A Good Ribbing

I'm a sucker for popular culture. It's brain candy - wasting time, attention, etc., but somehow amusing. In most cases, it's like being an anthropologist trying to figure out why it's popular when it makes little sense to me. Enter my momentary fascination with McDonald's McRib. This thing really is disgusting when you dissect its ingredients (like a hot dog), yet it's something of legend.

McDonald McRib devotees who use "McRib tracking sites" and have launched "Save the McRib" campaigns (clever McDonald marketing.) Simpsons played the craze homage by making Homer a ribwich deadhead. But how does it stack up compared to a comparable plant-based alternative?


via GIPHY

I compared the McRib to a vegan MorningStar Farms Hickory smoked BBQ riblet on a Food for Life whole wheat burger bun. Here's how they stacked up: 

Sources: MorningStar, Food for Life, McDonalds

Fewer calories, fat, cholesterol and sodium and more protein and iron in the vegan version. The vegan version was also higher in carbs, sugar and dietary fiber. Definitely not a health food, especially if you're watching your glucose or sodium levels.