Food to Feel Good About

Kids need a variety of foods and nutrients every day to help them grow strong, play long, and learn better in school. We’re constantly looking at our menu to ensure we’re giving our customers (including our youngest guests) a selection of balanced choices.

Meet our Experts

Dr. Cynthia Goody, Director of Nutrition

Dr. Cynthia Goody, Director of Nutrition at McDonald’s, is a registered and licensed dietitian and a member of the American Dietetic Association, the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. Dr. Goody oversees McDonald's nutrition strategy, serves as a brand spokesperson and provides expertise in developing the McDonald’s U.S. menu. A former Peace Corps volunteer, Dr. Goody has served as a faculty member at the Harvard University and the Culinary Institute of America’s course for health professionals. She holds, among other qualifications, a Ph.D. and an MBA, as well as an M.S. in Food Science, and a B.S. in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics. (We told you she was an expert!) Read on for her suggestions on incorporating balanced, wholesome choices into your family’s life. Julia Braun, U.S. Nutrition and Labeling Manager

Julia Braun, McDonald’s U.S. Nutrition and Labeling Manager, is responsible for the accuracy and accessibility of the nutrition and ingredient information for all McDonald’s products in the U.S. Working closely with McDonald’s Food Innovation and Culinary teams, Julia provides nutrition science expertise in developing McDonald’s U.S. menu. Julia is a registered and licensed dietitian and holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina. Julia is a member of the American Dietetic Association and the National Restaurant Association’s Executive Nutrition Study Group.  She previously held research positions at the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, as well as the National Center for Food Safety and Technology in Summit, Illinois.

Wholesome Choices A quick glance at our menu can show you options that can help even our youngest customers make good, fun choices!

• Milk: Our 1% low-fat white milk and 1% low-fat chocolate milk each provide 30% of the daily value for calcium and meet 1/3 of an individual’s daily needs for dairy, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) and the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• Fruit: Apple Dippers and 100% Minute Maid® Apple Juice (6.75 oz) each provide at least ½ cup of fruit and meet ¼ of an individual’s daily needs for fruit according to the USDHHS and the USDA 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
  
• Meat: Chicken McNuggets made with white meat are a tender, juicy choice.
• Whole Grains: The Premium Honey Wheat Roll for Chicken Sandwiches provides 8 grams of whole grains, which is a half serving of the daily recommendation of 3 ounces of whole grains, according to the USDHHS and the USDA 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• Vegetables:  McDonald’s Premium Salads provide about 3 cups of vegetables - 100% of the recommended daily amount of vegetables, according to the USDHHS and the USDA 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• It may surprise you to learn that our advertised 4-piece Chicken McNuggets Happy Meal with Apple Dippers, low-fat caramel dip and 1% low-fat white milk is relatively low in fat, sodium and calories, providing less than a third of the government’s daily recommendations for total fat, sodium and calories according to the USDHHS and the USDA 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans