KC AREA MCDONALD’S LAUNCHES NEW HAPPY MEAL WITH HEALTHIER OPTIONS

After 30 years, McDonald’s changes its Happy Meal to include apples and French fries in every meal

Kansas City, Mo. – McDonald’s will debut its new happy meal at local restaurants on Nov. 18 featuring a more nutritionally-balanced meal, fewer calories and less sugar, sodium and fat.

McDonald’s made the announcement in July and began making the changes to the children’s meals beginning in September in some markets with all of the 14,000 restaurants offering the revamped Happy Meal by next April. The new Happy Meal will debut in Kansas City metro area restaurants Friday.

The Illinois-based restaurant chain announced the corporate-wide program outlining a commitment to improving nutrition choices for customers based on a demand from customers. The comprehensive plan aims to help customers, especially families and children, make nutrition-minded choices whether visiting McDonald’s or eating elsewhere.

Menu changes underway include the addition of more nutritionally-balanced choices that meet McDonald’s reputation for great taste and affordability, along with an increased focus on providing nutrition information that enable customers and employees to make simple, informed menu decisions.

“McDonald’s will always try to do the right thing, and we know we can help make a difference in our communities,” said Jan Fields, president, McDonald’s USA. “These changes will guide the future evolution of our menu and marketing.”

The new happy meal will include both produce (apple slices, a quarter or half serving) and a new smaller size French fries (1.1 ounces) along with the choice of a hamburger, cheeseburger or Chicken McNuggets, and a choice of beverage, including new fat-free chocolate milk and 1% low fat white milk. The impact is an estimated 20 percent reduction in calories as well as a reduction in sugars, saturated fats and sodium.

By adding fruit to every Happy Meal, McDonald’s hopes to address a challenge that children face of meeting the recommended daily consumption of produce, such as fresh fruit and vegetables. McDonald’s has offered apples as a requested choice in Happy Meals since 2004.

McDonald’s USA, LLC, is the leading foodservice provider in the United States serving a variety of wholesome food made from quality ingredients to more than 26 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local business men and women. There are 123 independently owned and operated McDonald’s restaurants in the Greater Kansas City Area. Customers can now log online for free at any of the 12,000 participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald’s U.S. restaurants. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow on Twitter (@McDonalds) and Facebook (Facebook.com/McDonalds) for updates.

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