McDonalds is actually pretty low in calories compared to nonfranchised fast food restaurants. Part of this is portion control and part of it is the anti-obesity lawsuits from people who eat there every day and do fuck all exercise and then blame McDonalds for making them fat - as a result they are often reducing their calorie content.
We usually go to a local fried chicken place, and the amount of fries you get is MASSIVE. I can't finish them all, and I'm a greedy fucker. Went to KFC today and you get about 20 fries. Portion control = fewer calories
And I like some of those gourmet burger places, but they are far, far, far, more fatty/calorific than McDondalds
women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/diet_and_fitness/article726256.ece
Typical 'gourmet' burger:
805kcals
Fat 54.6g (of which saturates, 16.9g)
Salt 2.6g
Carbohydrate 37g (of which sugars, 10g)
McDonald's Big Mac:
493kcals
Fat 22.9g (of which saturates, 9.8g)
Salt 2.3g
Carbohydrate 44g (of which sugars, 11.6g)
And that's a Big Mac, the other burger choices are much less calorific.
I'd still prefer the gourmet one mind. Nothing wrong with calories, just do some exercise.