News Taffy

It’s no secret that fast food restaurants have changed the way we eat. How many of you parents regularly buy Happy Meals for your kids? How many of you stop by a fast food restaurant at least once a week for a meal? I have long felt that a quickie from your local burger joint was one of the worst meal options out there. My kids have grown up just fine without a nugget addiction and learned to eat wholesome, real foods.

However, McDonald’s made what they call a big announcement on Good Morning America on Tuesday. I wasn’t so impressed, but read on and decide for yourself. I guess any improvement is better than none at all. McDonald’s is now offering fruit or a vegetable in every kids’ meal while cutting the fries back to a child sized portion. Each meal will have 20% less fat, 15% less salt and 20% less calories. Considering that previously the highest calorie kids meal at McDonald’s weighed in at 700 calories, that does help fight childhood obesity.

McDonald’s and other restaurants are feeling the public pressure to serve healthier options for children. A study conducted by the Rudd Center for Food Policy at Yale University found last year that all of McDonald’s Happy Meal combinations failed to meet standards for good nutrition for children under 12. Such restaurants also face criticism for advertising directed towards children, especially the toys included with the meal. Some cities have effectively banned such toys from meals. McDonald’s has changed their marketing to mention only the healthy portions of the meal and to include nutritional information on the Happy Meal box, however, they will still offer a toy.

McDonald’s did not join 19 other fast food chains such as Burger King and IHOP in vowing to change their children's meals to have 600 calories or less, and limit the amount of salt, saturated fat and sugar. Even with the changes McDonald’s is making to their Happy Meal, it still contains a whopping 89 grams of sugar. That is about 21 tsp. of sugar! Would you measure out 21 teaspoons of sugar and let your child chow down?

I hope you will take this information and make some changes to your family’s lifestyle. I always say that your health is largely in your own hands. Poor health usually doesn’t happen by chance, it happens because of the things we do or don’t do that affect our body. You can not put junk food in your system day in and day out and not expect bad things to occur as a result. You really can prevent such diseases as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure for the most part. Educate yourself and your children; make that change because McDonald’s won’t do it for you.

Have a great day!

-Lisa