McDonald's announces important changes to their Happy Meals

The Happy Meals are now healthier and tastier, says McDonald's.

McDonald's, the world's largest fast-food chain serves over 69 million customers daily in more than 100 countries, and according to the franchise, 30% of those meals are for families with children.

In order to make their popular Happy Meals healthier for children, McDonald's has announced some changes to their most popular product, reported News.McDonald.com on November 15, 2018.

“As a mom, I’m proud we are always working to build a better McDonald’s and we’re proud to say that McDonald’s USA and markets around the world are making progress on our Global Happy Meal Goals”

Dr. Cindy Goody, News.McDonald.com, November 15, 2018.

CHANGES IN HAPPY MEALS TO ADDRESS NUTRITIONAL CONCERNS

The frightening statistics on childhood obesity prompted the franchise's first change in the Happy Meal in 2012 when every meal automatically included sliced apples as a desert.

The original Happy Meal consisted of a hamburger, cheeseburger, or small serving of Chicken McNuggets, french fries or apple slices - and contained preservatives and artificial colorings and flavoring agents.

ALL NATURAL AND HEALTHY HAPPY MEAL

McDonald's has announced that the new and improved Happy Meal's Chicken McNuggets will be made without artificial preservatives. This follows a recent announcement that the franchise's classic burgers are now made without artificial preservatives, artificial flavors or artificial coloring agents. The only exception is the optional pickle.

DELICIOUS AND WHOLESOME YOGURT

The Happy Meal menus will also include Yoplait® Go-GURT® Low Fat Strawberry Yogurt from November 2018 on. A product made especially for McDonald’s, this yogurt does not contain artificial preservatives, colors or flavors, and contains 25% less sugar than the market's leading brand.

ALTERNATIVE TO COOL DRINKS

As an alternative to the traditional high-sugar cool drinks on offer with McDonald's menus, the company is now including Dasani® bottled water as a beverage choice for Happy Meals.

According to Dr. Cindy Goody, Head of Ingredients and Nutrition, McDonald’s USA, every possible meal combination on the Happy Meal menu is 600 calories or less. The franchise is now promoting the consumption of salads vegetables and low-fat dairy products.

Read more on Twitter Amomama USA.

SHRINKING THE CALORIES ON THE HAPPY MEAL

In order to reduce the calories in a Happy Meal to 600 or less, McDonald's has reduced the size of the french fry servings, and removed cheeseburgers from the menu.

The fast-food chain has established global limits for calories, sodium, saturated fat and added sugar in Happy Meals, in order to promote better nutrition in children.

The franchise, which was criticized in the past for using toys included in Happy Meals to push the sales of their products to children, now plans to offer books instead.

McDonald’s revealed that families with children represent 30 percent of all visitors to McDonald’s around the world.