Changes

McDonald's has been criticized for knowingly selling unhealthy food, and having a history of advertising burgers and fries to children, who consume their Happy Meals and play in their indoor playgrounds, often with parents having no other choice since cities do not have adequate playgrounds for them.

McDonald's has been criticized for knowingly selling unhealthy food, and having a history of advertising burgers and fries to children, who consume their Happy Meals and play in their indoor playgrounds, often with parents having no other choice since cities do not have adequate playgrounds for them.

However, McDonald's has shown it can improve its menu in recent years. The chain has added fresh salads to its menu, as well as apples, parfaits, milk, and juice to lighten up its meat, potatoes, and soda menu. McDonald's has not marketed burgers and fries directly to children in several years, and has promoted healthy lifestyles. They recently have also cut the amount of French fries in half (the portion size went from 2.4 ounces to 1.1 ounces) in their Happy Meals, replacing them with apple slices without the standard caramel sauce, reducing the caloric count to well below 600.<ref>[http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/837079/the-new-mcdonalds-happy-meal-reduces-fries-keeps-toy]</ref>. However, critics still claim the hamburgers and fries are still the biggest product at the restaurants.

However, McDonald's has shown it can improve its menu in recent years. The chain has added fresh salads to its menu, as well as apples, parfaits, milk, and juice to lighten up its meat, potatoes, and soda menu. McDonald's has not marketed burgers and fries directly to children in several years, and has promoted healthy lifestyles. They recently have also cut the amount of French fries in half (the portion size went from 2.4 ounces to 1.1 ounces) in their Happy Meals, replacing them with apple slices without the standard caramel sauce, reducing the caloric count to well below 600.<ref>[http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/837079/the-new-mcdonalds-happy-meal-reduces-fries-keeps-toy]</ref>. However, critics claim the hamburgers and fries are still the biggest product at the restaurants.

==History==

==History==

Richard and Maurice McDonald opened McDonald's Bar-B-Que in San Bernardino, California. It was a typical drive-in featuring a vast menu and carhops. In 1948, the McDonald brothers shut down the restaurant for three months for alterations. They remade it into a self-service restaurant featuring only a few menu items: Hamburgers and cheeseburgers, soda, milkshakes, coffee, potato chips, and pie, with the core staple being the 15 cent hamburger.  

Richard and Maurice McDonald opened McDonald's Bar-B-Que in San Bernardino, California. It was a typical drive-in featuring a vast menu and carhops. In 1948, the McDonald brothers shut down the restaurant for three months for alterations. They remade it into a self-service restaurant featuring only a few menu items: Hamburgers and cheeseburgers, soda, milkshakes, coffee, potato chips, and pie, with the core staple being the 15 cent hamburger.