Burger King now serves lower-calories fries; McDonald's is hoping you'll want something a little greener with your burger. The fast-food powerhouse yesterday announced it will let its customers sub a side salad, fruit, or veggies for fries in its value meals—in three to seven years. The menu changes—part of a $35-million health push—will occur in the company's 20 major markets (which do 85% of its business), including the US, China, and the UK. But it'll take three years to reach half its restaurants in those markets, and the rest may have to wait until 2020 to get their hands on the more nutritious options, the New York Times reports. (No word on what kinds of fruit or veggies will be offered.)
McDonald's also announced it'll stop marketing soda to kids; it'll be water, juice, and milk in ads only, Businessweek reports, while fruits and vegetables will be showcased in "fun ways" on Happy Meal packaging. McDonald's chief executive said the change will "optimize our menu" with fresh choices; but if the company is looking for extra cash, the NYT points out the salads it already offers haven't been a major growth driver. Also new at McDonald's: pumpkin lattes, reports Bloomberg. (More McDonald's stories.)