REVIEW: McDonald’s Fruit & Maple Oatmeal

McDonald's Fruit & Maple Oatmeal

Ordering the McDonald’s Fruit & Maple Oatmeal via the drive-thru at my local McDonald’s made me feel like I was in an alternate universe, where McDonald’s brags about being fresh and healthy, while Subway has a fat Jared Fogle dressed up as a clown as their spokesperson.

Oatmeal on the McDonald’s menu board looks out of place, like a fish out of water or the white member of The Roots.

I know McDonald’s has other “healthy” fare, like their fruit parfait and Fruit & Walnut Salad, but oatmeal is in the upper echelon of healthy eating. Basically, its wholesomeness does the opposite of what most McDonald’s food does. It’s been shown to help lower blood pressure, control weight, and reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes. The fiber in oatmeal helps get rid of the bad cholesterol in the body and makes holding in farts more difficult.

The addition of the Fruit & Maple Oatmeal to the fast food giant’s menu looks like another attempt to be like Starbucks, which has been selling oatmeal for a while. I can understand the appeal of a powerful entity trying to be even more powerful, since I occasionally like put on some big women’s sunglasses to see things though the eyes of Kim Jong-il.

But the question that arises is whether or not you can trust McDonald’s with oatmeal. Are they Boy Scout trustworthy or as trustworthy as a random audience member yelling random numbers at you as you stand on a stage figuring out the value of a Price Is Right’s Showcase that consists of a jet ski, a trip to the Bahamas, a sailboat and a Ford Mustang convertible?

After trying the Fruit & Maple Oatmeal, I believe you can trust McDonald’s.

McDonald's Fruit & Maple Oatmeal Closeup

Sure, the pictures above look like a pretentious health nut douchebag threw up into a cup after some detox treatment, but I assure you it’s not. If the oatmeal didn’t come with so much liquid, it wouldn’t look the way it does. Personally, I prefer my oatmeal to be a bit thicker.

Although I had mine with brown sugar (you can order it without), I didn’t think the oatmeal was overly sweet.

There’s an assortment of fruits with the whole grain rolled oats: diced green and red apples, dried sweetened cranberries, California raisins and golden raisins. They provide a wide variety of flavors and textures to go along with the soft oatmeal. There’s an ample amount of fruits, which ensures that there’s something in each spoonful.

Overall, I think the McDonald’s Fruit & Maple Oatmeal is a winner and I definitely see myself buying it on a regular basis. Its flavor easily makes most packets of instant oatmeal seem like dull mush. Its warmth is nice during these cold months here on this rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Plus, I think it’s hearty enough that it could be a meal by itself.

If McDonald’s keeps releasing more healthier products, I wonder if our universe will end up being the alternate one.

Whoa! I just totally blew my mind.

(Nutrition Facts – 9.2 ounces with brown sugar – 290 calories, 40 calories from fat, 4.5 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 160 milligrams of sodium, 57 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 32 grams of sugar, 5 grams of protein, 2% vitamin A, 130% vitamin C, 10% calcium and 10% iron.)

Other McDonald’s Fruit & Maple Oatmeal reviews:
Dave’s Cupboard
Grub Grade
Foodette Reviews

Item: McDonald’s Fruit & Maple Oatmeal
Price: $2.49
Size: 9.2 ounces
Purchased at: McDonald’s
Rating: 9 out of 10
Pros: Really good. Right amount of sweetness. Available throughout the day. Lots of fruits. Decent source of fiber. Winning both Price Is Right Showcases. Hearty. Excellent source of vitamin C. The Roots.
Cons: Too much liquid for me. 32 grams of sugar. Getting oatmeal from McDonald’s seems weird. Putting on women’s sunglasses to seeing the world through Kim Jong-il’s eyes. Fiber makes holding in farts harder.

32 thoughts to “REVIEW: McDonald’s Fruit & Maple Oatmeal”

  1. I’ve become a big fan of the McD’s fruit and maple oatmeal, and pick it up on my way to work most mornings now.

    I think the “wateriness” of it seems to vary though – most of the time they make mine much thicker than it looks like in your photo, although every now and then, depending on who is making it, it will be as watery as what you got there. It is definitely better when it’s thicker though.

    1. I tried another one from a different McDonald’s and it was a little bit thicker. Dammit! Where’s the quality control? Grimace is gonna be sitting on someone as punishment.

    2. I’ve had a similar experience: the McDonald’s I visit usually makes the oatmeal pretty dry. Since I’m cheap and have no shame, I order the not-so-secret Oatmeal Happy Meal (apple dippers, caramel sauce, and milk for $3.49). When no one is looking, I add some milk and a little bit of caramel to the oatmeal (assuming the preparer didn’t over-water it). If you stick to the big boy menu, you have to order the items individually for a total of $4.00 and you don’t get the toy . . . for your child.

  2. Havent had the McDonalds Oatmeal yet. I eat Starbucks’ Oatmeal weekly. Will have to have a taste test throwdown when school starts.

    1. I really should be eating more oatmeal. Perhaps this will help. Or perhaps I’ll find a way to become obese from eating oatmeal.

  3. Or you could use 1-2 packets of Quaker Instant Oatmeal of your flavor choice for maybe 30-50 cents and throw in some almonds oe walnuts and raisens/dried cranberries, and have the same, or better, in the time it would take you to place and get your order at McD’s, Starbucks, etc.

    ;^)

    1. The instant stuff is bad for you, and negates the reason for eating it in the first place. Just fyi. I think america has a problem with obesity because a lot of adults don’t have the sense to actually eat like adults rather than preteens.

    2. I tried the fruit and maple oatmeal, but the McDonald’s in my neighborhood just adds a packet of cranberries. There wasn’t any apples or raisins. It tasted pretty good, but I agree that you can make your own quicker than the time it takes to order. I am glad to see McDonald’s offering a few healthy choices on their menu.

  4. With all due respect, when I tried the oatmeal at Starbucks, they made it from a packet. And no, Quaker and other packets are not “unhealthy” … they’re oatmeal. (If you don’t like the flavors or the ingredients in them–everything in moderation, folks–just get the plain.) Urban myth-land.

    1. @ Mile: You are correct that both instant and whole are both oatmeal, and contain similar nutritional profiles. However instant oatmeal has been processed to cook more quickly, it is also broken down and digested more quickly by your body, giving it a higher glycemic index. Whole oats contain the outer covering of the oat, which provides useful fiber and takes longer for your body to break down. This means they will keep you full longer. Processed oatmeal is not a bad choice, its just not the best choice. Why not go all the way? Whole tastes about the same and costs a lot less at the grocery.

      1. If you are going to talk nutrition, eat steel cut. Noting is lost. You can start them in a crock pot the evening before & have a delicious & most nutrious oatmeal ready for you when you awaken in the morning 🙂

  5. I saw them make mine. Literally a packet of instant oatmeal was opened, dumped in a cup, hot water added from a spout on their coffee pot, not the mccafe coffee but the regular coffee machines. A packet of brown sugar and a packet of mixed fruit was opened and added on top. Top put on and handed 2 me

  6. Had this a couple of weeks ago and it was great. The oatmeal was very thick and tasty. I didn’t look to see how they made it but I would definitely buy it again!!

  7. Cold months in Hawai’i ? Doubtful 🙂 I’ve been to the big Island many times- In the summer it’s 70-83 and in the winter its’ 70-80 or something. You want cold weather to test out your Micky D’s oatmeal – come here to upstate NY. I had snow on the ground in May, and howling winds from Canada that required ear muffs in June. In actual winter we wake up in the dark and come home from work in the dark… battle -20 at night and go weeks at a time where it doesn’t come above zero. We’re expected to function in that while you are riding your Vespa around in Captain Cook admiring the coconuts and testing oatmeal? PS – You might better go to the Tex drive-in and have a Malasada 😉

  8. You guys are sadly mistaken if you think this crap is healthy eating. 300 calories and 57g of carbs? If you know anything about nutrition, you would know that you will blow up like a beach whale if you ate this on the regular. McDonalds did a great job of tricking fat people that they are eating healthy lol

  9. November 2014 I loved McDonald’s oatmeal it was thick and creamy ordered it again this year November it was watery not cooked l it took it back. They made me another one packet, with water from the Spicket put it in the oatmeal. oatmeal did not get thick, the water was not nearly hot enough. Something changed during the last year they started serving a different oatmeal. This is terrible and I wouldn’t serve it to my children. If they’re going to use a packet they need to at least get the water and or microwave It.

  10. i have tried the mcdonalds oatmeal with fruit,although it tasted allright, i was not happy with the fact that my oatmeal container was only half full even with the fruit added to it.I wondered why they were so scarce with the oatmeal! I feel that it was not worth the two and a half dollars.i will not but oatmeal from here again,it wasnt enough oatmeal

  11. i have tried the mcdonalds oatmeal with fruit,although it tasted allright, i was not happy with the fact that my oatmeal container was only half full even with the fruit added to it.I wondered why they were so scarce with the oatmeal! I feel that it was not worth the two and a half dollars.i will not but oatmeal from here again,it wasnt enough oatmeal

  12. I love McDonald’s oatmeal sometimes it’s a little watery but I ask them to make it thicker it’s good stuff

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