How, Um... Healthful.

I know, I know, you can't blame McD's for offering what the public wants. I get that. And when they offer stuff that isn't what the bulk of the population wants -- see grilled chicken salads -- they do it to avoid what they call the veto factor, the one person in the group of three or four who says, "Oh, no, I can't eat burgers and fries, I'm on a diet," and so influences the whole group to go elsewhere.

I'm betting the new, highly-touted McDonald's Fruit and Maple Oatmeal is just such an offering -- designed to avoid the veto factor at breakfast.: "I'm not going to eat that greasy egg McMuffin! I want a healthy breakfast!"

You know it's not healthful, right? Ignoring entirely the fact that oatmeal itself is good 'n' carby, they've loaded this up with raisins and dried cranberries (the cranberries have added sugar, and raisins are nothing short of Nature's Candy), plus brown sugar. And some apples, also sugary, though not as bad as the dried fruit.

What are the stats? McDonald's Fruit and Maple Oatmeal has 290 calories per serving, with 57 grams of carbohydrate. Despite the great reputation of oatmeal and fruit, only 5 of those grams are fiber. Since carbohydrate has 4 calories per gram, we're talking 228 calories from carb, or 78%. I can feel my pancreas cringing at the very thought.

How about protein? You know, the stuff that will actually make you feel full and energetic all morning? That would be a big 5 grams, or less than you would get in one small egg. You're going to be running to the vending machines by 10 am. You might well be better off eating a McMuffin, though obviously I can't recommend that, either.

So do you exercise the veto? You don't have to. I rarely eat breakfast at a McD's, but have every now and then when I'm stuck at an airport in the early hours, and that's what's available. I haven't found one yet that couldn't simply scramble me a couple of eggs, and serve them up with a couple of sausage patties. So that's what I'd recommend, should you find yourself at a McDonald's for breakfast.

That said, it takes roughly five minutes to scramble a couple of eggs in a non-stick skillet, scarf 'em down, wipe the pan with a paper towel, and put it back on the stove to await tomorrow's breakfast. With eggs running about 15c apiece around here, even if you have three we're talking a 45c breakfast, instead of, what, $3? $4? If you save, say, $2.50 with 5 minutes work, that's... (furiously doing the math) -- that's like making $30/hour tax free. And it will very likely take you no more time than sitting in the drive-up lane, and certainly no more time than going in and eating your eggs and sausage with a fork.

I can see going out to breakfast. I love going out to breakfast! But I want to go to a place where I can sit, and linger, and choose from a dozen different omelets, or steak and eggs, or pork chops and eggs, or another wonderful protein-and-fat laden breakfast. Heck, I'd far rather eat breakfast at Waffle House than McD's.

But for day to day fuel before work? Just cook something, will you?