Smart Food Swaps For Weight Loss

10 McDonald's 400 Calorie Meals Exposed

A closer look at the chain's "lighter" 400 calorie fare and some smart swaps for a more nutritious well-rounded meal
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10 McDonald's 400 Calorie Meals Exposed // McDonalds 400 Calorie Meals c Thinkstock

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How Healthy Is McDonald's 400 Calorie Menu?

If you own a TV, you probably know McDonald's recently launched its Favorites Under 400 Calories campaign to promote its "healthier" menu items. The move came after the International Olympic Committee questioned whether they should continue to let McDonald's sponsor the Olympics.

If you ask McDonald's, they'll tell you they offer plenty of options for calorie-counters. "Customers may be surprised to know that about 80 percent of national menu choices are under 400 calories for the standard recipe," Neil Golden, chief marketing officer for McDonald's USA, was quoted as saying in a July 2012 press release. (Search: How many calories are in most McDonald's menu items?)

As the originators of the 400-Calorie Fix concept, Prevention agrees that McDonald's is onto something: 400 is a great number to hit, 4 times a day, to rev your metabolism while still eating what you love. The catch? Our 400-Calorie Diet applies to entire meals-not a box of fries.

VIDEO: Here's how to set your table for weight loss.

Still, we wondered: Is it possible McDonald's has some healthy 400-calorie-or-less options worth digging into? Let's find out.

You magic number for weight loss: Check out the 400 Calorie Fix!

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