Viral TikTok Video Proves That A McDonald's Cheeseburger Is Healthier Than A Protein-Packed Cookie
It should come as no surprise that just because a food is marketed as a "health food," it doesn't mean it is healthy.
If you've never heard of Lenny & Larry cookies, you may be wondering why anyone would bother comparing a giant chocolate chip cookie to a cheeseburger from McDonald's in the first place. However, unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard about low-carb, high-protein, high-fat diets being marketed to anyone and everyone as the ultimate weight-loss gimmicks.
In particular, you've probably heard about the KETO diet. Not all of Lenny & Larry's products are related to KETO, but many people have taken an interest in their cookies while searching for vegan and/or KETO snacks to enjoy.
Lenny & Larry's cookies are high in protein and made from whole-food, plant-based ingredients. They were first sold in the 90s at Whole Foods, a grocery retailer known for appealing to health-conscious individuals. Today, these cookies are available at most major retailers and in over 30 countries.
If you're looking for a protein-packed sweet treat, you've probably stumbled upon Lenny & Larry "complete" cookies. They offer giant, soft cookies and small, crunchy cookies in a wide variety of flavors that anyone who has ever enjoyed a cookie would absolutely drool over.
On their front page website, you can see that Lenny & Larry cookies appeal to customers looking for protein, non-GMO ingredients, fiber, and delicious nutrition. Seems innocent enough, right?
LennyLarryPersonal trainer Laura Ghiacy has a lot to say about how foods are marketed as health foods.
Laura has over 371k followers on TikTok with the tagline: "Want weight-loss advice? I’d go elsewhere." It's safe to say you may realize you're in for something different (in a great way) when you stumble upon Laura and her content.
LauraGhiacyLaura knew that when she decided to compare the nutritional information of a L&L cookie with a cheeseburger from McDonald's, she was inviting controversy.
Of course, when it comes to health, fitness, and nutrition, there aren't many influencers and content creators who have ever existed without ruffling someone's feathers.
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Laura is an experienced personal trainer. Her services include nutrition, one-on-one training, group training, and corporate training programs.
On her website, she states: "I'm on a mission to ensure that anyone and everyone feels entitled to exercise while cutting through Diet Culture nonsense."
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In an interview with Bored Panda, Laura explained:
"Health has no size, and one’s health cannot be judged by the size of their body. However, Diet Culture will have us believe that our health can be reduced to a clothing size or, worse, BMI, and that’s what I am trying to cut through."
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She continued:
"Take diets, for example; 98% of all diets fail, yet there is a multi-billion dollar industry profiting from this, making us feel shame over failing at a diet when it is the one thing that actually failed us."
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Laura also has strong opinions about food packaging labels and their relationship with diet culture, health, and fitness. She told Bored Panda:
"It has become very common for people to obsessively look at the back of food labels and count calories/macros. Although it is common, it isn’t normal and can quickly escalate into disordered eating patterns."
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When Laura decided to list the ingredients side by side from a Lenny & Larry protein cookie compared to a cheeseburger from McDonald's, she concluded that the cheeseburger was healthier, and she was ready to prove it.
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Of course, the most logical place to start is with calories.
A calorie is a unit of measurement, specifically measuring energy. From KidsHealth: "When you hear something contains 100 calories, it's a way of describing how much energy your body could get from eating or drinking it."
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Next up is fat.
Too much saturated fat in your diet can raise your cholesterol, which in turn increases your risk of heart disease. Most health recommendations suggest replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fat.
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Carbs, the great enemy of the decade? Century? Who knows?
Does the average carb-hater even know what carbs are?
"Carbohydrates, or carbs, are sugar molecules. Along with proteins and fats, carbohydrates are one of the three main nutrients found in foods and drinks. Your body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose. Glucose, or blood sugar, is the main source of energy for your body's cells, tissues, and organs."
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NO LETTUCE BUNS REQUIRED
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Protein to Protein, the difference is marginal at best.
WebMD insists that protein is "a critical part of the processes that fuel your energy and carry oxygen throughout your body in your blood."
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Don't forget sugar. WebMD warns:
"When you eat excess sugar, the extra insulin in your bloodstream can affect your arteries all over your body. It causes their walls to become inflamed, grow thicker than normal, and become more stiff. This stresses your heart and damages it over time. This can lead to heart disease, including heart failure, heart attacks, and strokes."
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The most important difference of them all:
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Does a McDonald's cheeseburger beat out most "health" foods in the flavor department? Surely.
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Let's not forget the hidden boogeyman: cost.
Financial cost, of course. Why pay more for a food that is less healthy for your body?
The answer is simple: really good marketing and fatphobia told you to.
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Honestly? Relatable.
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Laura doesn't actually promote scrutinizing food labels, but she does want consumers to be more savvy when making their purchasing choices and to be mindful of the "smoke and mirrors."
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Think about it.
As Laura said, food marketing “wants us to part with our hard-earned money on products that we don’t actually need! Do we need a cookie with an abundance of protein? No. But are we made to think we do because protein is the “in-fashion” macronutrient, while other macronutrients have been demonized, making us feel shameful over what we eat? Absolutely.”
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Check out the full TikTok video here:
TikTok users from all walks of life quickly chimed in to participate in the discussion.
zachcoen
The video has been "liked" over 2.7 million times.
bestanimations
"I'm here for it." Me, too.
sandyperry99
Interestingly, many others in the industry were quick to chime in... in support!
tasteitwithtia
Laura noted that the number of comments under the video where people said, “You’ve made me feel less guilty about eating a burger…” was astounding to her.
gifer
“Guilt is not an ingredient in any food, but we’re made to think we are “bad” for eating stigmatized foods,” she said. “We’re not. And if one video on TikTok can help someone feel a bit less shame… then that’s what I’m here for.”
LauraGhiacy
Agreed.
claremorrow_ifbbpro
A worthy stamp.
dr_idz
Yes, you can!
sagrres
Enjoy your cheeseburger.
heyitszayyyyeee
Can we amplify this one especially? Honestly.
thebrittc
Unlearning the harmful information we've all been susceptible to can be hard work, especially regarding health and nutrition. As Dr. T. Colin Campbell, a prominent nutritionist, states, "The most powerful tool we have for improving our health is our diet." This is an opportunity to take one step in a better direction, a direction that respects your authentic experience.
You can follow Dr. Campbell on his website for more insights into nutrition and health. If you're looking for more influencers to check out, consider Dr. Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist, and Dr. Angela Duckworth, a researcher known for her work on grit and perseverance.
