy should for one day. The worst part was actually the fries because they had one more gram of fat than the burger. I would change the way they are cooked.

Rhonesha Victor: McDonald’s Kid’s Meal

I don’t think that my meal was healthy at all because even though I had a small fries there was still a lot of fat and sodium in it. Nutritionally speaking, I think that the McNuggets were the worst part of my meal. I think that I would change the chicken McNuggets because they have the most sodium.

Tasha Clark: Big Mac, medium Fries and Diet Coke

I think that the meal I ate wasn’t so bad compared to what I usually eat, but I almost did reach my calorie limit. I think that the worst part of my meal had to be the Big Mac since it has the most calories out of everything else. If there was something I could change about the meal, instead of eating the Big Mac, I could’ve gotten a quarter pounder, or a salad because both pack fewer calories then the Big Mac.

Michael Luo: Six-piece Chicken Nuggets, fries and Sprite

Well ok, my lunch it is not healthy at all. Still, I don’t eat fast food every day and I exercise. I think fast food is ok as a small snack or something. There was lots of sodium that I think can hurt someone if they keep eating more McDonald’s for the whole day.

Antonio Wlassowsky: Big Mac, medium fries and Coke

The meal was unhealthy and had high percentage values for stats; one meal took half the sodium for the day. Saturated fats also took up 80% of the daily value. If I had the option to change one thing, I would change the Big Mac, since it has the most fats and sodium.

Allen Koo: Big ‘N Tasty, apple pie, medium fries and medium Diet Coke

This was an unhealthy meal because the of fries and the Big ‘N Tasty with cheese contain most of the fat. The worst part was probably the fries because they were medium fries. I think I should have ordered the Big ‘N Tasty without cheese, soda and no fries. I think that would have made a difference.

Michelle Jaramillo: Mac Chicken, Yogurt Parfait and fries

Looking back on what I ate for lunch today I realize...I could eat worse. My whole meal was delicious, but still fatty. Not much calories, but still not as healthy as I could have made it. The worst part of my meal was the aftertaste. Ew! The best part was my yogurt dessert. All and all, I’m glad I do not eat like this every day.