Healthy Kids Meal at BK

News EditorHealth, Milk, Nutrition

burgerkinglogoBurger King has jumped on the healthy wagon, and is now going to offer a healthier Kids’ Meal in its restaurants. The meal will include flame-broiled Chicken Tenders, apples cut to resemble thick-cut french fries and lowfat milk.

Burger King Holdings Inc., the world’s second largest hamburger chain, said it has set nutritional guidelines to follow when targeting children under 12 in advertising, including limiting ads to Kids Meals that contain no more than 560 calories, less than 30 percent of calories from fat and no more than 10 percent of calories from added sugars.

In that vein, Burger King is building a Kids Meal that will contain the flame-broiled Tenders, organic unsweetened applesauce and low-fat milk, for a total of 305 calories and 8.5 grams of fat. It will be available in restaurants sometime in 2008, the company said.

The fast-food chain is also developing what it calls BK Fresh Apple Fries. The red apples are cut to resemble french fries and are served in the same containers as fries, but they are not fried and are served skinless and cold.

Burger chain leader McDonald’s Corp. offers apple slices with a low-fat caramel dip and low-fat milk in its Happy Meals, while offering salads and fruit parfaits on its regular menu. Wendy’s International Inc. offers salads, yogurt with granola and mandarin oranges.