Fast Food Shortcuts & The Big Mac Snack Wrap
I was entertained and sort of fascinated by Mike’s post about the new Big Mac Snack Wrap, currently being tested in Canada, the home of the Maple Leafs, half of Niagara Falls, and Robin Sparkles. The sad, sad, Big Mac Snack Wrap. It is apparently half a hamburger patty with some sauce, pickles, and lettuce, stuck in a tortilla. You should go look at the pictures; it’s truly sad. Mike writes:
I appreciate the initiative taken by McDonald’s here, to attempt to pare down one of their most traditionally godawful offerings — one so synonymous with junk food that it remains the benchmark against which all other junk food is compared — into a reasonably-portioned snack. But truly, to extend this idea into reality requires so much dream logic that I am stunned it actually happened. It would require long-standing business people to agree to the following statements:
* People will enjoy Big Macs when they are 1/5th the size but 1/2 the price.
* Big Macs are just as delicious and addictive when they offer only a fraction of the beef and no cheese to speak of.
* Tortillas are an acceptable substitute, flavorfully and texturally, for three hamburger buns.
* Sticking 1/2 of a Big Mac patty into a tortilla with a bit of cheese and some special sauce will trick people into thinking they got value for $1.89
* Canadians are perfect to test this kind of crap on.Of those statements, only a single one is true — and that’s not nearly enough.
I have been known to try tricks like this to satisfy my occasional cravings for fast food. (I am going to add a “Diet Talk Warning” here just in case this triggers anyone, even though I am not “dieting” in any of these scenarios.) I buy Happy Meals instead of large-sized meals, or get a Big Mac (no cheese, because I hate cheeseburgers) and toss out one of the pieces of bread or one of the patties in the middle. I regularly get Subway tuna subs with half the amount of tuna. I completely relate to satisfying my cravings and hunger with smaller portions. But this tortilla thing looks gross. I would never skimp on the sesame-seed bun! That’s just madness.
Posted by mo pie
Filed under: Advertising, Diet Talk Warning, Food, Humor, International, Kids, Personal, Science
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First, I hope you don’t feel like you need to justify your food choices. I also hope no one has given you crap for having a smaller appetite (or whatever reason you choose to eat smaller portions – which you don’t need to even share because it isn’t anyone’s business).
Second, I actually prefer tortillas to fast food buns. But I’ve never been Big Mac fan, so I won’t be trying this one if it wanders south o the 49th parallel. Or, more accurately, whatever feature we use to define the border between Canada and the U.S. on the east coast (river? I think). But I’ve had the chicken snack wraps and enjoyed them.
There’s nothing odd about ordering kid’s meals at fast food places. I can’t eat the amount of food that goes into even a medium meal at one of those places, and I hate throwing food out, so, it’s kid’s meals for me on the rare occasion I get fast food.
Also, dear god, that seems gross and cheap even by McD’s standards. Why not just make a half sized Big Mac? You know one hamburger, on a single bun with the special sauce? Or do they already have that? (The most I get at McD’s is coffee, please forgive my total lack of knowledge of their menu)
I go to McDonald’s occasionally, but I don’t like their Big Macs. And I’ve been known to get a Hamburger Happy Meal when I wanted something to eat, but haven’t been that hungry. Sometimes I’ll just get a fry and a drink.
But they’ve never been successful with food that doesn’t come in a bun or is Chicken McNuggets/Strips (I remember the McBurrito and that thing looked horrible, needless to say, that didn’t last long).
I know with so much fast food competition, McDonald’s has to come up with innovative ways to keep customers. But I don’t think a Big Mac tortilla sandwich is the way to go. My suggestion would be popcorn chicken.
a regular hamburger , small fries and small drink is something like $2.79 , off the regular menu, Mo! (No toy needed). It’s my preferred order now for when a McD’s stop is required. I would rather be a little unsatisfied hunger-wise than spend any more money at a company whose ads have insulted me in the past.
First, I hope you don’t feel like you need to justify your food choices.
Ditto. I do the same thing and I consider it healthy, intuitive eating — not dieting. If I’m craving chocolate, I don’t buy a 9-serving bag of M&Ms; I buy an individual-sized bag to satisfy those cravings.
And a hamburger in a tortilla wrap? Gross!
I saw a commercial for that here in Texas and I instantly declared the stupidest thing I’d seen that day.
Gross! How long is the other half of that patty going to sit around until someone else orders one?
Yum! I will order one the minute it comes to the states :)
I like the Big Mac, or I used to back when I could count on my body to digest beef well. However, I think what I really liked was the bun. I can’t get behind this trend of wrapping stuff in tortillas.
Sometimes I think ‘they’ just don’t get it. If someone is at a fast food place don’t they want the full kahuna (burger) not a tortilla replacement?
I’m thirding the “no need to justify your eating choices” motion! Seriously, you don’t owe anyone an explanation. I’ve seen so many people anxiously defending their personal eating quirks that it’s really starting to bother me. I’m beginning to wonder if that fat-o-sphere doesn’t act as the Food Police on the other end of the spectrum, no matter how much we bitch about the mainstream Food Policing going on. You don’t owe anyone an explanation, not even your fellow fatties!
Second, I’m pleased to inform you that you have been awarded a shiny new Internets in recognition of your recognition of the awesomeness that is Robin Sparkles! Now I have the most overwhelming urge to go to the mall.
And third, this snack wrap thing is a horrible idea. McDonalds is garbage. Making this bastardized, miniaturized version isn’t going to make it not be garbage. All it’s going to do is leave the poor gullible saps who buy it thinking it’s better for them than the regular Big Mac (which is what they really want in the first place) ultimately unsatisfied. If someone wants a Big Mac, they should just eat a fucking Big Mac! The world won’t end. And then their craving would actually be satisfied and they could move on with their life. I’m just so disgusted by how much our society depends financially upon creating/exploiting/exacerbating people’s insecurities, self-hatred, and psychological disorders.
I kinda get it. I’m in foodservice marketing so it makes a smidge of sense. If the kids are clamoring for McD’s you take them but mom doesn’t get anything then you’ve lost part of a sale but if there’s something there like a salad or Big Mac with fewer calories, then you’ve got mom too. It’s not a great sounding recipe though. They should start by making a salad that isn’t 500 calories.
I think we should respect McDonald’s ability to create products that people buy, so while we might have a better idea, I think that they probably test things out somewhat before spending millions on launching a product. I’m guessing they probably did test it with the bun as well, but perhaps found that it might fit into the niche of people who choose lower calorie vs greater value more with just a little lower calorie count? Of course, I could be wrong there…just speculating!
I think it’s actually not a bad thing that they are testing such a product out. We as consumers aren’t losing the Big Mac, but gaining another option…that we should probably try before we say it’s a bad idea. It might actually be delicious! Although I’d agree, a simple single patty on a hamburger bun with Mac sauce might be a better option for me.
I thought about something along these lines today when I was at Walmart and I took a look at the ICE CREAM CUPCAKES (yes they do exist). I noticed that one of the items in the freezer said the serving size was 1/2 a cupcake. So that means that although they package it as if we’re supposed to eat the entire thing, we should have enough restraint to only eat half. Probably not going to happen for most of us! So I am hopeful that instead of packaging meal combos that are the equivalent of 4 serving sizes, restaurants do actually offer appropriately measured options.
Still, I don’t think this will solve the obesity problem, as those who do watch what they are eating and choose the lower cal option are already eating consciously. Those who choose the Big Mac combo, are probably not considering the whimpy Mac Taco. :)
So for me, it might entice me to enter McDs more often, since I do love Big Macs…but can’t always justify the 500+ calories. (sorry gang if this type of talk is not appreciated here). Although I might be more enticed by a “Little Mac” if they had one.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with ordering a Happy Meal or getting smaller portions on our exorbitant portion sizes of fatty processed food. i do the same thing. But this type of offering to me is pretty not appealing or delicious. But that could be my own personal bias.
Some things just belong in a tortilla (Ah, grilled fish, salsa, guacamole!!! How do I love thee?); some things just don’t. A Big Mac falls into the latter category.
Let’s face it, Mickey D’s: we order a Big Mac ’cause we want a BIG Mac!! Not a Snack Mac!!!!!
There is a billboard with one of these things on it that I see every day, and every single time it gives me the shivers. It’s truly horrible to contemplate. Give me the 2-bun Big Mac idea any day.
“Of those statements, only a single one is true — and that’s not nearly enough.”
If I may inquire, which statement is it that you are referring to ask true? The Canadian one? If so, well, you know how may people you are p*ssing off? Including myself? Not very nice at all. Why are Canadians perfect to test this crap on? what are you trying to say
And maybe you arent referring to that statement. Just curious…..
Alley, I’m quoting the original blog post, which is by a Canadian guy. He’s making a joke.
I buy Happy Meals for one reason— I WANT THE TOY!!!!!!!
*oops, sorry Mo Pie*
embarassed.
Apologies
(longtime lurker)
I tried the Big Mac Wrap (here in Texas!) out of curiosity. Anyway, it’s actually one whole patty cut into halves so that it fits in the tortilla, plus lettuce and special sauce and cheese. It was kind of okay, but at the end I was sorry that I didn’t just order the regular Big Mac. That being said, all the “snack wraps” are a pitiful tiny size and hardly worth the trouble.
What’s really good at McDonald’s is the deluxe grilled chicken sandwich (it comes on a whole wheat bun, and is marinated and super tasty). I usually avoid McD’s because I don’t enjoy much on the menu there other than the Big Mac, but that chicken sandwich may have converted me.
Just remembered this post when…dun dun dun….
I saw an ad on tv for this abomination. I live in Michigan. lol My friend said “That looks pretty good!”