Certain McDonald's Are Serving Vegan McNuggets—But There's a Catch
McDonald's, the world's largest fast-food chain that's known for its double-stacked meaty burgers and, as of late, bacon-stacked everything, just recently debuted a vegan version of the classic McNugget. Shocking, right? Well, there's a bit of a catch—as of now, they're only being sold in Norway. Check out this tweet.
McDonald's, wanneer zijn er vegan varianten in Nederland verkrijgbaar? 🤗🍔🌿
Vegan nuggets nu bij McDonald's in Noorwegen! – McVegan Vegetable Nuggets Arrive at McDonald'sMcDonald's has introduced a vegan take… https://t.co/SVZaa8pwgH
— Lekker vegan 🍃 (@HeavenofDelight) March 15, 2019
Why is McDonald's selling vegan McNuggets?
The prevalence of people eliminating meat and animal by-products like cheese and eggs for either environmental or health reasons is on the rise globally, and McDonald's is striving to meet the demands of all its consumers. Why it hasn't hit America yet is unclear, but maybe if they're a hit in Norway, they'll make their way onto U.S. menus, too.
In a recent Gallup poll, 3 percent of U.S. respondents said they were vegan. However, even if people don't identify as strictly vegan, it never hurts to adopt more plant-based foods into a diet and lower meat consumption for both your health and the environment.
This isn't the first vegan menu item McDonald's has featured, either. In 2017, the McVegan burger was launched and has since become a permanent menu item in McDonald's restaurants in Finland and Sweden. Apparently, they were a hit, too, with 150,000 of the meatless burgers sold in just one month. Even more recent was the addition of the vegan McFalafel in Sweden, and in the UK, a vegan Spicy Veggie Wrap was released, both of which debuted in January.
But let's talk more about these vegan McNuggets.
What exactly are these vegan McNuggets made of?
They definitely have a distinctive appearance! The inside of the vegan McNuggets is made from a blend of boiled chickpeas, as well as a handful of veggies, including broccoli, cauliflower, corn, onion, and potatoes. Finally, the crispy golden outside of the nugget is made from a mixture of both rice and wheat flours.
In Norway, a four-piece vegan McNugget order will cost you about 231 calories, 15 grams of total fat, and 3.1 grams of protein. For comparison, a four-piece chicken McNugget order in the U.S. comes in at 180 calories, 11 grams of total fat, and 10 grams of protein. Note that the vegan variety costs you more fat and calories and offers less protein, but at the least, you are getting in some vegetables—there are those who eat fast food regularly and don't get enough of that food group.
What other fast-food chains are debuting vegan options?
McDonald's isn't the only fast-food establishment testing out plant-based menu items. Taco Bell announced back in January some restaurants would be rolling out a vegetarian and vegan menu in select U.S. locations. Although those kinds of meal options are already offered, the fast-food chain is striving to make the items more readily accessible and distinct on the menu.
Even the McDonald's global headquarters restaurant in Chicago has rolled out a plant-based burger that's usually only sold in India locations, called the McAloo Tikki. It's made from potatoes and peas and layered with slices of red onion, tomato, and even an eggless creamy tomato mayo. Perhaps more vegan fast-food items will be on the U.S. radar soon. But for now, you're going to have to pay a visit to Norway to experience the vegan McNuggets.
