Happy Meals - healthier?

Rico · July 26, 2011, 08:31:41 AM

So Mc-Dee's is changing their Happy Meals and including apples and fewer fries. What madness is this? Healthier fast food?? ;)

In September, apples being added to Happy Meals

* Cutting child French fry portion by more than half

* Will continue to give away toys with Happy Meals

* Prices will not change due to nutritional changes

LOS ANGELES, July 26 (Reuters) - McDonald's Corp (MCD.N) said on Tuesday it will soon tweak its children's Happy Meals, reducing the French fry portion by more than half and automatically adding apples to the popular meals, after coming under pressure from consumer groups to provide healthier fare.

McDonald's -- which consumer groups say should lower calories, sugar and sodium in its meals for children -- said that it would start making the changes in September and that the new Happy Meals would be available in all of its 14,000 U.S. restaurants by the first quarter of 2012.

The world's largest hamburger chain also said it would reduce sodium, added sugars, saturated fats and calories across its entire menu over time.

The new child's French fry portion will be 1.1 ounces, down from 2.4 ounces previously. The new child's fry portion has about 100 calories, the company said.

The apple portion includes a half-cup of peeled fruit and has no added sugar or dipping sauces.

The company said calorie counts for the new Happy Meals will be well under 600 calories. Prices will not change as a result of the new composition, and toys will continue to be included in every Happy Meal. (Reporting by Lisa Baertlein, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/26/mcdonalds-idUSN1E76P0LJ20110726

QuadShot · July 26, 2011, 08:34:52 AM

Well, with those changes, they can't very well call them Happy Meals any more...they'll have to change the name to...Meals...:)

Rico · July 26, 2011, 08:43:31 AM

Yeah - lol! Or call them, "Make the parents Happy, Meals."

Bryancd · July 26, 2011, 08:46:35 AM

They actually have been doing pretty good in general in trying to "healthy" up their menu options.

Rico · July 26, 2011, 08:49:24 AM

I'd pay good money to see Bryan sit down with a Big Mac and down it! :)

ElfManDan · July 26, 2011, 09:03:50 AM

Now I haven't eaten at MacDonalds in over 2 years, but it's still a lot of processed food, I don't care how healthy they are claiming to be. Doesn't really matter how many calories are in the food they still makes me sick to my stomach. And this is what we feed kids.

Bryancd · July 26, 2011, 09:10:53 AM

Quote from: Rico on July 26, 2011, 08:49:24 AM
I'd pay good money to see Bryan sit down with a Big Mac and down it! :)

Every year we do a race up near Flagstaff, AZ and on the drive home, Jamie always wants to stop at a McDonalds off the highway in this nowhere town and get a burger and fries. I get a plain cheeseburger and small fries and love it! It's a once per year tradition. :)
Acutally, that race is in a few eeks but we are renting a house and staying up and extra night. I do have a tradition of getting a big hunk of cake the dinner after a big race. :)

billybob476 · July 26, 2011, 09:16:42 AM

For me McDonald's is usually eaten around 2am and I am usually inebriated.

ElfManDan · July 26, 2011, 11:23:41 AM

Long as I have my fruit I'm pretty much happy. I grew up country so we did eat out much period. Then I sorta do the Gracie Diet (lots of fruit=lots of energy). Fastfood and I we just don't get along.

KingIsaacLinksr · July 26, 2011, 02:32:32 PM

Quote from: Sheppard on July 26, 2011, 11:23:41 AM
Long as I have my fruit I'm pretty much happy. I grew up country so we did eat out much period. Then I sorta do the Gracie Diet (lots of fruit=lots of energy). Fastfood and I we just don't get along.

Just a note, but fruit does have sugar in it. Actually, they should have made it carrots instead, but we all know how our kids love to eat veggies....(not at all)

King

Feathers · July 26, 2011, 02:37:40 PM

My kids love carrots :)

They like apples too, but stick them in their Happy Meals and I guarantee they won't be so popular! Come on, these are the things we give our kids as an occasional treat (in my house, anyway). We get them to eat fruit and vegetables the rest of the time so why do McDonald's have to play the 'healthier than thou' card?

I guess it's Burger King for those special treats from now on.

ElfManDan · July 26, 2011, 02:54:10 PM

Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on July 26, 2011, 02:32:32 PM
Quote from: Sheppard on July 26, 2011, 11:23:41 AM
Long as I have my fruit I'm pretty much happy. I grew up country so we did eat out much period. Then I sorta do the Gracie Diet (lots of fruit=lots of energy). Fastfood and I we just don't get along.

Just a note, but fruit does have sugar in it. Actually, they should have made it carrots instead, but we all know how our kids love to eat veggies....(not at all)

King

Well Tim you need sugar in your diet along with many other things. Fruit has the good natural sugars. It's the processed sugars that aren't as good for you. And really all this healthy talk they always talk about lowering calories. It's not the calorie count that really matters, it can to a degree for somebody who is burning, but you still need to eat a certain amount or you're not gonna even be able to workout. Recommended for average people is 2000 calories daily and I probably take in double that. I just know what is good for me and because of my active lifestyle I need good foods to supply my body with good energy.

sheldor · July 26, 2011, 03:05:42 PM

About the only healthy fast food is making a sandwich while pretending you're The Flash

Happy Meals - healthier?

QuadShot