Well, what is the Hamburgler going to have to say about this?
McDonald’s gleaming golden arches are fast becoming more than a destination for weary highway travelers, fast food fanatics and high school kids. With its savvy addition of salads and their McCafe espresso drinks, Mickey D’s is trying to keep up with the times, and the times call for a focus on health now more than ever — even at places that serve food out of a tiny window.
The chain’s latest move is the introduction of new strawberry banana and wild berry smoothies to the menu. How is the restaurant getting the message out? By using Olympians such as Katarina Witt, Shawn Johnson, Picabo Street, and Cassie Campbell to unveil the two fruit flavors at an event in Vancouver. The smoothies won’t officially launch until the summer, AdAge reports.
The pairing of Olympic athletes makes perfect sense as McDonald’s has been the official restaurant of the Games for the past 33 years, the association of which helps to drive their point home that they use quality ingredients.
“McDonald’s has been feeding the Olympic athletes for nearly two decades — athletes tell us they love our food and we’ve earned their trust,” said McDonald’s President and Chief Operating Officer Don Thompson in the press release. “We use the finest ingredients and insist on the highest standards from the farms of our trusted suppliers to our front counter — whether that counter is in a neighborhood McDonald’s or in the Olympic Village.”
Just how nutritionally sound are the new smoothies? McDonald’s hasn’t released the information on that as of yet, but at least they’re using real fruit, which is a start. And they’re certainly healthier than sugary sodas and caloric milk shakes.
Photo of Katarina Witt courtesy of McDonald’s.