What do you want to believe?

EPSON DSC picture

After hearing a conversation on radio about whether coffee is good for us or not, someone responded saying, “Coffee is not healthy. It is a drug that you’re better off not consuming.” But then another listener responded by quoting a Life Hacker article titled The Science Behind Coffee and Why it’s Actually Good for Your Health.

The article explains that coffee can make you smarter, burns fat and improves physical performance, may drastically reduce your risk of Type II Diabetes, may lower your risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, may be extremely good for your liver, may reduce your risk of dying and is loaded with nutrients and antioxidants. Pretty compelling stuff.

Opinion is divided so we need to decide what we’ll believe. As a coffee drinker I’m going with the health benefits of my morning cuppa … or two.

McDonalds or Subway

We all know that when choosing fast food it’s best to go with a healthy option, such as Subway. Then we read an article like the recent News.com.au piece Subway meals contain nearly as many calories, more salt than McDonald’s, UCLA study finds.

According to new research, the meals contain nearly as many calories and more salt than those in McDonald’s.

Researchers from the University of California Los Angeles found that teenagers who bought Subway meals consumed almost the same calories – and more salt – those who ate a meal at McDonald’s, the Mail Online reports.

The study found eating at both restaurants is likely to lead to overeating and obesity.

The US research will come as a shock to those who consume Subway meals in the belief that they are choosing a healthier option.

So what do we believe?

If we prefer eating burgers and fries we may choose to take that research as evidence that we might as well be eating at McDonalds. On the other hand we may decide that all fast food is the same and so we won’t buy any at all. I would suggest that our menu choices at either outlet will determine how healthy the food is but sometimes we just latch on to the ‘evidence’ that suits us.

Red Wine and Chocolate

I can’t count the amount of times I’ve heard opposing research telling me that red wine is very good for me, very bad for me, or neither. I’ve heard similar reports about the benefits or otherwise of chocolate.

I happen to enjoy red wine and chocolate so I can take the easy way out and just believe the research that says they’re good for me or I can weigh up the evidence and make an educated choice.

One thing I know for sure is that too much coffee, McDonalds, Subway, red wine and chocolate is not good for me but I think there’s more to be learned than just “everything in moderation”.

So what do you do when faced with differing opinions on what’s good for us and what’s bad for us? Do you throw your hands in the air and say, “I give up” or do you seek to make sense of the data from both sides of the debate?

I’d really be interested in your thoughts.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading What do you want to believe?? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

I’m Not Lovin’ It

I know that Ronald McDonald is already making money hand over fist and that he won’t care that I’m not happy, but surely a company as big as McDonald’s should be able to perfect the simple art of listening to a customer.

I’m sure that one unhappy customer doesn’t mean much to them but is it asking too much to simply be treated with a little respect?

I decided to buy myself a coffee in the city this morning.

I walked past McDonald’s and noticed that the store was rather quiet so I popped in for a long black. I fumbled in my pocket for some change and then counted out enough for the BIG coffee into my hand. I was ready for a monumental caffeine hit and so I then stepped up to the counter, money in hand.

The young lady behind the counter smiled and asked how she could help me. I got out words to the effect of, “I’d like a ….”. That’s as far as I got before the McDonald’s worker turned and started a conversation with a fellow worker.

Really? Am I that boring? Is my order that uninteresting that you’d rather talk amongst yourselves? You didn’t even get to hear what my order was.

I’ve had bad service before but to my knowledge I’ve never disappeared half way through an order before. Well, when I say half way, I guess it was closer to a quarter of the way through the order. Could she no longer see me there? I’m a big guy. She should have been able to spot me there waiting to finish my order.

After waiting a short while for her to remember that without customers her business would cease to exist, I turned around and walked out. I’m sorry, but I refuse to be ignored. If you really need to talk to a co-worker, do it either before or after taking my order, not half way through my opening sentence.

On my way to where I was going I found another shop that sells coffee. They took my order, made my order, gave me my order. It didn’t seem to cause them much trouble. I guess in future I’ll be visiting them a whole lot more and McDonald’s a whole lot less.

Have you ever had a similar experience with bad customer service? Did you hang around or just walk off?



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading I’m Not Lovin’ It? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

Can you ‘bear’ McDonalds new advertisement?

I’m lovin’ it.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Can you ‘bear’ McDonalds new advertisement?? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

McHawaii

mchappy2008.jpgAs I mentioned last week, Saturday was McHappy Day at McDonalds stores across Australia.

It’s an annual event that raises funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities to help seriously ill children live happier, healthier lives. I spent some time helping out at Tuart Hill McDonalds.

Jill Bonanno, my regular Friday morning guest on 98.5 Sonshine FM joined me for a fun time talking to customers and raising funds. (That’s us in the photo.)

The store had a Hawaiian  theme with most of the regular staff wearing Hawaiian shirts. I don’t kow why they chose that theme but it did make the day very colourful. There was also a visit from Batman and various other costumed characters.

I’m always thrilled when people get behind a worthwhile cause and so I was very pleased when the first person I asked for a donation, a young lady in her late teens, opened her purse and pulled out a fifty dollar note to contribute to the tally.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading McHawaii? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

McHappy Day 2008

I’ll be putting on the apron and selling a few Big Macs tomorrow.

No, it’s not a way of supplementing my income. I won’t even be getting paid.

Saturday the 15th of November is McHappy Day, an annual event that raises funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities to help seriously ill children live happier, healthier lives.

Each year local media, sporting, political and community personalities are asked to get involved by serving behind the counter or collecting money from those in the restaurants. I’ve helped out at McHappy Day several times in the past and I’m looking forward to getting involved again.

I’m certainly no celebrity but it’s nice to be asked to help out as part of my work at 98.5 Sonshine FM.

From 10:30 to 11:30 tomorrow morning I’ll be at McDonalds in Tuart Hill on the corner of Waneroo Road and Morley Drive, so if you’re in the area please drop in and say hello. They have a great McCafe if you want to drop in for a coffee.

I’ll be teaming up with my Friday morning radio guest, Jill Bonanno, so it should be a very entertaining time to be at Maccas. I’ll post some photos here after the event.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading McHappy Day 2008? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.