McDonald's Happy Meals To Get Less Fries, More Fruit

We all know what's always included in a McDonald's Happy Meal: a burger or chicken nuggets, french fries, a toy, a soft drink. And fruit?

McDonald's announced today (June 26) that it will automatically include both produce AND french fries in every Happy Meal, meaning parents and kids no longer have to opt for either fries or fruit.

And because produce will be included in all Happy Meals, french fry-holder sizes will get smaller -- from 2.4 to 1.1 ounces, ABC News reported.

The revamped Happy Meals will be introduced in September 2011, and will be available in all 14,000 McDonald's restaurants by spring 2012.

While apples will be the main produce option, some McDonald's restaurants may offer carrots, pineapple slices, raisins or mandarin oranges depending on the region and time of the year, according to ABC News. Customers can also request two bags of apple slices instead of apple slices and french fries.

In addition to the Happy Meal changes, McDonald's also plans to reduce sodium in all of its menu items by 15 percent by 2015.

McDonald's has offered apple slices as a substitute for fries in its Happy Meals since 2004, but while 88 percent of customers know about this option, only 11 percent actually choose it, according to McDonald's.

The addition of produce to the meals could save 49 billion calories in U.S. kids' diets each year, ABC News reported.

Despite the changes, there will be no increase in Happy Meal costs, the Los Angeles Times reported. In addition, the apple slices in the new meals will not include the low-fat caramel dipping sauce that was included before.

McDonald's isn't the first to make a move to make kids' meals healthier. Other chain restaurants, including Burger King, Chili's, Friendly's and IHOP, announced earlier this month that they will include healthier options on kids' menus, including more lean proteins, vegetables, low-fat dairy and whole grains.

Happy Meals have come under fire before because they included toys -- meant to be marketed to kids -- while not providing adequate nutrition, the LA Times reported.

WATCH:

Comments

[C Karen Stopford]

04:52 AM on 08/22/2011

Adding apple slices as an opt out rather than an opt in to frankenuggets or meat filler brugers along with the greasy french fries does not make the meal healthier. OK, so there's less fries in the meal. I suppose we should give them the Nobel Peace Prize, or something. They get no kudos from me - and their marketing hype is still lies!

[melissa anoymous]

10:02 PM on 07/31/2011

I don't really go there anymore.At least they are keeping the toy.I don't like apples,so my coming son probably won't either,I hope they have more options.As for the yogurt in Canada?Flavored and artificially flavored yogurt is made from cockroaches.After reading the comments though,unless they use only natural ingredients my kid won't be going with me to mcdonald's.

[skooli]

08:30 PM on 07/30/2011

Apple slices should also come with every pack of cigarettes.

[usrnmna]

09:02 AM on 07/29/2011

What a joke. Once my employer provided us overtimers boxed lunches. Simple fare, a turkey sandwich, chips, a cookie and a green apple. Nobody ate their apples, except me. They placed all the uneaten apples on top of the microwave for anyone who might want a free apple. And they're all adults. Pathetic.

[bflythuy]

03:20 PM on 07/28/2011

Now kids will devise a way around it. Eat the fries first, than drink the soda, next the hamburger. Than, "Mom, I'm full, do you want the apple slices?"

[Rebecca Fetler]

02:48 PM on 07/28/2011

Nice try McDonald's. Sadly, I think your efforts are in vain; not only is it a terrible diet that's causing childhood obesity, but it's also the lack of exercise these kids are getting. Unless both diet and lack of exercise are tackled efficiently, the changes in kid's meals isn't going to mean as much as would be hoped. Besides, fast food shouldn't be consumed so often that there is actually a need for them to include the healthy foods that we should normally be preparing for children--as well as ourselves--at home. So I say again, nice try, but it's pretty obvious that this is merely a response to complaints rather than making a concerned effort to improve the quality of their food.

[atrax70]

12:30 PM on 07/31/2011

Don't blame McDonald's for overweight kids when it's their parents that bring them there and pay for it. Obesity has obviously been around for a long time and it's not like when " god " created the world everyone was skinny. The blame game is getting way old and people should realize that's either in your genes or you're a very irresponsible parent that doesn't care what your child eats. Try telling the Latino community to stop feeding their children lard, beans and tortilla's for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

[dadolwch]

02:19 PM on 07/28/2011

Shouldn't that be "fewer" fries, Huffpost editors?

[Jtreg]

02:12 PM on 07/28/2011

Just come on. Do people really think McDonald's is why kids are fat? Our environment and society have changed so much over the last 20 years that it's no wonder. Moms are afraid to let their kids play outside. Kids are so over-scheduled they don't have time for free play. Moms and dads both work so kids eat more processed foods. There are 500 channels on television, many of which play cartoons 100 percent of the time. Videogames are fun and addicting. The list goes on and on. I'm tired of the biggest companies always being vilified even when they offer healthy choices. And don't forget that McDonalds is ALWAYS a choice. Please - can we stop this now? I'm really sick of the "I'm a better mom than you because" from the Mommy Bloggers and activists.

[Mind Yourself Chicago]

12:36 PM on 07/27/2011

Still not enough. It is their responsibility to do something about the obesity crisis America is facing.

[JMarie Ammons]

12:04 PM on 07/27/2011

McDonalds is still far behind on the health and nutrition curve. You cannot propose yourself to be a fanchise that provides healthy meals if you are just not. They have not resolved the breading on the chicken nuggets related to hyperactivity and Celiac Disease, The Chicken nuggets themselves smell horrible oftentimes like ammonia. Online information speaks of the foul things compressed into them such as all chicken body parts including eyes. McDonalds provides low quality fruit, there are many organic producers that deal with Starbucks for instance, that can provide better quality natural fruit choices for Children's meals in lieu of mediocre water packaged fruits and vegetables.

[Jtreg]

02:22 PM on 07/28/2011

Can you give me some source material so I can research your claims a bit more?

[JMarie Ammons]

07:26 PM on 07/28/2011

It was on Huff post :
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/04/mechanically-separated-meat-chicken-mcnugget-photo_n_749893.html

[JMarie Ammons]

07:33 PM on 07/28/2011

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/25/a-tale-of-2-nuggets/

CNN story about chicken nuggets and silly putty containing the same anti-foaming agent.

[usrnmna]

09:18 AM on 07/29/2011

Ack! That's horrifying. People don't seem to realize or simply don't care that McDonalds 'food' is not real food.

[Grandma Koolfinger]

09:05 AM on 07/27/2011

Let's see. McDonald's makes their meals healthier, however marginally, and everybody's still unhappy. News flash! You are not required to eat at McDonald's or take your kids there. You can always whip up a souffle and smoked trout for brunch. With a couple of Mimosas.

[AngryTrainerFit]

08:07 AM on 07/27/2011

This is a farce! So what if a little fruit is placed in a Happy Meal? What about all the other junk food in the box - white flour, soda, cheese, "meat" (loosely used) and what the heck is a chicken nugget? Fries are the least of the problems.

I'm Still Not Happy With Happy Meals!

http://www.angrytrainerfitness.com/2011/07/mcdonalds-why-im-still-not-happy-with-happy-meals/

[WWARD4911]

01:26 PM on 07/27/2011

Then don't buy "Happy Meals" if they do not make you happy ....... that is bad as people complaining about "Porn" but somehow the Sex toy and Porn stores have enuf customers to make profit and stay in business..... OH YEA same thing with Mcdonalds as the restaurants with the "healthier options go out of business....... say one thing in public and do another in the background.......

[JudiKoerner]

02:46 AM on 07/27/2011

Now they need to get rid of the dairy and provide alternate options, like something natural that will provide the calcium. Diary is replete with problems that the diary industry doesn't want people to know...the first of these being that pus and blood is in every diary product that is consumed! I just found this out, and will never consume any dairy product again! I will get my dairy from my green leafy vegetables!

[destin293]

01:34 AM on 07/27/2011

I love how people freak out about what McDonald's is or is not doing. I haven't eaten at a McDonald's in about 5 years, I couldn't give a rats behind what they put in their meals.

[twfslc]

01:28 AM on 07/27/2011

This will help me, because my kid may only eat 2 nuggets out of four, plus maybe a third of the fries. So, hearing my mother's voice saying not to waste food, I eat the reast on top of the Big Mac and medium fries I already ate.