Wednesday, September 28, 2011

McDonald's Adds Apple Slices in Every Happy Meal

What is McDonalds doing to help our little ones and you become healthier? 
 By the beginning of 2012, McDonald's will be adding apples to all its Happy Meals and they have launched a nutrition-focused mobile phone app as part of a broader health push.  Hooray! McDonald's is introducing these healthy innovations as a reaction to consumers' and regulators' continual blame for health issues regarding childhood obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc.

McDonald's new program:
  • McDonald's pledged to reduce sugars (happier teeth!), saturated fats and calories through "varied portion sizes, reformulations and innovations" by 2020. By 2015, it will reduce sodium by 15 percent.
  • In July, McDonald's introduced a  new mobile app where you can "build your meal" & see all individual nutrition facts and totals for your desired meal. Among the nutritional info the new app provides, you can also find the McDonald's closest to you and see career opportunities.
  • McDonald's USA president Jan Fields and other executives went on a "listening tour" in August to hear suggestions from parents and nutrition experts. The chain will also launch a new online forum for parents.
McDonald's has been working on it's healthy reputation and hip perception by offering free wi-fi access and adding smoothies and oatmeal to their menus. However, a small McDonald's strawberry banana smoothie still has 44g of sugar! Yikes. 

For Happy Meals, U.S. customers can already choose between apples or fries. But only about 11 percent of customers were ordering apples, the restaurant said. 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. 

Why Kid's Dentistree Loves Apples!
  • The mildly acidic nature and astringent quality of apples, combined with their rough, fiber-rich flesh, makes them the ideal food for cleansing and brightening teeth!
  • Crunchy foods, including apples, celery and carrots (not potato chips!), act like little toothbrushes when you chew them!