When you think of vegan options for food, you probably won’t think about fast food let alone McDonald’s which is most likely the most recognizable brand in this side of the industry all over the world.
And, that’s just fair given the notoriety that these fast-food chains have had throughout the years due to unhealthy food options we take as a compromise for convenience and perhaps, taste. But, times have changed and surely enough fast-food chains like McDonald’s are changing with them or risk losing customers. They even serve keto-friendly options so I guess they have everyone covered.
There are vegan options at Mcdonald’s right now only if we know what to order. They kind of need to adapt to the trend so let’s explore what they have to offer for health buffs or for those who just want to eat healthily.
Some important things to consider:
- Please do take note that McDonald’s menu is affected by a lot of factors and one huge factor is geography or where the said branch is located
- McDonald’s have branches all over the world so their menu would naturally vary and vegan options in the US will, of course, probably won’t be available anywhere else
- Culture is also one huge factor when it comes to what a McDonald’s branch offers as well as the trend and diet of said community
- Availability of ingredients also plays a huge part in this whole process
- And lastly, please do take note that when it comes to McDonald’s, your vegan options are already limited, to begin with
Here is a list of some of your vegan options at McDonald’s
As mentioned, you will have very limited vegan options in McDonald’s today but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be a bit creative with your choices.
For Breakfast:
- Apple slices
- Fruit and Maple Oatmeal that you may kindly ask the attendants to make with either water or with or without milk as well as cream
Vegetable Choices:
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- Pickles
Breads:
- English muffin
- Flour tortilla
- Artisan Roll
Salads:
- Southwest Salad (without cheese or Southwest dressing)
- Premium Bacon Ranch Salad (without cheese, bacon, or Ranch dressing)
- Side Salad (without cheese or dressing)
And of course, you should know which dressings and condiments are vegan.
Newman’s Own Dressings:
- Balsamic and White Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Raspberry Walnut and Red Wine Vinaigrette
- Classic Oil & Vinegar
- Zesty Italian
- Sesame Ginger
- Citrus Splash
Dipping Sauces & Condiments:
- Spicy buffalo
- BBQ
- Sweet and Sour
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Maple Syrup
Healthy Vegan Snacks:
- Apple slices
- Baked apple pie
Beverages:
- Soda
- Hot coffee with or without milk or cream
- Iced coffee with or without milk or cream
- Orange juice
- Apple juice
- Iced tea with or without milk or cream
- Slushies
McDonald’s will sooner or later have to add to their vegan or at least borderline vegan-friendly options to catch up with their rivals in the fast-food chain industry. Burger King and Carl’s Jr. seem to be the ones that are on top of this race.
It’s also noteworthy that McDonald’s international branches offer more vegan options than what they have in the US and that’s something that they really need to address FAST!
The MCPLANT!
McDonald’s has long announced that they are going to go full-force into the vegan side of things and their first offering is a burger called the McPlant. And, they have delivered on that promise but only to certain locations.
The McPlant was launched and introduced in the menu last February 2021 and will be tested probably around March or April of that same year. The only problem here is that the plant-based burger was only made available in Denmark and Sweden.
McDonald’s has reportedly tested some plant-based burgers in Ontario, Canada to positive responses and so far, that’s the nearest that a vegan burger has gotten to the US. Sweden has also made strides to add a vegan burger to their menu completely with the McVegan.
The McPlant is one great option if you are trying to lessen your meat intake and you may order with no cheese nor mayo no help your diet further. Well, only if it is available anywhere then it might be a hit but for now, Mcdonald’s is definitely behind in the vegan race amongst its top competitors.
What’s next for Mcdonald’s?
The fast food chain is also working on chicken substitutes which are going to be huge given that they are famous for their chicken and also on breakfast sandwiches. There are just a few glaring challenges that they need to overcome before they can fully integrate vegan food into their menu. They better catch up or they’ll lose a lot of customers as people today are more health conscious in their food choices.
Right now, McDonald’s aficionados will have to mix and match what they have on the menu to sustain their vegan diets and still have the convenience the chain offers.
What about McDonald’s French Fries?
Guys, we need to talk about the FRIES. McDonald’s French fries are famous and one of the most sought-after choices on their menu so it’s only natural that a lot of vegans or vegetarians would want to still be able to enjoy it. So, are they vegan-friendly?
Well, that depends, where do you live? Fortunately for those who are living in the UK, Australia, and Canada, McDonald’s French fries are vegan and may even be vegetarian in your country. But, that doesn’t mean that all branches in said countries offer vegan French fries, please ask your servers if they are before ordering.
> Read more: Are McDonald’s fries vegan?
And that leaves us with the United States. Unfortunately, French fries in the US aren’t vegan nor vegetarian, or at least they don’t clearly state that they are the latter.
What we do know is that McDonald’s French fries in the US are made with beef flavoring made from milk. Bummer, right?
There you have it, those are your options although limited ones when it comes to vegan food at McDonald’s. Remember that it’s not the only restaurant in the world or at the very least not the only fast-food chain in town. So, be sure to diversify your options and eat healthy as much as possible.
