“It’s because I’m green, isn’t it?”
The Grinch is a holiday favorite for many American families as an icon of holiday spirit. Popularized by the 2000 Jim Carrey movie, this begrudgingly lovable creature reminds us all that Christmas is about family…and stress eating. The Grinch has been known to stress-eat sometimes alarming amounts of food, so it’s no surprise that he’s chosen to partner up with McDonald’s this year, releasing the Grinch Meal.
Food-wise, the Grinch Meal comes with a choice of 10-piece McNuggets or a Big Mac, along with medium McShaker fries and a drink. Customers will also receive a mystery bag containing a pair of Grinch-themed socks. There are 4 variations: red, blue, yellow, and green—each featuring distinct Grinch characters. The red socks feature a large McDonald’s ornament, yellow features little Sally, green is (of course!) the Grinch, and blue features Max, the Grinch’s loyal companion.
Most notably in the meal is the Grinch McShaker Fries. Variations of McDonald’s Shake-It-Yourself Seasoned Fries were first introduced in Hong Kong in 2005, and the United States is getting them 20 years later with the Grinch Meal. The meal comes with a dill pickle flavored seasoning and a holiday-themed bag with the words “All for me” scrawled on with Grinch handwriting.
But with all the pizzazz, how does it taste?
I, too, have fallen prey to capitalism and bought a Grinch Meal for myself. The chicken nuggets were crunchy but subpar (I’m not sure if McDonald’s nuggets even have real meat in them), but the highlight for me was definitely the fries and socks. As a staunch pickle lover, I enjoyed the tanginess and the interactivity of the fries, along with the excitement of opening up a mystery Grinch sock bag. And for anyone on the edge: it’s worth it for the novelty (especially if you like the socks!), but not something to purchase regularly.
After all, as the Grinch says: “Maybe Christmas… doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
