Last time I wrote about McDonald's, I suggested they should have sent me coupons for my next visit. I said I could not be sure actions were really taken on behalf of my complaint. Well, on two days later, I recieved a phone call from whom I believed to be the Boston District Manager at McDonald's. He left a message with a phone number and asked me to call him back about the incident. I didn't feel like going through my explanation with him, as I thought this was just a curtesy call. So I ignored it.
A day later, he called me back. I was driving. So I told him I'll call him back when I'm home. I called him back an hour later. He apologized for my experience and asked me to tell him what happened. I told him the story, and for a good three to four minutes he listened intently. Then, he apologized again, and said he'll send me two gift cards for my value meals. The manager confirmed my address and assured me corrective actions will be taken.
Justice served.
And I got my free meals for next time! So moral of the story? If you know something must be done, take action, because you will be rewarded!
Friday, July 8, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Must Have Fruits
Time and time again, several fruits have made it into my weekly shopping list. Since I am always on a tight budget, these are the fruits I keep coming back to. They are usually available in any season, easy to prepare, stores for a while, and they add extra flavor, color, and nutrients to my meals. These popular fruits in my diet are bananas, apples, grapes, and clementines*.
Bananas
Bananas are on the top of my must-have list, because you can add them to almost anything. There is no washing necessary, so it’s great to take on the go for days that you know you won’t get the chance to wash your hands before lunch. You can have them plain and raw, cooked, frozen, blended for texture or dipped in chocolate. On a budget? I’ve seen bananas going for as low as 49 cents/lb!
My favorite ways to add bananas to
Breakfast: take it to go when I’m late for work – no spoons required, it won’t burn or spill; and if you pick a larger one, it will last you to lunch- just make sure you carry a plastic baggy to keep the aroma of the peel away from yourself if you know you won’t find a trash can for a while
- Lunch: PB&J with banana slices – it’s a classic, no explanation necessary
- Dinner: sautee it like plantains, make rice in a rice cooker, and microwave a can of beans – lazy, easy, and nutritious- my kind of dinner after a long day at work
- Dessert: a banana boat sundae – there is nothing that reminds me of my childhood more than a banana boat sundae
Do you peel your bananas from the stem or the end?
I generally peel my bananas from the end, because I was told you can’t eat the needle that is pulled out when you peel it from the end. If you peel the banana from the stem, you might end up eating that needle, which has traces of poison in it (or so I’ve been told).
Did you know? Bananas are also good for relieving constipation.
Apples
Yes, apples, but not just any kind of apples can make it to my grocery list. The picture shows Honey Crisp Apples, which are by far my favorite kind of apples. Why are they so good compared to all the other apples? Well, you can probably guess by its name that it is naturally sweet and crispy. Other than that, they make great baking apples, for pie or for stuffed apples. They are also great for making sauces. Sometimes you can find them for as low as 99 cents/lb. Apples are available year-round even if they aren’t Honey Crisps.
Add apples to
- Breakfast: by itself or to oatmeal for real texture that apple flavored oatmeal does not provide.
- Lunch: apple tuna sandwich – dice the apples, peeled or not, and mix it in your favorite tuna salad sandwich; or a variation of PB&J with sliced apples
- Dessert: Baked apples with cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, and even cherry soda! (Receipes to come)
Did you know? Apples contain as much caffeine as a small cup of coffee. So if you are trying to lose the coffee and start eating healthier, you don’t have to give up your caffeine kick. Instead, trade in your coffee for natural caffeine from an apple.
Grapes
Red or green, it doesn’t matter. Just wash and eat them whenever you want. No peeling necessary, and they make great snacks. These litte fruits are super juicy. Though they are usually over $1/lb, they are most definitely worth it, because they also go well in any meal.
Add grapes to
- Breakfast: by slicing them in half the long way and adding it it to your cream cheese on bagles or toast
- Lunch: in your tuna salad sandwich – another variation; or in your fried rice as a substitute for pineapples
- Drinks: by freezing them – they make great ice cubes and adds color to champagne. It’s a great conversation starter too.
Clementines*
The reason why this fruit is on my list even though they are not freshly available year-round, they are available in can form, which is just as good. These mini oranges are sweeter, juicier, and easier to peel. They make great snacks, and adds flavor to meals. Clementines usually come in a big box. You can get them for as low as $6 a box when they are in season, or for less than a dollar in can form.
Add clementines to
- Breakfast: in your yogurt or cottage cheese
- Lunch: Asian salads for the tangy taste
- Dinner: as a sauce or marinade with chicken stir-fry (Receipe to come)
- Dessert: mixed in your jello mold
I hope this post has inspired you to find creative ways to add fruit to your diet. Have fun with these new ideas and check back for receipes.
Bananas
Bananas are on the top of my must-have list, because you can add them to almost anything. There is no washing necessary, so it’s great to take on the go for days that you know you won’t get the chance to wash your hands before lunch. You can have them plain and raw, cooked, frozen, blended for texture or dipped in chocolate. On a budget? I’ve seen bananas going for as low as 49 cents/lb!
My favorite ways to add bananas to
Breakfast: take it to go when I’m late for work – no spoons required, it won’t burn or spill; and if you pick a larger one, it will last you to lunch- just make sure you carry a plastic baggy to keep the aroma of the peel away from yourself if you know you won’t find a trash can for a while
- Lunch: PB&J with banana slices – it’s a classic, no explanation necessary
- Dinner: sautee it like plantains, make rice in a rice cooker, and microwave a can of beans – lazy, easy, and nutritious- my kind of dinner after a long day at work
- Dessert: a banana boat sundae – there is nothing that reminds me of my childhood more than a banana boat sundae
Do you peel your bananas from the stem or the end?
I generally peel my bananas from the end, because I was told you can’t eat the needle that is pulled out when you peel it from the end. If you peel the banana from the stem, you might end up eating that needle, which has traces of poison in it (or so I’ve been told).
Did you know? Bananas are also good for relieving constipation.
Apples
Yes, apples, but not just any kind of apples can make it to my grocery list. The picture shows Honey Crisp Apples, which are by far my favorite kind of apples. Why are they so good compared to all the other apples? Well, you can probably guess by its name that it is naturally sweet and crispy. Other than that, they make great baking apples, for pie or for stuffed apples. They are also great for making sauces. Sometimes you can find them for as low as 99 cents/lb. Apples are available year-round even if they aren’t Honey Crisps.
Add apples to
- Breakfast: by itself or to oatmeal for real texture that apple flavored oatmeal does not provide.
- Lunch: apple tuna sandwich – dice the apples, peeled or not, and mix it in your favorite tuna salad sandwich; or a variation of PB&J with sliced apples
- Dessert: Baked apples with cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, and even cherry soda! (Receipes to come)
Did you know? Apples contain as much caffeine as a small cup of coffee. So if you are trying to lose the coffee and start eating healthier, you don’t have to give up your caffeine kick. Instead, trade in your coffee for natural caffeine from an apple.
Grapes
Red or green, it doesn’t matter. Just wash and eat them whenever you want. No peeling necessary, and they make great snacks. These litte fruits are super juicy. Though they are usually over $1/lb, they are most definitely worth it, because they also go well in any meal.
Add grapes to
- Breakfast: by slicing them in half the long way and adding it it to your cream cheese on bagles or toast
- Lunch: in your tuna salad sandwich – another variation; or in your fried rice as a substitute for pineapples
- Drinks: by freezing them – they make great ice cubes and adds color to champagne. It’s a great conversation starter too.
Clementines*
The reason why this fruit is on my list even though they are not freshly available year-round, they are available in can form, which is just as good. These mini oranges are sweeter, juicier, and easier to peel. They make great snacks, and adds flavor to meals. Clementines usually come in a big box. You can get them for as low as $6 a box when they are in season, or for less than a dollar in can form.
Add clementines to
- Breakfast: in your yogurt or cottage cheese
- Lunch: Asian salads for the tangy taste
- Dinner: as a sauce or marinade with chicken stir-fry (Receipe to come)
- Dessert: mixed in your jello mold
I hope this post has inspired you to find creative ways to add fruit to your diet. Have fun with these new ideas and check back for receipes.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
McDonald's Failed Moment
Last Monday, I went to grab a light snack with my family around 3pm. We had missed lunch, just got out of a doctors visit, and we were on a tight schedule. Across the street from Tufts Medical Center is where the crime took place. We went into the McDonald's, knowing they would be quick. We've been to this particular McDonald's before. In fact, I would say I grew up eating food from this McDonald.
What happened to us this time around is completely unheard of. We ordered:
~ 1 Big Mac Meal
~ 1 Double Cheeseburger
~ 1 Kids Meal
~ 2 Filet o' Fish
~ 2 Apple Pies
~ 1 Small Hot Coffee
When we were called to pick up our food to go, we were given our coffee, two bags of food, and two drinks. Okay, two drinks and a coffee makes sense. But only two bags of food? We ordered so much food! We didn't bother checking because we were in a hurry.
As we got into the car, we dug in that large bag for our fries, when we found none. It's just impossible to have McDonald's and not have fries. I ran back to the McDonald's and demanded for fries. The woman who answered me was apparently the person who packed the order. She remembered she packed it herself, because the Big Mac was a special order with no onions. She swore she put fries in my bag, but she did not. I showed her the receipt, while she continued to make it seem like I was falsely accusing her. Finally, after much humiliation in a packed McDonald's, even at 3pm on a Monday, she threw out my receipt and got me some fries.
So I was terribly flustered for having to deal with this woman who didn't pack my fries, and didn't want to give me fries even if she believed I was lying when I got back to the car. We started driving off and eating our food, when we realized she also forgot to pack the Double Cheeseburger and two Apple Pies. This was the most disappointing visit ever! My little sister was so upset, she complained all the way home. I was simply flustered to have taken her humiliation simply for fries when I should have been the one giving her a hard time for forgetting 4 items from our meal.
When I got home, I had to get all this frustration out. My little sister also felt the need to take some action. So I decided to look for the phone number of the McDonald's in Chinatown, and call to complain about the rest of the missing items. I instinctively went to the official McDonald's website to use their locator. Instead, I stumbled across their comment section. So I made my frustrations known at the corporate level by sending them a formal complaint, though I doubted anything would actually happen.
Three days later, I received an email response from a Customer Service Representative. This is what the email said:
Hello Angela:
I want to thank you for taking the time to share your recent experience at the McDonald's in Boston, MA with me. Your feedback is very important to us as it allows us to better understand how we can improve our service to you.
I am sorry for the inaccurate order and unprofessional service you received. Please be assured that we want to provide you with an exceptional experience every time you visit us. From your email, it is clear we did not meet your expectations. Again, I am truly sorry we disappointed you.
I want you to know that I have already taken action on your feedback. After reading your email, I immediately shared the information you brought to our attention with the local franchise owner of the restaurant you visited. Additionally, I notified our regional McDonald's consultant who works with this owner for follow-up in the restaurant and appropriate corrective action.
Again, *****, thank you for sharing your feedback. We appreciate your business and we hope to have the pleasure of serving you soon.
******
McDonald's Customer Response Center
Justice served? How can I be sure this isn't all just talk? How do I know action really has been taken, and that this email is not just some generic thing McDonald's does for their complainers to make sure they made peace with their company?
I may never know what actually did or did not happen as a result of my complaint. They should have just sent me complimentary coupons for next time. But since they didn't, I really can't believe their response was genuine. If this problem happens again, I know now to just call and complain.
What happened to us this time around is completely unheard of. We ordered:
~ 1 Big Mac Meal
~ 1 Double Cheeseburger
~ 1 Kids Meal
~ 2 Filet o' Fish
~ 2 Apple Pies
~ 1 Small Hot Coffee
When we were called to pick up our food to go, we were given our coffee, two bags of food, and two drinks. Okay, two drinks and a coffee makes sense. But only two bags of food? We ordered so much food! We didn't bother checking because we were in a hurry.
As we got into the car, we dug in that large bag for our fries, when we found none. It's just impossible to have McDonald's and not have fries. I ran back to the McDonald's and demanded for fries. The woman who answered me was apparently the person who packed the order. She remembered she packed it herself, because the Big Mac was a special order with no onions. She swore she put fries in my bag, but she did not. I showed her the receipt, while she continued to make it seem like I was falsely accusing her. Finally, after much humiliation in a packed McDonald's, even at 3pm on a Monday, she threw out my receipt and got me some fries.
So I was terribly flustered for having to deal with this woman who didn't pack my fries, and didn't want to give me fries even if she believed I was lying when I got back to the car. We started driving off and eating our food, when we realized she also forgot to pack the Double Cheeseburger and two Apple Pies. This was the most disappointing visit ever! My little sister was so upset, she complained all the way home. I was simply flustered to have taken her humiliation simply for fries when I should have been the one giving her a hard time for forgetting 4 items from our meal.
When I got home, I had to get all this frustration out. My little sister also felt the need to take some action. So I decided to look for the phone number of the McDonald's in Chinatown, and call to complain about the rest of the missing items. I instinctively went to the official McDonald's website to use their locator. Instead, I stumbled across their comment section. So I made my frustrations known at the corporate level by sending them a formal complaint, though I doubted anything would actually happen.
Three days later, I received an email response from a Customer Service Representative. This is what the email said:
Hello Angela:
I want to thank you for taking the time to share your recent experience at the McDonald's in Boston, MA with me. Your feedback is very important to us as it allows us to better understand how we can improve our service to you.
I am sorry for the inaccurate order and unprofessional service you received. Please be assured that we want to provide you with an exceptional experience every time you visit us. From your email, it is clear we did not meet your expectations. Again, I am truly sorry we disappointed you.
I want you to know that I have already taken action on your feedback. After reading your email, I immediately shared the information you brought to our attention with the local franchise owner of the restaurant you visited. Additionally, I notified our regional McDonald's consultant who works with this owner for follow-up in the restaurant and appropriate corrective action.
Again, *****, thank you for sharing your feedback. We appreciate your business and we hope to have the pleasure of serving you soon.
******
McDonald's Customer Response Center
Justice served? How can I be sure this isn't all just talk? How do I know action really has been taken, and that this email is not just some generic thing McDonald's does for their complainers to make sure they made peace with their company?
I may never know what actually did or did not happen as a result of my complaint. They should have just sent me complimentary coupons for next time. But since they didn't, I really can't believe their response was genuine. If this problem happens again, I know now to just call and complain.
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