McDonald’s is the world’s most popular fast-food chain that offers a large variety of cost-effective options for those who have undergone bariatric surgery. Here are some recommendations for tasty, bariatric-friendly McDonald’s menu items you can enjoy any time of the day without compromising your weight loss goals!

McDonald's Food Pyramid What Can I Order at Mcdonald’s After Bariatric Surgery Mexico Bariatric CenterMcDonald’s Bariatric-Friendly Menu

McDonald's Menu List for Bariatric Patients Mexico Bariatric Center

Unfortunately, recently McDonald’s pulled out their healthy items like signature salads and yogurt parfaits. Luckily, they still have low-carb, low-fat, and low-sodium options suitable for post-bariatric patients.

Based on a 1,200-calorie weight loss surgery diet, it is important to choose meals that are 350-400 calories or less. All options listed below can be modified to be even healthier and lower calories. For example, you can ask for the Fruit & Maple Oatmeal without raisins, reducing the sugar and calorie count to 250 calories.

Breakfast

The creation of the Egg McMuffin by McDonald’s drastically transformed the landscape of fast food breakfast. The concept of a morning meal as a fast food option marketed by McDonald’s has since become an integral component across all fast food chains. Furthermore, McDonald’s has continued to lead the industry by providing healthy breakfast options to its customers.

McDonald's Bariatric Breakfast Options

Although McDonald’s is known for its unhealthy foods, some nutritious breakfast options are amiable for gastric sleeve and gastric bypass patients.

McDonald’s MenuFatCarbsProteinSugar
Egg White Delight (260 Cal.)8g29g16g2g
Sausage Burrito (310 Cal.)17g25g13g2g
Egg McMuffin (310 Cal.)13g30g17g3g
Fruit & Maple Oatmeal (320 Cal.)4.5g64g6g31g

Lunch/Dinner

McDonald’s has a reputation for its unhealthy, grease-soaked, super-sized meals that are detrimental to the fast-growing obesity epidemic. With rising rates of obesity, McDonald’s developed low-calorie menu items safe for bariatric patients.

McDonald's Bariatric Lunch and Dinners Options

McDonald’s bariatric-friendly options make it easy to grab a quick meal without sacrificing your weight loss goals.

McDonald’s MenuFatCarbsProteinSugar
McDouble (400 Cal.)20g33g22g7g
Cheese Burger (300 Cal.)13g32g15g7g
Classic McDonald’s Hamburger (250 Cal.)9g31g12g6g
6 Piece Chicken Nuggets (250 Cal.)15g15g14g0g
McChicken (400 Cal.)21g39g14g5g
Filet-O-Fish ( 390 Cal.)19g39g16g5g
4 Piece McNuggets Happy Meal (225 Cal.)7g31g10g14g

Sides/Drinks

When people think of McDonald’s, they usually think of the classic McDonald’s french fries. Although fries are too high-calorie for post-op patients, some nutritious side dishes are still available after weight loss surgery.

McDonald's Bariatric Side and Drinks

Despite the small list, there are some wholesome food and drink choices for individuals counting calories.

McDonald’s MenuFatCarbsProteinSugar
Apple Slices (15 Cal.)0g4g0g3g
Americano (0 Cal.)0g1g0g0g
Premium Roast Coffee (0 Cal.)0g1g2g0g
Unsweetened Ice Tea (0 Cal.)0g0g1g0g
Hot Tea (10 Cal.)0g0g2g0g
Water (0 Cal.)0g0g0g0g

Basic Precautions for McDonald’s

  1. Avoid Sugary Condiments/Sauces: Some condiments are high in added sugar, sodium, and unhealthy fats that should be avoided unless consumed in moderation. The worst include ketchup, barbecue sauce, and sweet and sour sauce. Check out our condiments after bariatric surgery guide to help you find the best and worst sauces for your meals.
  2. Avoid Cheese: Cheese is a high-fat dairy product that, if removed, can lower the calorie content significantly of most McDonald’s food items.
  3. Avoid Carbonated Beverages: Carbonated drinks can cause dumping syndrome because of their high-sugar content and can add unwanted air into the stomach pouch resulting in gas pain.
  4. Don’t Drink from a Straw: Using a straw will introduce extra air into your new stomach pouch, causing gas pain and discomfort.
  5. Avoid Overeating: Meals should be no more than 4-6 ounces. Overeating can stretch out your stomach pouch and leave you feeling bloated and gassy.

Helpful tip: Use this McDonald’s calculator to see how modifying your meal will affect nutrition values.

Footnotes

By making simple modifications noted in this article, you can enjoy delicious meals from McDonald’s while staying on track with your weight loss goals. Remember that McDonald’s foods are generally high in fat; you should consider eating in fast food chains less often and stick to a healthier regime.

Check out these helpful links!