so, you all knew this was coming, right? you might’ve already seen the trailer, or some of the mysterious instagrams and thought… #wendystastekitchen???? what is she doing there and why and what and huh? cause that is sort of what i thought when i first got this email. an email inviting me to taste-test a brand new wendy’s sandwich in columbus, ohio at the wendy’s headquarters? really?
my initial thoughts:
um… i don’t eat at wendy’s very often (not often, but i have and do–and, it’s delish–and remember this?). and i soooort of preach health food on my blog. plus, will i have the freedom to write about it however i see fit? basically, how is this gonna fly?
cause, let’s be honest, i like free things, i like food, i like trips… but sell-out, i am not.
so, we had a conference call. i told them my thoughts + concerns. the people (really, really cool people, by the way) i spoke with were like, “we get it.” in summation (and my own paraphrasing): we read your blog. we know you don’t eat out all the time. we know you like healthy meals but are still willing to indulge in quick food that might not meet the standards of the food you put on your table at home. we still want you to try it because wendy’s is really trying to push the envelope and get on the same level as your paneras and chipotles, and that’s pretty cool.
and i do hope we can all agree wendy’s is already a step above mcdonalds and burger king. please. (sorry mickey d’s and bk but, come on!)
plus, plus!! wendy’s has a drive-thru window. does panera or chipotle? (a few paneras maybe, but is there a such thing for chipotle? i don’t think so.) big mistake, chipotle, huge (said like julia roberts in that pretty woman scene)! big selling point, wendys, huge! and does your baby fall asleep in the car like mine does when you’re so hungry that you consider carefully tipping up the car seat to gather the stale droppings that might’ve fallen through the cracks over the last several weeks? no? so now, an option verging on healthy (and most definitely healthy by fast food standards) but also available at a drive-thru. enough said.
so, as they were saying in my summation/paraphrasing way: we want you to come here to the headquarters, see it for yourself, try the sandwich. we want you to tell us what you think–honestly–and write about it in your own blog voice however you would normally go about writing a blog post. oh, and a really legit film company (shout out to plan a!) is gonna film the whole thing.
say what????
this was crazy.
so, the real point of all of this fun brou-ha-ha.
the sandwich. and, if you’re a notorious post-skimmer, especially a wordy one such as this (i had to do this sandwich justice!), then at least read everything i’ve italicized for you below!
(the experience part comes in a later post – hold your breath! as i’m sure you will! – and, dude, it was crazy.)
oh, and i guess i should include one of those whole, “this trip was paid for by wendy’s, but these opinions are seriously my own because, well, they said to tell the truth” disclaimers. there you have it.
this sandwich was good. this sandwich was really good. is this sandwich going to change your life? no. (though, depending on how life-changing you find food, and how often you eat out, i’m going to change that no to a definite maybe.) but here’s what i will say. this sandwich WAS way more panera-ish (maybe even better) than it was fast food-ish. and i WILL order this sandwich again, like after i’m done writing this post. let’s break it down.
allow me talk about the bread. cause the bread is probably what excited me the most. here’s my beef with a lot of bread (no pun intended!). a lot of sandwiches are too bready for the filling they hold. you know what i am saying, i know you do. it ends up tasting dry or like you need to take a nap afterwards because too many carbs. this was a flatbread. it was thin and so right for the amount of filling. and! perhaps the best part. five grains in the bread: millet, flaxseed, sesame seed, rolled oats, and cracked wheat. do you really expect that when getting fast food? NO. i felt like the bread had an earthy taste, you could see the grains in it, and even a little crunch in your mouth. win, win, win. you go flatbread, you go!
and now the veggies. two big slices of tomatoes (red ones! not the white so-not-ready-to-be-picked ones!), and a big handful of fresh spring mix on that baby too. i am totally the girl eyeing my meager sandwich vegetables when out at fast food places like, “how wilty is that lettuce? how red and ripe are those tomatoes?” but this was good, people. (i know what you’re thinking. “bridget. of course it was. they prepped it perfectly for you guys. you were there to try it and write about it, girl.”) to that i say, touché! it’s true. i can’t speak for the sandwiches that you are all rushing out to try just as soon as you finish this blog post but i can speak for mine whose vegetables were total winners and say i hope (wendy’s! i’m talking to you!) that your sandwich is just as good as mine. and, for the most part, i feel like when i’ve eaten at wendy’s, i’m never terribly disappointed.
the sauce. first i should tell you we tried two sandwiches. one was called the asiago ranch flatbread grilled chicken (my favorite!) and the other was the smokey honey mustard flatbread grilled chicken. now, if you’re me, the sauce is pretty important…. enough of it so the sandwich isn’t dry, enough flavor so it… has flavor. well, there was a big ‘ol dollop of awesomesauce (had to!) underneath each chicken breast. and, this is pretty cool: the sauces have no msg!! no preservatives! ALL ingredients i can pronounce (seriously, i saw the list.) – things like garlic, honey, cheese, apple cider vinegar. i thought that was pretty cool because i’m an msg hater and thought i pretty much had to forsake my hatred for the stuff when i ate at a fast food restaurant. so, yeah, they were really good and i was really impressed both with the flavor and the ingredients.
finally, the meat. there was a good-sized chicken breast on each, sliced up, with the dressing underneath. and this chicken – farm raised and cage free!!! i, for one, assumed that all fast food chicken was factory raised (and i can’t speak for the other two big fast food chains) but that’s not the case here. isn’t that surprising? and great? so, while it’s not organic, it is the next best thing. also, the ranch version had… meat candy, my friends… in the form of bacon. a couple legit pieces of applewood smoked bacon that were not flimsy the way bacon can be. like, if you held it, it would be stiff as opposed to falling to make a sad downward u-shape. you get it. and apparently it’ll be cooked throughout the day in the restaurants, as opposed to some precooked mumbo-jumbo going on your sandwich. pluuuus, the sandwich itself will be made to order. so if you want them to hold things, add things, i was told that would be a-ok. also, on the ranch one, two slices of asiago cheese. so, to refresh: both sandwiches had chicken, spring mix, tomatoes and their own sauce. but the ranch one had cheese and bacon in addition. anndddd, bacon. thus, it wins.
so, in conclusion, i’m psyched about this because it was delicious and because it doesn’t have any seriously funky fast food chemical crap in it. so, vote with your wallet and show fast food places that we are interested in these sorts of changes. go getcha’ flatbread sandwich!
and hey, between now and 5/12, wendy’s is giving away $1000 PER DAY to someone who tweets @wendys with the hashtag #twEATfor1k. so do it! {official rules here}
now stay tuned for some more about this whole crazy thing in the coming days. and maybe a picture or two of the hunts eating this sandwich because you can bet your bottom dollar that we will. the kids have been asking about it and i’m all, “you’ll have to wait and see!!” so they’re basically ready to eat one or two or ten.
and please tell me if you decide to try it and what you think. i really hope you do.
{and p.s. if you try it, please get a picture of yourself in all your sandwich-eatin’ glory, however silly or not, and send it to me! itsahuntlife@gmail.com}
cute video! sandwich looks pretty good. hope you had a fun trip! xo
Yum yum yum.
I want it now.
Loved the video. The slow mo walking in unison was the best.
right? they were like 'think, reservoir dogs.' we look so badass. so badass going to… try a sandwich?
so i am mad i live in scotland right now because i legit want to try that sandwich after hearing about it, but mostly after seeing the video. Stephen said the same. But he pointed out (which you also did too, and i'm glad) that it probably wont be prepped the same way yours was prepped…all meticulous. SO i am really hoping that wendys does do what they say and each sandwich will be prepped and look like , and taste like, what you all got. More power to them for trying to break outside the fast food mold. I am seriously entertained by the video. you are a funny person.
Wow! After reading the review and watching the video I have to say I'm SHOCKED and IMPRESSED that a fast food company is going in this direction. How does it stack up calorie-wise against the traditional burger?
as was i! so, i just looked this up – jr cheeseburger deluxe, for instance, has 630 calories. for the flatbread, the honey mustard has 370 and the ranch has 530 (higher w/ bacon/cheese/etc. if you held the bacon, for example, it'd be 440!). hope that helps.
holy crap!! look at me i'm commenting! the sandwhich looks good. there is a freaking wendy's here so i will try it. you are awesome and the cutest one.
Great video and even greater opinion about the product. We'll be trying it for sure! Go Bridget Go!!!
This is so great! Love your review and the video — very funny. What a great option — I have a 7 month old and getting out to pick up lunch is such.a.pain!! Cant wait to drive thru it for this one
Sorry, but I'm not sorry for this comment. Wendy's is the opposite of everything you preach on this blog. This is the definition of selling out. You lost a long-time fan and reader today. Hope the fast food and free trip was worth it.
no need to be sorry, everyone's entitled to their opinion! i do preach health food/homeopathy here. but i also have blogged a trip to wendys (link is in the post) and instagrammed me chowing down at five guys. when i'm out all day and hungry, all bets are off. i'm busy and don't pack my healthy food to go (that'd be nice though!). moderation is key, maybe i haven't emphasized THAT enough on the blog.
with that said, will i be eating at wendys all the time? no. but when i DO eat out and a drive thru window is the only option, i WILL be getting this sandwich.
not a sell out. agree to disagree. sorry to have lost you as a reader!
everyone is allowed to do something different than their "normal" routine as often as they want. We are freaking human beings for crying out loud!! Eat on! Order a chocolate frosty while you are at it 🙂
I so disagree with the reader above. Yes, Wendy's is a fast-food establishment…it is what it is. That said, kudos to them for doing a few things 1. trying to break the mold and actually provide a somewhat healthier option {they started with sea salt fries here in Canada, different bread options incl whole grain} 2. for choosing 2 "foodie" and 2 "lifestyle" bloggers tasked to provide their honest opinions. You clearly state above that you had your reservations from the get-go and I for one, totally believe you.
That, and you are cute as a button!
thank you susan!
AMEN & DITTO to your response (above).
I was so sad to read this. Yes, good for Wendy's for trying to be more responsible and serving healthier bread and chicken. I'm not a PETA member, but I do believe that we owe it to animals to treat them compassionately. Pigs raised for food are almost always in cages so cramped their noses are pressed against the bars all day and there is no room to sit or turn around. Piglets are taken from their mothers soon after birth and have their teeth removed and tails cut without pain killers. There are well documented videos and articles about these smart animals(pigs have the intelligence of dogs, sometimes higher) and it was truly heartbreaking and life changing. No creature deserves to suffer like this. I sincerely believe that God relies on us to be passionate towards all life.
linda, i admit, i've seen some documentaries (food inc. being one!) and am affected by them for a time, and then, sadly, some of the initial horror is forgotten. i don't know specifically how the animals that ultimately end up in wendys restaurants are treated but i was really impressed that the chickens were cage free + farm raised — i assumed before going that they were factory/cages stacked ten high type environment. maybe they're making strides in the pigs/cows departments as well?? one can only hope.
i do agree with your last statement and because of that (and the health factor) steve and i buy only responsible meat/eggs in our home.
That's pretty cool that you got to travel and taste a new Wendy's sandwich! The sandwich looks pretty good too! I'm glad that they're focusing on delivering more healthy sandwiches to the public, although you would think they would have thought of that already! But hey, it's better late then never! Or is I THAN never?….
How exciting for you! Looks like fun! It's a shame I'm a vegetarian now since this is the best looking thing I've seen from fast food in awhile.
That is pretty baller. Like, I'm way envious of you. And to all those naysayers: Get off your high horse! I know when we blog, it's with the expectation we'll be judged, but you've totally missed the point and perhaps are seeing things that aren't there.
So kewl Bridget! I wish there were healthier and fast options around here! Wendy's seems to be getting it together…but there is no Wendy's near me dammit! I am a total health-freak as you know but when two kids are asleep in the car I would almost gnaw my own arm off in hunger and desperation instead of waking them up. And Bridget, nobody is perfect and it is a shame people out there are so quick to judge. Keep doing what you're doing…you're doing it brilliantly.
That looks so good! I may go try it today with their NEW and DELICIOUS strawberry lemonade!!
I think people are over-reacting… I think this is great and good for you! no need to defend yourself! You're a mom of like a million kids and going to a fast food place is not unheard of… especially when you're out all day or whatever the case may be. Now you have a healthy option thanks to Wendys. Good on you and don't mind all the haters.
Yumm! In high school I went to Wendy's on a daily basis ha ha! I felt like it slowly went a bit down hill, but now I am excited to try this sammie!! Can't wait.
Interesting post, I'm sure it will incite lots of passionate discussion in the comments 😉 Personally I think it's cool, and if you look at an opportunity and think, hey, that sounds fun & interesting to me, why NOT do it? Whether or not readers agree with your choice, if an opportunity seemed cool to you, you are entitled to take it and to enjoy it!
Some Snapshots Blog
Jess
As someone who lives in NYC I probably eat fast food twice a year because there are so many healthier, natural quick options here, but sometimes I do wish fast food restaurants would care more about the type of food they're serving and how it impacts the people eating it and the planet, so although I am a vegetarian and will not be trying either of these sandwiches, good for Wendy's for trying to take a step in the right direction!
Along with the vast majority of loyal followers to this blog, I applaud Bridget and Wendy's. It was an opportunity to participate in a consciousness raising for an industry that is sadly contributing to huge health problems in our country and elsewhere. Why not be part of it and have some fun at the same time. Go Wendy's for being so innovative with the rollout of their new menu!! I want it to be a BIG success for the benefit of the masses–and so I will have to drive at least 25 miles to take part! Can't wait. Hopefully this will influence Wendy's to keep it on the menu! Go bloggers!! As far as 'selling out' goes — Really? How about we just remain open minded?
Read this earlier and then just came back to watch the video. You were awesome and so cute Bridget!!! Good for you for taking advantage of this fun opportunity. And hey we all need to splurge every now and then…or in my case……..often?? 🙂
so cool, and damn you are a great salesperson, because i havent been to a wendys in probably 15 years and now if im stuck in the car with my sleeping baby and there is a drivethru around, wendys will be on my list of places to go. i do have a drive thru panera fairly close, so thats where i usually go!
i too, loved the slow-mo walk up!!
also you kinda sound like Scarlett Johansson!
I know someone already said this but I loved the Slo mo walking that was awesome! I can't believe people are actually upset going to quit reading, calling you a sell out and all that non sense WOW really??? Maybe I'm sheltered? But to get worked up over this, really? So were the kids impressed or what? LOL
I think you were the perfect person to test this BECAUSE you eat healthy. That is what Wendy's is trying to make – a sandwich that appeals to people who want healthy and whole food.
I'll be trying this sandwich out for sure. I am nervous that when it trickles down from the test kitchen with it's chef to the actual restaurant. Some of the freshness, some of the crispness, might be lost. I've seen this of their salads sometimes. BUT it is worth a try and like you said if you are going to get fast food Wendy's really is the best option out there anyway so hooray that they are adding an artisan sandwich and super excited to be in the know about how great all the ingredients actually are.
you SOLD me!! will definitely try it over spring break this week! (very, very cute video :))
This post got my pregnant self to Wendy's today. The one tomato was orange and the chicken was slimy and cold. The flatbread part was pretty awesome and french fries are always a win. I'm jealous of your perfectly prepared one! I'm not on twitter or else I would have tweeted the sad state of my sandwich to Wendy's. Hopefully they follow through on their promises and I caught them on an off day.
oh dammit! i hope it improves – with the sandwich being new and all – but i suspect it may not look quite like it did in the video… 🙁
Looks good. Although, now you have me thinking… what took 2 years?
I think this is beyond cool and while I enjoyed reading the comments that were negative because they do have their points, I loved seeing the video because we only get still photographs of bloggers we love and it totally showed us more of your personality in real life! I also was cracking up at the slowmo Armageddon sequence while walking into the building. I think it is great that you are finding promotional things outside of the blog and it could lead you in a really cool direction eventually. Good for Wendy's at least TRYING to go in a different direction that might in fact lose them a lot of fans. I applaud restaurants that make a step in a healthier direction.
Alright, I'm interested. I haven't eaten fast food in at least a year but now that I have Clara I've had many a moment wishing there were some healthy ish good fast food options! Totally going to try this the next time I'm out, hungry and don't want to wake a sleeping baby!
My girls had ballet tonight and on our way home they were STARVING and guess what happens to be on the way to our house? Yep, Wendy's. So I totally tried the Asiago Ranch and it was delish! I kinda want to go back and get another one. Or at least make my husband pick one up on his way home from basketball later tonight. 🙂
Oh and all the veggies were crisp and pretty and the chicken was perfect. I would've taken a picture but I was too impatient to try it.
I love how up front you are with this being a sponsored post. So often bloggers are like "I just decided to go clothes shopping this weekend!" and then at the end its like *by the way this was totally sponsored and not spontaneous in the least. AND that is why I trust you, and it doesn't bug me like other sponsored posts people do. 🙂 And I really really want one of those sandwiches!
I don't know if I can fully communicate just how HAPPY this makes me. You know I am going tomorrow (cross my heart!) to Wendy's TOMORROW to get me one of these!! I'm calling it fate, as I was talking to my mother in law today, who told me to go watch this funny video (as if I wouldn't anyway:), and AND, a new Wendy's just opened down the street. I'm sure you can imagine how often I go out to lunch with the twins… yeah, never. But I always crave a good crunchy, meaty sandwich. That's my style. Like seriously, it's 10:54 and I'm craving this.
So… you better bet you'll be getting an email of me and my Horsley peeps eating this tomorrow round lunchtime:) xoxo
gah! pressure's on!!! i hope it is good!
So…I have to say I've got a LOT of hesitation in trusting a fast food company to produce good, quality food for the consumer. Because their goals are not to produce a healthy America, but to maximize profits- sure there's whole grain bread and no MSG, but what about sodium content? high fructose corn syrup? percent of recommended daily value of carbs, sugars, all that junk? I suspect they've made a sandwich that looks darn good on paper and in photos, but in reality is not much healthier than the average Wendy's product. That being said, they get an A for effort, and I'm sure it beats a big mac on all fronts. A sandwich like this every once in a while won't do much harm, but it's not doing a whole lot of good, either. Sorry Wendy's, not good enough.
p.s. I hope this doesn't come off as too inflammatory! I'm just a wee-bit (read: wayyyyy too) sleep deprived, angry at the childhood obesity epidemic and frustrated that fast food and snack companies have been allowed to put so much crap out on the market for such a long time. Most of it probably stems from this article http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/magazine/the-extraordinary-science-of-junk-food.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&
that being said, you have a lovely blog and are entirely entitled to share your opinions on it, though I'm sure I don't have to tell you that!
not too imflammatory at all. i could not agree with you more on the childhood obesity epidemic, not to mention the growing cost of healthcare, video game playing, etc. etc. etc. the list goes on. and on! and you're right – i even point blank asked them: "what would it take to serve ONE thing on the menu that's organic/grass fed? i'd be willing to pay a few dollars extra for it. is that even feasible?"
at this time, i don't think it is. i don't think the supply is there OR the interest. which is a bummer. but i think that this sandwich is a step in the right direction. when i'm out shopping and i choose the bpa-free canned tomatoes or the organic eggs, i feel like it's (in a small way!) a vote with my wallet. knowing their idea behind this sandwich–which i was really impressed by and hope i communicated clearly in my post– trying to be more health-concious/more like panera… is an incremental change, no doubt, but a change for the positive.
as for the sodium/carb allowance, i can't say! but i did read the ingredients–no hfcs! i'm anti that stuff as well.
anyway, thanks georgia!
hey georgia, i came back to leave one more comment! not a terribly profound one but i was thinking about your comment as i went about my day so i wanted to add one more thing– am i terribly excited about the fast food industry as a whole? no. but do i think america is actually going to stop eating at fast food restaurants?? absolutely not. that's why i was really excited to hear/talk/try this sandwich. people are ALWAYS going to get fast food. so at least there is an option that's healthier than before. right? once again, step in the right direction!!!
And Meghan Kinsey, you must have nothing you stand for in this world, since you will obviously think nothing of a blogger who says one thing and does another. For money. And publicity. Bridget – maybe your homeopathic health kit suggestions should include items to recover from the toxic, carcinogenic poison of this sandwich. Make a video of you feeding this sandwich to your family- Parker included – after you have picked it up from a random Wendy's drive thru. That would be an interesting video.
if i said i never ate fast food, never got a personal pan pizza while walking around target (it's in the archives somewhere!), never ate at five guys… then i would see your point. i'm also not advocating leaving the comfort of your own home FOR this wendy's sandwich. i'm not doing it, nor do i think you should be. WHEN i am out, WHEN i am desperate, WHEN a drive thru window is the only option, do i think this is a good one? perhaps not the BEST but better than the the majority of the others? yeah. absolutely. and, honestly, i'm sort of psyched to see a fast food company even interested in these changes let alone putting them into practice. the fast food industry–the food itself and the growing portions–is a huge problem. this is a step in the right direction, in my opinion. a part of the solution to the bigger problem. i was willing to stand behind it — last month – and i'd do it again. once again, i think it bears repeating, am i telling you to eat wendy's every day? no. myself, i eat at fast food probably 4-5 times per year.
i fear you're all (ok not all, but some!) reading this blog in a vacuum — thinking that because i preach homeopathy, nursing, organic food, wellness… i shun all junk food… moderation is seriously key.
did that make sense?? and honestly, pattycake, i'm glad you're coming here to leave me a comment instead of talking trash about me elsewhere. so thank you.
ok well now I want this sandwhich! is it here in NC yet???
I would hate to live a life where I was so passionate about food and whatnot that I NEVER ate fast food or junk food! I think you do a good job of stressing that moderation is important, and this review clearly states your opinions and reservations. Good for you!! The video is awesome, by the way! And as someone who has no problem grabbing a burger out when I'm on a roadtrip or running errands, I look forward to trying this healthier option. 🙂
Bridget- I'm just reading through some of these other comments (as I came back to see your reply) and thought first, wow people are really mean. Then I thought, actually Bridg should just feel great about herself that she's reached the number of people and such a big audience that she's held to "that" kind of standard. The one where people like to scrutinize every tiny move you make. So hooray for you!!! I'm going to do a post now that says "Bridget Hunt pumps her own gas too"
So I read this post last night before falling asleep… and then had a really intense dream about driving all over town and frantically calling people, trying to figure out where I could get the sandwich as soon as possible:) haha
Hello Meghan – I will address your comments one at a time and without the use of caps, which you seem so fond of!
1. I use an avatar because I have a unique legal name. In this day and age, people can find out virtually anything with a few clicks on the computer. For instance, in less than one minute, I was able to determine that you are Bridget's sister, have three boys, are a child birth educator believing in a medication free labor and delivery. Moreover, you went skiing a couple of weeks ago and you appear to have a boxer mix dog. This is why I do not use my name. Maybe you should consider locking down some of your social media sites.
2. Yes, this is your sister's blog. She can put on it what she sees fit. However, this is not a private blog. Bridget opted to make herself public, market herself and place her opinions and beliefs out there. Critics come with the territory. If Bridget wrote a book, she would be opening herself up to praise and criticism. There is no difference with a public blog. I am not telling Bridget what to write. I am telling her that I disagree with her choice. That is my right, just as it is Bridget's right to blog about whatever she chooses.
3. Self righteous? No, more like I am honest. Bridget has made it known time and time again that she promotes a healthy lifestyle and specifically healthy eating. Has she blogged about eating junk food from time to time? Yes. But with the Wendy's campaign, Bridget is actively promoting and endorsing a product which goes against the lifestyle and eating choices she has so often discussed on her public blog. Those posts were what I went to read. I believe these healthy eating/lifestyle posts are what made Bridget popular enough to be picked as one of the four Wendy's bloggers. Kind of ironic, don't you think? I believe Bridget has realized this since she went from talking about how great the sandwich is with the arugula, tomato slices and five grain bread (and really? Wendy's is healthier than McDonalds or Burger King? That is news to me) to discussing how this sandwich is really just the lesser of evils if you are limited to places with a drive thru window. In my opinion, Bridget would not have endorsed this product for free whereas she has endorsed other products on her blog simply because she liked them. No publicity or money involved. In my book, this made her a sell out. I also read Casey Wiegand's blog. I did not comment on her post because she has never promoted or blogged about her healthy eating habits.
I do not care to further discuss this issue. I have said my peace. I am glad I discovered that you are Bridget's sister as it really explains the downright hostility you had against sixtet which prompted me to call you out. I will bid both you and Bridget adieu. I will be moving on to other lifestyle blogs. I am just no longer buying what Bridget is selling.
pattycake, going to say this one last thing and then i must shut comments down as i fear this is going to get uglier than it already has.
mostly to your #3. i fully, fully, FULLY stand behind my decision to go to wendy's, try this sandwich, talk to their nutritionists, discover their goals, read the ingredients list, and discuss their aim to make a healthier choice in an industry that, at this point in time, doesn't seem terribly interested in the health of their consumers. i was sure to find out their aim BEFORE going so that i could talk about it 100% authentically on my blog. you may think i take every opportunity that comes my way (i'd suppose a sell out would) but i turn down things that don't fit my blog or my readership often–even if they may make me a buck or gain me popularity. going to wendy's only further proved that i am glad i made the choice to do so.
sorry if i've mislead you in previous comments here, or seemed like i was backpedaling. i am here to say i'm glad i went. am i promoting eating out at fast food every day? not at all, and the wendy's people know that too. i think it was because i'm interested in health that they invited me, not in spite of it. (and, side note, i really don't think my healthy eating is what's gained me popularity in the blog-world. there are plenty of healthy eating blogs — much better, more knowledgeable, and more thorough than mine.)
with that said, you have every right to think i'm a sell out. really. to each his own. do i wish you didn't believe that? sure. but it sounds like i have many who support me and so i will continue on blogging without your support.
thanks again, to everyone for your comments, however positive or negative they were. it's all a part of blogging, i suppose!
and comments officially CLOSED.