Is McDonald’s® Healthy Now?

Earlier this week, McDonald’s®  announced that they are launching what they call, “Commitments to Offer Improved Nutrition Choices.” Does this mean that McDonald’s is now a healthy place for you and your kids to eat?

Highlights from McDonald’s®  Press Release

Here’s a quick look at a little piece of the press release:

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®

Main Changes Coming to McDonald’s® 

1) McDonald’s will start to include produce or a low-fat dairy option in every Happy Meal®. The new Happy Meal will automatically include both produce (apple slices, a quarter cup 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 choice of beverage, including new fat-free chocolate milk and 1% low fat white milk.

-This is great that they are reducing the amount of fries and replacing them with something that is actually healthy – an apple! Still, I am waiting for the Hamburger, Cheeseburger, and Chicken McNuggets that are made with mystery meat, to be addressed. My take is this: Want a hamburger or cheeseburger? Make it at home with quality meat that you can trust. Want chicken nuggets? You can make those from scratch too. With real chicken! Gasp! Crazy concept, I know!

2) The company will promote nutrition and/or active lifestyle messages in 100 percent of its national kids’ communications, including merchandising, advertising, digital and the Happy Meal packaging.

-This sounds like a confusing and mixed message for kids – and parents alike. Be healthy, but you should still eat a Happy Meal at McDonald’s too- which isn’t all that healthy, except for a couple of slices of an apple. If you add apples to greasy food, does it make the greasy food healthy? No.

3) By 2020, McDonald’s will reduce added sugars, saturated fat and calories through varied portion sizes, reformulations and innovations. Also, by 2015, McDonald’s will reduce sodium an average of 15 percent overall across its national menu of food choices.

-At first glace, this sounds fabulous. But when these initiatives become a reality, I would like to take a better look at the ingredients list. The problem with companies going healthier, is that they take a lot of shortcuts in the process, which actually make it not-so-healthy afterall. For example, the “sugar free” initiative was never a healthier option, since the companies that tout those titles just used artificial sweeteners like aspartame rather than truly healthy options such as honey or molasses. 

4) McDonald’s will expand new in-restaurant, website and mobile communications, and marketing vehicles making access to nutrition information even easier.

-I have good news and bad news. The good news is, studies show that if people know how many calories are in the meals at restaurants, they usually pick the lower calorie or healthier meals. The bad news is, research has been shown that a lot of the calories listed are not all that accurate. If you get the low calorie foods, it may not be 100% accurate, but it’s likely to have fewer calories than the other high calorie choices on the menu. Think “less of two evils” with this one. 

I think it’s great that McDonald’s is trying to be healthier, but I won’t hold my breath for this to be a truly healthy place to eat. When it comes to eating at McDonald’s, I say to eat in moderation…or just not at all!

As always, the choice is yours.

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Image Credits: aboutmcdonalds.com