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Changes to McDonald's Happy meals make this mom unhappy

McDonald's is thinking about the health of its tiniest customers. So by June, the fast-food giant will remove cheese from cheeseburgers on its Happy Meal menu.

Seriously? That's one way to make a Happy Meal unhappy.

This new plan, McDonald's says, will bring the calorie count down to 600 calories or less per Happy Meal. In addition to cutting the cheese on the cheeseburger, McDonald's will eventually remove chocolate milk from its Happy Meal menu.

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(These items will still be available if you ask. Which ... OK.)

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Now, I have a kid. Sometimes, we eat fast food. I find nothing wrong with a little cheese on a cheeseburger every once in a while.

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Here's my suggested plan when it comes to feeding the world's future leaders: Feed kids healthy stuff. Like vegetables and chicken. Leftovers, if they're in your fridge. Fruit. Then, when you're in a hurry, or feel like you need a "cheat meal" or, want to do something fun for your kids, take 'em to McDonald's and get some fast food. They will go wild.

After all, most nutritionists will stress that age-old motto, "everything in moderation." I love it, because "moderation" includes things like french fries and cheeseburgers. Occasionally.

Of course, the problem here is that McDonald's is affordable and convenient, which means that overworked parents can feed an entire family faster and cheaper than if they went to the grocery store to make chicken-kale salad. Childhood obesity has tripled since the 1970s, and McDonald's is saying it wants to do the right thing by feeding kids healthier stuff. While Mickie D's option for apple slices in a Happy Meal (and the new, cheeseless burger option) will lower calories, saturated fat and sodium, the real issue at hand is that kids shouldn't be eating a Happy Meal regularly.

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Plus, kids can easily order a Happy Meal with french fries -- which, y'all, are not good for you. They won't hurt anybody every once in a while, though.

Keep your kids happy and get them a Happy Meal when the time is right. But, more importantly, don't let fast-food giant McDonald's dictate what your kid should and shouldn't eat.