Healthy and Happy: Taste Testing the Revamped McDonald's Happy Meal

By: Finance Foodie

McDonald’s is launching a new Happy Meal campaign that engages families in the benefits of balanced eating and active play, aiming to make nutrition fun for kids. The campaign launched a few weeks ago nationwide and includes the following initiatives:

* Nationwide availability of McDonald’s new Happy Meal that automatically comes with apple slices and a new kid-size fry

* New Happy Meal TV Advertisements, will be the first that support McDonald’s nutrition commitment to promote nutrition and/or active lifestyle messages.

* "Happy Meal Chefs" contest gives two parent and child teams the opportunity to help in the creation and testing of new, nutrition-minded Happy Meal choices alongside McDonald's executive chef Dan Coudreaut. Beginning now through April 18, the contest is seeking top inspiring stories from families who enjoy cooking with wholesome ingredients at family mealtime. Ten kids will win and trip to the 2012 London Olympic Games and two will name honorary “Happy Meal Chefs.” Families can enter at happymealchefs.mcdonalds.com

Even though I am probably too old for a happy meal, I took a trip down memory lane and checked out the "new" happy meal for old times sake.What did I think? Well, I would definitely say there is more of an option to be healthy. I was quite impressed with the variety of new drink choices (lowfat milk, chocolate milk, apple juice or small soda), but besides that -- it seemed like it was the same happy meal as before, just with additional apple slices. And speaking of these apple slices, I am sad to report that the five times I had this meal, every single time the slices were mushy and not tasty. If I had these as a kid, I probably would have chucked these to my dog -- cause these apples were as bad as the steamed brussel sprouts forced upon me during family dinners.

I do still applaud McDonald's effort in fighting childhood obesity with healthy options, but the taste and quality still needs some work. However, I am going to start ordering these kids meals now as they are smaller portioned and less caloric (example: a 4 piece Chicken McNugget, kid sized fries, Diet Coke and apple slices runs you less than 500 calories) -- after all, I'm still a kid at heart!

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