Adult Happy Meals at McDonalds

Imagine eating healthier at McDonald's. The fast food giant is offering healthier alternatives, and Oprah's personal trainer Bob Greene has developed a walking program to go with the new food.

Monday, May 3rd 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Imagine eating healthier at McDonald's. The fast food giant is offering healthier alternatives, and Oprah's personal trainer Bob Greene has developed a walking program to go with the new food.

News on 6 reporter Rick Wells went to the Owasso McDonalds to find out more. "Honey, ask these girls how big I was, I was wearing size 30." Jo Kell a Catoosa grandmother is telling me about the weight she's lost eating salads at McDonald's, 55 pounds. "He gets a happy meal and I get a salad, don't you?"

Now she can get her grandson a Happy Meal and get one for herself, an adult Happy Meal. It comes with choice of salads, a bottle of water, and a healthy dose of advice, start walking more.

Tim Rich, McDonald's owner/operator: "Customers want a healthy alternative, this is about healthy lifestyles."

This follows healthier options for the kidâ€™s Happy Meal, substituting apple slices and juice for fries and a soft drink. The â€˜Go Active Happy Mealâ€™, will offer a new fiesta salad. It's McDonald's first beef salad, and the Oklahoma Beef Council is happy about that.

Michael Kelsey with the Oklahoma Beef Council: "McDonald's is our number one customer nationwide; they buy a billion pound of American beef on and annual basis."

Rich: â€œSo salads, water and walking, this new healthier McDonald's is recommending 10,000 steps a day to keep your heart and body healthy.â€ And 10,000 steps a day is easy to reach when you know how many you are taking. So that's why the new adult Happy Meal comes with a step-o-meter, there's also a booklet to help you get the most out of it. If you're fashion conscious, they come in seven colors so you can accessorize.

Rich: â€œI've had 1,800 steps today; I've got 8,000 to go.â€ So what are you waiting for?

The salads are available now, but the new â€˜Go Active Adult Happy Mealâ€™ won't go on sale until the first of next week.