NPR

Apples Or Fries With That? When It Comes To Kids Meals, Fries Are Hard To Beat

Even though many fast food chain restaurants are offering healthier sides, a new report says parents choose them only about half the time, and restaurants aren't consistent in how they offer them.
More kids are eating at fast food chains like McDonald's, according to a new study, but parents are buying the healthier side options only about half the time.

In the last few years, consumer advocacy groups have pressed restaurant chains to offer healthier kids meals and more nutritious side options like milk and fruit, and the restaurants have responded.

In 2013, McDonald's to remove all mentions and images of soda from Happy Meal menu boards, and shortly thereafter, other fast food restaurants began to devise policies to introduce nutritious drink and side options beyond fries and dessert. McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, and Subway — the four biggest fast food chains soda on kids' meal menus with low-fat milk, water, and 100 percent juice, and McDonald's and Subway to make fruit and vegetable sides available.

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