New Happy Meal...Thoughts?

[Pastamom]

McDonalds is changing their happy meal. Instead of a choice between apples or fries...now it will be half of the fries with apples.

Thoughts???

We already had a choice of one or the other...why take that away? One of those choices may not be as healthy and one of the choices was healthier. Now we're stuck with them making the choice for us.

I realize that childhood obesity is a huge issue, but no one is forcing anyone to go to McDonalds.

 

[Wall-E1]

It's a step in the right direction. It's good that McDonalds is stepping to the plate and providing a healthier kid's meal.

They are not taking away your choice. They are simply making the healthier option the standard meal. You still have the option of requesting a full order of fries, or even a full order of apples with the meal.

 

[Sparkleshine]

I think it's crazy! I can see lots of wasted food. Plus they made the apples so small that even if you get a double order of apples it's smaller than the apples that you get now!

My kids hate french fries and always get the apples.

Elsewhere reading about this - "This isn't a change for the better this is just a way for McDonalds to cut the size of the servings down even more and still charge the same price. If I pick the 2 apple portions I get 2.4 ounces compared to the 1 I used to get that was 3.1 ounces.... if they let double the fries I get a max of 2.2 vs 2.4 in the old version... Cutting down the portions isn't increasing the nutrition of the food. This is a scam in the name of health."

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Is this the only choice, or just the default choice? (Like how fries were the default choice before - if you didn't specify, you got fries.) I would be fine if that was the default choice, and a full kid-sized fries were still available if you asked.

 

[DisneySarah80]

Obviously, (some) people need this decision made for them.

 

[MomRN]

So you get half fries and apples? Works perfect for us... when we go I always get the apples and give some of my fries up, or order both if I don't get fries. Either way it save money or my fries....

 

[poohbear22]

We already had a choice of one or the other...why take that away? One of those choices may not be as healthy and one of the choices was healthier. Now we're stuck with them making the choice for us.

Not true...

"So by the beginning of next year, McDonald's will instead include a half-order of apples and a half-order of fries. Customers can get all fries or all apples if they ask."

Source:
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/diet-nutrition/story/2011/07/McDonalds-Apple-slices-in-every-Happy-Meal/49662434/1

 

[Jennasis]

There was a time when McD's made the choice for you...and it was just fries. So why the upset now?

Nobody goes to McD's for a healthy meal, so I personally think apples are stupid as a side.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We go to Chick Fil A now anyway. And they have a better fruit side. Not that my kids ever order it.

 

[Wall-E1]

There was a time when McD's made the choice for you...and it was just fries. So why the upset now?

Nobody goes to McD's for a healthy meal, so I personally think apples are stupid as a side.

I go to McDonalds for a healthy lunch every now and then if I am short on time. I get the "vegetarian lunch special" - a salad, yogurt parfait, and bottled water. McDonalds has the best prepared salads of all the fast food joints (imo).

 

[Tink888]

I think they should leave it as it is, have both options available and let the consumer choose what they like.

Honestly, it's McDonalds, nothing there is very good for you. If I'm in McDonald's it's because I've consumed my quota of healthy foods and now I'm craving a fix of high calorie and over-salted foods.

And if it's my fifth trip to Mickey D's this week with my kids for a meal than I've got bigger issues. Having the corporation force their food choices on me isn't going to solve them.

DS16 always chose apples. DS14 always chose fries. Both boys are healthy and at normal weights. Including both in the meal would only lead to part of the meal being wasted for us. The key was McDonald's was an occasional thing and not a habit.

 

[Wall-E1]

I think they should leave it as it is, have both options available and let the consumer choose what they like.

Honestly, it's McDonalds, nothing there is very good for you. If I'm in McDonald's it's because I've consumed my quota of healthy foods and now I'm craving a fix of high calorie and over-salted foods.

And if it's my fifth trip to Mickey D's this week with my kids for a meal than I've got bigger issues. Having the corporation force their food choices on me isn't going to solve them.

DS16 always chose apples. DS14 always chose fries. Both boys are healthy and at normal weights. Including both in the meal would only lead to part of the meal being wasted for us. The key was McDonald's was an occasional thing and not a habit.

Were you this annoyed when they "forced" a side order of fries on you with all the kids' meals?

All they have done is made a change that makes their kid meals a bit healthier. Why anyone would be opposed to that, I can't understand. You can still request a full order of fries. All they have done is changed the standard make up of the happy meal from all fries to half fries/half apples. It is being forced on you no more than their previous standard offering of a full order of fries.

 

[Jennasis]

A kid's portion of fries is so tiny as it is. A half order must be like, what...7, maybe 8 fries?

 

[Tink888]

Were you this annoyed when they "forced" a side order of fries on you with all the kids' meals?

All they have done is made a change that makes their kid meals a bit healthier. Why anyone would be opposed to that, I can't understand. You can still request a full order of fries. All they have done is changed the standard make up of the happy meal from all fries to half fries/half apples. It is being forced on you no more than their previous standard offering of a full order of fries.

And as it stands, you can still request the healthier choice or apples.

I'm not annoyed at all. They currently have choices, allow the consumer to choose them.

The fact is, it's a fast food joint. Fast food in general is not healthy for you. People who are concerned about healthy eating aren't going to spend much time in McDonald's. Yes, the salads, yogurts and apples all sound healthy. Add in the preservatives, salad dressings, granola and caramel dipping sauce and well, not really so healthy. The sugar, salt, calories and fat just look a little healthier.

They can set it up any way they want, the bottom line is people with unhealthy eating habits who use McDonald's as a main source of their meals aren't going to be cured now because some apples come with their fries because that's what corporate decided. And as a consumer I was fine with how it was.

 

[Ceila]

Nobody goes to McD's for a healthy meal, so I personally think apples are stupid as a side.

Well, the first part isn't true at all. I go there for salads with grilled chicken every so often, and I don't even use much dressing. Fairly healthy.

As for the apples, DD9 usually gets them if she gets a happy meal.

 

[2DisPrincesses]

It works great for us! When the girls do talk me into McDonald's (which is not often) I get one of each and split them between the two girls. The fries are good as a treat, but they don't each need a full order.

 

[Wall-E1]

McDonalds lists their "small fries" as having 230 calories.

The U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services suggests that kids 4 - 8 years old should be taking in 1200 - 1400 calories a day.

So the order of fries would account for 16 - 19% of that child's daily recommended calorie intake. Of course, calories aside, the child is also getting the saturated fat, sodium, etc. with the fries.

 

[DisneySarah80]

McDonalds lists their "small fries" as having 230 calories.

The U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services suggests that kids 4 - 8 years old should be taking in 1200 - 1400 calories a day.

So the order of fries would account for 16 - 19% of that child's daily recommended calorie intake. Of course, calories aside, the child is also getting the saturated fat, sodium, etc. with the fries.

And thats just the fries. What about the soda, and cheeseburger / chicken nuggets?

 

[spacemountainmom]

It's kind of moot for me now since ds now wants an adult meal. The happy meal is just not enough for him. However, he did always want the apples and didn't use the caramel when he did eat happy meals. I wish you could get a healthier side dish with an "adult" meal.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I never minded the Happy Meals when they just had fries. It was my job, as a parent, to ensure that my kids ate a healthy diet - not McDonald's'. I do not need healthy choices at every restaurant. I can eat healthy at home. I can choose not to eat at a restaurant if it doesn't offer what I want. I can do all of this and more.

So, IMO, this is much ado about nothing. It will not save one child from obesity.