Dunkin Donuts Nutrition Versus Clean Eating
Dunkin Donuts nutrition doesn't compete with 'clean eating'.
My kids still think McDonald’s is a gas station, but they are totally on to doughnuts. Dunkin Donuts to be exact. While Dunkin Donuts is the nutritional equivalent of trash, it’s also delicious. Healthy snacks have a hard time competing. Who wants a carrot stick when there’s a box of Munchkins on the table?
In 2011, lots of us have resolved to turn over a new leaf with our family diets. No more suger. No more trans fats. No more preservatives and artificial flavorings. In short, no more Dunkin Donuts.
If we give up this delicious snack, though, what will we eat instead? Is it carrot sticks from here on out?
Dunkin Donuts has added some new, healthier items to their menu, but let’s be clear: we love them for their donuts. Because we want donuts. Not egg white sandwiches and breakfast salads. DONUTS. If your stomach doesn’t tell you, the screaming chorus in the backseat will.
Sadly, there are no truly healthy donuts. But it is fairly easy to make your own organic ones at home. All you need is a simple recipe like these baked sugar donuts from Babble’s Family Kitchen. If you’re feeling inspired, you can substitute whole wheat flour for white and locally produced sweeteners like honey or maple syrup for sugar, and wind up with an almost healthy treat.
For more inspiration on eating organic, healthy food in the new year, check out Babble’s new clean eating guide.
I tend to be a fan of eating tasty junk food in moderation. 95% of the time, eat real food, cooked well, and especially with people you love. Then, just enjoy the donut or soda or what not once or twice a month as a treat and don’t worry about it.
I agree with Rebecca. I would rather have a nutritionally atrocious real donut every now and then than a “healthy” donut every day.
I agree with the other comments. There is no way even a home-made donut is a healthy treat. (Or even an almost healthy treat.) They may taste better, but they are certainly not good for you. Even home-made treats need to be eaten in moderation.
I, like Rebecca, enjoy some good junk food every now and then. I’d rather have a donut and full cream latte with real sugar every now and then than a skim anything with artificial sweetener and a “healthy” donut on a regular basis.
Madeline — As I read this I’m eating a peanut butter and Nutella sandwich for lunch. But it’s on whole wheat bread, so that makes it okay, right?
As for the carrots vs. munchkins, I’m an all or nothing kind of girl. It’s either no munchkins, or it’s the whole box, especially if they’re the jelly filled ones.
Meredith, I’m having seltzer for lunch bc my stomach is acting up. But I will totally make up for it with a batch of homemade junk food as soon as I feel better.
Pineapples and strawberries are delicious and sounds better than a whole wheat donut.
By the way, Sierra, I meant to write “Sierra,” not “Madeline.” Maybe all the evil goodness in the Nutella got to my head.
@Jessica — I’m not sure there’s anything better than a donut, whole wheat or not, particularly if the pineapples and strawberries are contained within.
Wow. I spontaneously declared this to be a Year Without Donuts for me (http://holydonuts.blogspot.com/2011/01/year-without-donuts.html). Interesting that this post came up today!
I liked the part where you said there are truly no healthy donuts. This is what people need to realize. I am so sick of all these fast food restaurants advertising all these healthy things. The fact of the matter is that they are not really healthier. They are just slightly less bad for your health than the other types of unhealthy foods they serve. All of these things are just advertising campaigns by these fast food companies that are trying to make a quick buck. Do people actually think that Dunkin Donuts is looking out for their health? Obviously not. People need to start facing the facts and start taking care of their body’s. The obesity problem in this country is getting out of hand and something needs to be done about it. Did you know that 75% of Americans are going to be overweight by 2019? That’s really not too surprising in all hoensty because 66% of them are already overweight. Dunkin Donuts is really a joke. I can remember one time I went in there and ordered a muffin thinking ti woudl be healthier than ordering a bagel with fatty cream cheese. I’m really health conscious – so I then went home and looked up the nutrition facts for the muffin online. I was really surprsied when I saw that the muffin had over 600 calories! That’s way more than the bagels! It’s really insane.. I wrote an article about these crazy muffins on my blog lol… check it out.. http://applebananacoconut.com/why-are-dunkin-donuts-coffee-cake-muffins-unhealthy
great post by the way!
Best,
Laurence
laurencegirard@fas.harvard.edu