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The Best Way To Order McDonald’s Oatmeal: Saves You 29 grams of Sugar

January 25, 2016   17 Comments

Do you know you can order oatmeal 24 hours per day at McDonald’s? Take THAT Big Mac!

Best Way to Order McDonalds Oatmeal

McDonald’s fruit and maple oatmeal has been an option for years now and I still can’t understand why they call it “maple” since it is sweetened with brown sugar. What is UP with that?

At any rate, you shouldn’t care because you will follow the below advice.

  1. Order the “without brown sugar” option. You save yourself from 14 grams of sugar (almost 3 teaspoons) and 30 calories of unnecessary sweetness. Trust me – you don’t need it.
  2. Ask for the apples and cranberry raisin blend on the side. They will put it in the oatmeal if you don’t ask – and then you can’t add them “as needed” which is probably going to save you. I don’t use the cranberry raisin mix at all because I don’t think it needs it.
  3. Get the cream added. It adds a little bit of fat which will help fill you up and it tastes okay.

My version is:

190 calories, 4.0 g fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 33 g carbohydrates, 3.0 g sugar, 5.0 g protein, 4.0 g fiber, 110 mg sodium, 6 SmartPts

McDonald’s version (everything added including the brown sugar):

290 calories, 4 g fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 58.0 g carbohydrates, 32 g sugar, 5.0 g protein, 5.0 g fiber, 160 mg sodium, 13 SmartPts

It is a bit shocking how many grams of sugar the cranberry-raisin blend adds to the oatmeal.

I wish McDonald’s would add a package of walnuts or almonds to the side to make my version more nutritious with more protein. I add peanut butter to my oatmeal at home.

Have you tried McDonald’s Oatmeal? What do you think?

Other posts you might like:

Is McDonalds Oatmeal Healthy?

What You Need To Know About McDonald's Oatmeal

McDonald’s oatmeal has been around since 2011 and it has barely changed since its debut....

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17 Comments:

Better yet, don't order it in the first place!

It is healthier than most of their items. Should be on the dollar menu: $2 oatmeal seems a bit much.

Glove box emergency (stranded, broke or dieting) food: Pouch of oatmeal (100 calories and <20 cents), individual peanut butter (130 calories, <15 cents).

Add McDonald's apples (30 calories, $1), hot water (free) . It might prevent one of those 'I'm so hungry and broke I can eat unhealthy food today" experiences. Plus, you never know when you might be stranded for several hours. You could feed a car full of hungry kids for a couple bucks in a pinch.

PS I plan to make SOS kits to give away (for glove box & for soldiers). Soldiers and those stranded in cars need bare basics to survive (or suffer less). <People likely won't keep anything bigger than a sandwich bag in their glove box>.

I live in TX, need input from Northerners: ideas for food and other urgent items. I mentioned peanut butter and oatmeal packets in my earlier post, (but other food and basics could make a big difference). Those could be "Snack Girl Mini Snacks & Beyond". lol

A glove box with a small first aid kit and this SOS kit could be life saving.

I don't eat at McDonalds but if I were traveling within an airport I would eat the oatmeal in a pinch. I usually get the oats at Starbucks without the add ins or I get the turkey bacon, egg white breakfast sandwich. It's always good to know where options are available in a pinch. I alwYs pack my snacks and food on road trips

I would really enjoy your take on healthy food to pack for air or road trips or just the Mon thru Fri rush, to avoid FF. It's fun to read all your readers' tips and ideas too. I fall in the DIYer's camp no matter how much FF improves their menu. My food tote includes ziplock bags of spiced rolled oats, nuts n raisins. I find the texture of rolled oats preferable to instant with just hot water added [but I've made my own instant oats for my kids using a blender--very easy]. I have a pkg of commuter cups, utensils and napkins. Also peanut butter, crackers, apple sauce, juice boxes, bullion, teas, various home-made granolas, zip-paks of tuna, mini mason jars of oil/vinegar, s/p, water, etc. Throwing in a banana, apple or other whole fruit that needs no prep or wrap is a snap. Making up a travel portion of salad from last night's leftovers is just an automatic reflex with me. I now do this for my visiting kids for their road trips home. Because the availability of lunch-type restaurants has changed so drastically in my lifetime, there certainly might be a rare emergency-type occasion where FF would be my only choice and for this oatmeal info I thank you. But for the rest of the time I'll plan for my food needs. Remember that saying, ''if you fail to plan, you plan to fail''; that stuck with me especially as I got older and began to put on weight and get more serious with healthy food choices. I still very much appreciate all your hard work as important input to food choices we have to make 3 times a day! Another saying I frequently bring to mind is, ''eat food, not too much, mostly plants'' [Pollan]. It's become my mantra to keep me healthy!

When you say, "get the cream added", how much do you ask for and what type of cream are they adding? I am a diabetic and am always careful about knowing my ingredients. Thanks

Thanks, Linda. I was wondering the same thing.

I used to stop at McDonald's on the way to one of my job sites. Otherwise I cook my own oatmeal at the main office. I would ask for no sugar and skim or 1% milk, and black coffee. They always got my order wrong! I even wrote it down and handed them the paper, after asking if it was okay. (I don't want to insult anyone.) I don't go there anymore:(

When cooking oatmeal at work, I mash a banana in a one-quart glass bowl, combine with 1/4 cup frozen blueberries, 1/3 cup dry oats, ~5 oz water or unsweetened almond milk. Microwave for 2.5 minutes. Top with 1 - 2 Tbsp chopped nuts. Yum:)

The cream is an option that they will either ask you or you can mention. It has a bunch of preservatives:

Ingredients: Milk, Cream, Sodium Phosphate, DATEM, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Sodium Citrate, Carrageenan.

and adds 20 calories and 1.5 grams fat - 0.4 ounce

Am I in love with this option? No. But it tastes fine and as long as McD's oatmeal isn't an every day thing - I think it is okay.

Thanks for your questions!

THANK YOU!! For all your researching! I LOVE all your ideas. Can't wait to try this.

When I am running late in the am I will put some 1% milk in a container, go to McDee's and get oatmeal without brown sugar or cream. I do like the fruit. When I get to work I put the milk in the oatmeal and I'm all set.

IMO, the BEST reason to make your own stuff and avoid corporate FF like McD's and other FF establishments in addition to better ingredients, nutrition, taste and cost!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNO5J0k6ZC0

In Canada, the brown sugar is in a packet you get, you add, or not yourself. No option for cream. Only milk. Has always been available all day. I carry sliced almonds in purse to add.

Did not know you could customize it. Good to know. I usually make enough to last 3 days and add unsweetened apple sauce and cinnamon to it. No sweeter needed.

I have started carrying a couple of packets of oatmeal and I just ask for hot water in a cup like for tea. I don't mind paying for the water and cup but the plain oatmeal packets are 3 SP.

In ABQ, NM, (at least the location near me) puts cream in if you like it or not! Same with the icky brown sugar. I have tried to order without. If you have a choice in your area, I would get cream on the side too. It is gross and makes the oatmeal cold and white. I used to like the oatmeal in CA when I could get without sugar and cream was not mentioned or offered.

I miss the oatmeal without brown sugar in McD. Wondering where can I buy them. Thx

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