Shape Up Series: Taste Testing McDonald’s Fruit and Maple Oatmeal

By: Finance Foodie

It’s Monday! And you know what that means – it’s time for my weekly weigh in! Now, I’ve gotten a few comments/criticisms about this Shape Up series on how short term diets are not the key to long term weight loss. Therefore, I feel the need to re-address the purpose of these posts: First, the 10 lbs I gain over the holidays is something that happens almost every year (bad on my part, but pretty much unavoidable with all the delicious homemade food at home), so this Shape Up is what I do EVERY WINTER so I can get back to 130lbs, the weight I keep during other ~300 days of the year. I've been 130lbs for about 5 years now and it’s the weight I feel most comfortable at (where I can eat healthy most of the time, but still indulge once in a while). Furthermore, even after I lose my 10lbs, I still plan to use/eat all the tips, recipes, and food options I've posted -- and I encourage you to do the same!

This is what 130 lbs looks like!

With that off my back, let's get on to the recap of last week!

Height: 5'1''
Goal Weight: 130lbs
Week 1: 140lbs (Starting Point)
Week 2: 138lbs
Week 3: 137lbs
Week 4: 136lbs (almost halfway there!)

Goal Body Fat: 20.0%
Week 1: 25.0%
Week 2: 24.0%
Week 3: 24.0%
Week 3: 23.5%

Exercise Plan (and actual results in red)
Day 1: 45 minutes on the elipitcal trainer, level 5 – Check!
Day 2: 30 minutes on the recumbent bicycle, level 7; 30 minutes weight training using 5lb to 8lb weights – Check!
Day 3: 45 minutes on the treadmill, speed 3.5, incline 2.0 – Check!
Day 4: 30 minutes on the recumbent bicycle, level 7; 30 minutes ExerciseTV’s Cardiokie with Billy Blanks Jr.; 30 minutes weight training using 5lb to 8lb weight – It was a snowy slushy cold mess outside, and I didn’t want to slip and break a hip to go to the gym. Thank God for ExerciseTV from On Demand and my hand weights at home. Plus I got to change my routine up a bit…Check!
Day 5: 30 minutes on the elipitcal trainer, level 5; 10 minutes on the recumbent bicycle, level 7 – Check!
Day 6 &7: Rest – An Easy Check!

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by the McDonald's team to taste test their new Fruit and Maple Oatmeal from the breakfast menu. Since I’ve had high cholesterol pretty much my entire life (d*mn genetics!), I try to eat oatmeal regularly for breakfast, due to its magical cholesterol reducing abilities and ease of preparation. Frankly, I was highly skeptical that McDonald's oatmeal would be palatable, but given that their recent healthier menu items (fruit smoothies, salads, yogurt parfaits, etc) have been actually tasty, I decided to give it chance on one frightfully chilly Boston morning.

WOW! Color me shocked because this $1.99 bowl of heart attack prevention tasted much better than my usual Instant Quaker Oats. The generous portion of fresh sliced apples, raisins, and dried cranberries really gave the oatmeal a nice flavor profile and meshed well with the hint of maple flavor. But the best thing? This bowl only contains 290 calories and kept me full and satisfied until lunch (full nutrition profile here)!

***Giveaway***
Congrats Frank (Grand Prize) and Lara @ GoodCookDoris (1st Prize)!

I totally applaud McDonald's push for healthier menu items (that still taste good), so I am offering a $25 gift card (I don't mind if you spend it on fries and a Big Mac, but I totally recommend you try the oatmeal/smoothies/healthy menu items!) and 2 coupons to try their new Fruit and Maple Oatmeal for two financefoodie.com readers.

Grand Prize: $25 Arch Card (the Mickey D's gift card) - one winner

1st Prize: 2 free product coupons for McDonald's Fruit and Maple Oatmeal - one winner

There are THREE ways to enter 
1. REQUIRED: In my comments section, tell me what is your favorite oatmeal topping? (Mine is fresh strawberries - maybe McDonald's can add that in their oatmeal too (Hint Hint)!). Also please include your email address so I can contact you if you win!
2. Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter (leave separate comment telling me this)
3. Reblog / Retweet this giveaway (leave separate comment telling me this)

Contest ends Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 5pm EST. Winners will be chosen via random integer generator on random.org announced on the financefoodie.com site shortly afterwards that night! 

Disclosure: McDonald's provided me with the free product coupons to try the product and for the giveaway. I bought the Arch Card myself.