The Happy Meal makes a child happy when the meal is presented and the toy is first on display. The Happy Meal might even make the parent happy to see a smile on the child's face. But the Happy Meal isn't happy in what the child is eating, and for parents who worry about long-term effects and the obsession of toy marketing with food. And if the child gets cranky afterward from eating fast food, nobody in the family is happy.
McDonald's is trying to make the Happy Meal a little more happy for the parents of the child with the toy. Responding to considerable pressure, McDonald's is reducing the size of fries in the Happy(ier?) Meal from 2.4 ounces to 1.1 ounces and adding fruit in the form of apple slices. The bonus news is that the apple slices will go solo without the gaudy caramel dipping sauce.
The reports mentioned that McD's would add a fruit or a vegetable. Apples are high in sugar, though it's natural fructose sugar. In the fast food world, apples, carrots, and grapes — all naturally high in sugar — traditionally make up the most acceptable snacking fruits and vegetables. The restaurant chain will offer carrots, pineapple slices, raisins, or mandarin oranges in some locations at certain times of the year. But hey, it's not French fries.
The apple portion is also reduced from the previous incarnation at 1.2 ounces, down from 3.1 ounces. While this is less fruit, the overall calories from the meal is reportedly down 20%. If children are only eating Happy Meals, we would have bigger issues than fruit serving sizes.
Parents are going to need to be more pro-active, something they already should be doing, in the ordering process. Want to have more apple slices in lieu of fries? Have to ask. Want to skip the apple completely? Have to ask? And if you want soft drinks with the Happy Meal? Have to ask. Milk is served as the standard drink.
Happy Meals are made for children, though silly and/or drunk young people love the idea of getting the small meal and the toy. But we hope that McDonald's will consider selling the smaller fries size to adults, though going on the theme, you definitely will have to ask.
Portion sizes have creeped up in fast food places, and the idea of a snack-size 1.1 oz. of French fries would be really good news for those without children.
The Happy Meal is never going to be a portabello burger with organic condiments, baked sweet potato fries, a broccoli stem, and an Al Gore climate change action figure. The Happy Meal and similar upbeat servings will center around fast food and a toy. For now, the Happy Meal will be a bit happier for the ones who have to pay for it, the parents.
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