Posted on Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 10:52 a.m.
McDonald's to make iconic Happy Meal healthier
By Juliana Keeping
Photo courtesy of Flickr user Calgary Review
The fast food chain will add a fruit or vegetable serving to all of its Happy Meals and reduce the portion of fries, the Times said.
According to the newspaper, the move by McDonald’s Corp. is in response to pressure from advocacy groups for children and health.
Read the full story here. Juliana Keeping covers general assignment and health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter
Comments
mhirzel
Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 10:59 a.m.
Did McDonalds pay for this advertisement?
mike
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 10:01 p.m.
I remember more than a few times when I was young, my brother, sister, and I begging for McDonald's, but we hardly ever got it. Why? Because our parents said no. Is there some reason parents can't say no anymore? All this blaming other people for our own choices needs to stop.
citrus
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 9:57 p.m.
Relax. No "nanny state" is taking away fries from anybody. They are putting BOTH things in the meal, in more balanced portions. If you ask you can get all fries or all fruit. It's more options, not fewer. I think it's great that that is isn't all or nothing with the fries anymore. When you turn eating fruit into punishment, or sacrifice, that is just fat people waiting to happen.
Leah
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 9:32 p.m.
@ Grand Marquis: Actually, heart disease (not old age) is the most expensive medical condition to treat and obviously, diet has a huge effect on rates of heart disease. The problem here is that McDonald's is CHEAP AND CONVENIENT when other more healthy food is not. So if McD's can maintain its ability to offer affordable food, why not allow them to deliver healthier options to those who may not otherwise have had access to them. I know I love my fries from time to time, but I also know that coming up with an idea for a quick, cheap and healthy dinner while out and about is nearly impossible. I support the move to make the default Happy Meal healthier, and make people ask for it if they want the fat.
Grand Marquis de Sade
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 9:46 p.m.
McDonald's offers plenty of healthier choices on their menu. I don't have any problem with them making apples the default side item in the Happy Meal. I applaud it. My problem lies with people like Corey who think they have a right to restrict other people's freedoms.
jrigglem
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 7:27 p.m.
Changes or not, there will still be a line around the building at lunch time. And fries are a vegetable, they're potatoes, the unhealthiness with fries is that they are fried in a vat of fat and covered in salt. McDonalds can add a fruit or vegetable until the cows come home. If the child doesn't want to eat it, it will end up in the trash, ultimately wasting food. Naysayers can say that you can refuse to give your child the rest of the meal but for one, why would you go to McDonalds if you are going to keep the meal from them and two, if parents did that, this whole thing wouldn't even be an issue.
Cossur
Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 12:24 p.m.
If McDonalds sold potatoes it would be one thing,What they are selling is first coated in sugar then deep-fried before being generously dusted with salt--a triple whammy. So take away the sugar, salt & fat and sure, leave the potatoes.
treetowncartel
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 7:57 p.m.
How about Fried Cauliflower then? It is yummy at Blimpy's
redwingshero
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 7:36 p.m.
Potato's are a starch, which clearly has more health issues than just overloading them with salt. Especially for people who are insulin resistant or have metabolic syndrome. How about not making the fast-food corporations responsible for people choosing to eat there?
trs80
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 6:36 p.m.
Now I want a Double Chee, no onions!
treetowncartel
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 7:57 p.m.
@CBG, Paradise is about an hour so north of the Mackinaw bridge. Check out Tahquamenon falls while you are there.
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 6:59 p.m.
I want mine with lettuce and tomato, Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes. Big kosher pickle and a cold draft beer. Well, good God almighty, which way do I steer?
Grand Marquis de Sade
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 5:52 p.m.
Sorry Corey... but I don't need an "advocacy group" to protect my future. That's MY responsibility. People are going to smoke cigarettes, they're going to eat fast food, they're going to drink alcohol and use drugs. Don't worry about what I do... worry about what you do. These "advocacy groups" should mind their own business and so should you. This busybody mentality is disgraceful. McDonald's job is to sell inexpensive, fast, and tasty (relatively) meals to willing customers profitably. That's it. As our tastes and food preferences change McDonalds will have to adapt its menu or it will not survive competition from other, healthier, alternatives. That's the way it works in a free society. Accept it and move on with your life sir.
Grand Marquis de Sade
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 8:25 p.m.
Oh... so now it's an economic argument. You don't want to be saddled with the costs of my medical care. I carry a high deductible health insurance plan that will cover me in the event of an accident or serious illness. I pay the rest out of pocket. NEXT!! Besides if I were an irresponsible slob and ate McDonalds every day I'd probably never make it to 65 when Medicare would become an issue. Sudden death from a massive heart attack is cheap. End of life care for healthy seniors who live into their 90's and beyond isn't. Are you suggesting that we define old age as a social ill and form an advocacy group to attempt to eradicate it because it would reduce health care costs? As I said before... we live in a free society (sort of). Mind your own business.
Corey Lord
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 7:31 p.m.
I won't care about what you do as soon as ALL of your health problems will ONLY be paid by YOU.
redwingshero
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 6:52 p.m.
I know what is in fast food and I seldom let my daughter eat it. I have a choice to buy it for my child or not. More often then not, I don't.
Freemind42
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 6:39 p.m.
You speak as if you live in a vaccuum and your actions have no effect on others.
redwingshero
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 5:56 p.m.
~Stands up from desk at work and claps loudly for you, sir/madam~
Atticus F.
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 5:48 p.m.
I'm so sick and tired of people telling others how to raise their kids. Mind you own business!!! They same bunch of busy bodies that were calling for prohabition of alcohol 80 years ago have turned their attention to what you are feeding your children. Sickening!
Cossur
Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 12:22 p.m.
Those are also the same people who are footing the bills for the cost of unhealthy life-styles,and rapidly increasing childhood obesity I applaud the act of reducing the serving size. that seems to be a nice moderate approach. A few fries now and then are fine if they are balanced by the fruit/veggie group.
Corey Lord
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 5:25 p.m.
So many people who are against this idea are so extreme. Crying foul of the advocacy groups who are only trying to protect our future. Nearly 20% of kids are obese in this country. In 1980 it was only 6%. The food companies need to realize that they have social responsibility before shareholder wealth. It is starting to seem to me that people will say anything is a bad idea if their choices from before are taken away. The problem is that the choices from before were horrible choices to begin with.
mike
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 10:19 p.m.
Then take the Nintendo away from your big fat kids and make them go outside.
treetowncartel
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 7:53 p.m.
I agree with Atticus, but he forgot to mention the hand held gaming systems, and now the smartphones.
Corey Lord
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 7:02 p.m.
I never said obesity rates are because of the food establishments. I'm saying the food establishments are going to be far more effective than just relying on parents parenting better.
Atticus F.
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 5:59 p.m.
Also, let me remind you that MCdonalds WAS around in the 1980's as well, and they were quite popular... could it be that there are other factors causing obesity? It seems like you want to jump on the 'mcdonalds is evil' mob bandwagon. When in truth, children are playing less sports, sitting at the computer all day, and watching tv instead of playing out doors. Maybe you should campaign to force parents to sign kids up for little leage, or ban computer use for kids under the age of 18.
redwingshero
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 5:34 p.m.
Or was it starting in the 1980's, parents started to slack on their responsibilites towards their kids? You want to make changes to ingredient content in fast-food products, that's fine. But don't get on your soapbox and say that child obesity rates are as high as they are because of the food establishments. Again, who has the purchasing power? In our age of nutrition labels on everything, no parent can cry ignorance to not knowing what the content is in their kids food. Social responsibility was putting the darn labels on all their wrappers for their food. From that point forward, it's up to the parents to decide if they'll purchase that for their children. Yes, child obesity rates are bad (as is the nation), but ignorance is no excuse.
redwingshero
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 5:20 p.m.
Fruit for fires may be good, but giving your kid fried chicken or a burger isn't real great either. Not against fast-food really, but those companies shoudln't have to pretend that it's not un-healthy for you and the average consumer needs to use the grey matter between their ears a bit more.
redwingshero
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 5:22 p.m.
*fries
obviouscomment
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 5:11 p.m.
The choices for the poll are either you love it, you hate it, or you don't care. I think they are missing an option. I didn't have a problem with happy meals before as long as they were consumed in moderation. Also, McDonald's already has healthier choices for happy meals, like apple slices instead of fries and milk or juice instead of pop. I am in favor of the changes though, since there are so many parents that are apparently unable to control what their children eat. I guess they've never heard of the word "no".
dading dont delete me bro
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 5:06 p.m.
"...the move by McDonald's Corp. is in response to pressure from children..." i seriously don't think children are pressuring mcd's to change...
Turd Ferguson
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 6:33 p.m.
Children and advocacy groups would be two different groups. Hence the 'and'.
redwingshero
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 5:22 p.m.
It said children and health advocacy groups... as in chidren advocacy groups and health advocacy groups. Think Helen Lovejoy yelling, "won't someone PLEASE think of the children!"
treetowncartel
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 4:41 p.m.
With respect to this comment thread, I'm lovin it.
AlfaElan
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 4:25 p.m.
Last time my kids got a happy meal they asked for the apple dippers in instead of fries. It seems to me they've been offering healthy options in the happy meals for a while.
redwingshero
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 3:54 p.m.
I can't agree with you more MAS. They already banned transfats, chocolate milk has become the red-headed step-child in public school lunches (regardless that exercise science studies have proven it to be very effective replenisher of protein after a work out) and now McD's wants to try and tell us that just eliminating the fires will be so much more healthier. Do kids in the booster seats pull out pistols when their parents drive past a fast-food place? Answer that, and those child/health advocacy groups just seem ridiculous. We can thank all these groups for all their lobbying to the government to rid the country of foods that are "bad". What's next, will they say that Krispy Kreme has a portal to hell just inside the front door? Instead of sending your kid to Camp Puttadowndaforka, how about taking a real initiative in what your kid eats.
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 3:24 p.m.
Perhaps this will mollify the Nanny State crowd be a bit.
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 7:02 p.m.
mun, the Nanny State *crowd*, as in those who are pushing us toward a Nanny State. Forever27 yeah, but we draw the line at killing babies.
redwingshero
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 5:17 p.m.
@forever27- If the average american consumer wasn't as intelligent as a pine marten, they would do the research, crunch the numbers, realize fast-food is not a healthy choice in most cases for their children or themselves, and simply not purchase it. And a lot of pine martens are smart-they are fast enough to flip over porcupines and one of their few natural predators. Maybe the average consumer is as intelligent as a zebra mussel...
Forever27
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 4:18 p.m.
ah yes, it's the ridiculous "nanny state" when people want companies such as McDonald's to stop pretending their "food" is a healthy choice. But if we want to regulate women's bodies, or who people choose to marry, that's just good old fashioned "family values"
redwingshero
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 3:56 p.m.
I believe the reference was veiled towards thsoe advocacy groups that pressure the government into making decisions to remove substances from foods because let's face it, kids really have the purchasing power in American families today...
mun
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 3:36 p.m.
Uh, where does it say in the article that the government is involved?
MAS
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 3:12 p.m.
Why not just give people choices? Keep the original and let parents decide.
Mousedeva
Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 6:18 p.m.
I agree, I was hoping for a fish sandwhich if nothing else in my happy meal!
Mike
Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 12:29 p.m.
@Corey - Wow, do you really think you're more educated and should look out for the rest of us? Kids aren't required to have physical education on a daily basis anymore or go outside and play because of rule makers like yourself. That's why their fat and sit in front of a video screen to play. When I was growing up we'd play in the local ball field until the neighbors had them shut down because we were too noisy. We owrked on our min-bikes and rde them around until the neighbors called the cops and put a stop to that. We hung out and walked around the neighborhoods until the neighbors complained about that. We had gym class vry day and stayed in great shape until the academics decided we needed tougher curicullums and eliminated gym class. Now you wan to tell people what to eat? Let's start by going back to a day when kids were active
Mariella
Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 12:57 a.m.
Corey, I understand where you're coming from. But the "educated parents" comment sounds really creepy, actually. I think most parents are smart enough to realize that fast food isn't healthy. But there also a lot of parents who have to work multiple minimum wage jobs in order to pay rent/mortgages, food, and electricity bills. They might not have time to make healthier meals. Also: healthy food is insanely expensive. A bag of potato chips costs less than a bag of lettuce. No wonder poor nutrition disproportionately affects low-income children. The real problem isn't McDonalds - it's our price-gouging grocery stores.
mike
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 10:14 p.m.
Food companies have one responsibility only - to turn a profit for their shareholders, same as any other business. This social engineering stuff is getting ridiculous.
redwingshero
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 5:25 p.m.
Don't parents have a responsibility to know what they are putting in their kids mouth? Or is that the job of every entrepreneuer that opens a food establishment? Come on' stop taking the responsibility of parents away from them and giving it to someone else...
Corey Lord
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 5:20 p.m.
Too many parents aren't educated enough to make healthy choices for their kids enough. Food companies should realize their social responsibility since they provide food for the masses.