Healthy and fast food - the two don't seem to go together. But fast food places have been wanting to change that for some time.
The latest to promote it's effort is Burger King. McDonald's did it a few years ago with their salads for moms and apple dippers for kids. Moms - including me - felt a little less guilty going through a drive-thru window for dinner when we knew we could get the kids milk and apples instead of a soda and fries with their burgers or nuggets.
Other places now offer healthier options, too. Milk, juice and apple sauce is much more common at fast food places. Even many sit down restaurants allow you to choose a veggie, salad or fruit instead of fries - I'm thinking of Chilis and TGI Fridays.
What's interesting to me is BK is introducing a nontraditional fast food item - mac & cheese. OK, I think KFC offers a mac & cheese side dish, but I haven't gone there in at least 10 years.
From the Associated Press: "The centerpiece of the effort... is a new kids meal featuring a four-ounce serving of Kraft macaroni and cheese, lowfat milk and the company's "Fresh Apple Fries", which are uncooked apple slices shaped like french fries and served with low-fat caramel dipping sauce. The meal will go on sale Monday (July 7) for $3.49 and will be a permanent fixture on Burger King's menu."
So with all this effort by fast food companies to have healthy options, do you now feel better about you fast food habits? Do you always pick the good stuff or do you find yourself giving in to the kids pleads for fries anyway?
Arizona Moms Editor Yvette Armendariz shares stories about raising her kids and tips for busy parents in her Time-starved (goddess) Mom blog. She and her husband are raising two children, ages 8 and 11.
Oh I can't wait for this!!!
Oh I can't wait for this!!! My daughter loves man-n-cheese so it will be nice to have this as an option other than just chicken nuggets!
I'll be honest as far as fast food goes, if it's me alone I'd hit up a good ole Subway or Quiznos before even rounding a McD's or BK corner, but that's just me! I know that my daughter loves milk and apples so the fact I can get those in lieu of the fries and a standard sprite is a huge plus.
I am glad that America is realizing the importance now of getting our kids to eat healthier.
"It's not to late to become who you've always wanted to be..."
I am really not a snob but I
I am really not a snob but I just avoid it and keep it as a special treat. I don't care for McDonald's salads and my daughter refuses to eat the apples and given how rarely we go, I just let her have the fries.
We do also occasionally go to Taco Bell. She is not crazy about much their, but she'll eat a soft taco or cheese swirl (I forget what they're called) which, in my opinion, I think is not too bad as long as it's occasional and the other meals that day include fruit and vegetables.
Whenever we go to McDonalds,
Whenever we go to McDonalds, our kids eat healthier than my husband and I. They order the grilled snack wraps - grilled chicken with cheese and lettuce in a tortilla. I hope they never cycle this item out - my kids would eat it every day.
sure, fine, whatever
Our son also picks the
Our son also picks the healthier items (unlike his Dad and I - but we are trying!) He would much rather have apples and carrot sticks than french fries. I think it is becuase he started healthy eating habits early and has always been drawn to fruits and certain vegetables. His preschool also only allows healthy snacks, so that has shaped his attitude as well.
Kinder-Mommy is a kindergarten teacher and a mother of 2!