Healthy Option? Not Today, Thank You

A survey of customers at Subway and McDonald’s showed that the healthy option is chosen by only 2.5 percent of people.

AsianScientist (May 25, 2011) – The healthy option is just not an option for customers at the counters of fast food outlets, a Griffith University research project has discovered.

In fact, it is so unpopular that less than three percent of people buying lunch pick the healthy alternatives now on menus at restaurants like McDonald’s and Subway.

Researchers from Griffith University’s School of Public Health surveyed 1,025 Subway and McDonald’s customers on their lunchtime choices over a two month period, and found only 2.5 percent of customers who ordered a main meal bought a nutritionally-promoted item.

McDonald’s Tick Approved choices and Subway’s ‘Six grams of fat or less’ option had minimal take-up.

The 2.5 percent of people who picked the healthier alternative were predominantly female, older than the average customer, and more likely to be working or training in a health-related profession.

These people also consumed around 1,500 fewer kilojoules and had up to an extra serve of vegetables, compared with those who chose the regular menu items, according to Ms. Atkinson, a dietitian.

“In response to rising obesity rates, many of the nation’s fast food chains have undergone a health kick in the past five years,” said Atkinson.

“To their credit, they’ve created menu items that offer consumers an alternative choice. But our research shows that Australians just aren’t choosing these meals,” she added.

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Source: Griffith University.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.\

Rebecca Lim is a Singaporean-born medical doctor practising in Melbourne, Austraia. She earned her MBBS degree from Monash University, Australia.

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