McDonald's Posters Feature Low-Fat Meal Ideas

NEW YORK -- Would you like some information with those fries?

Customers going through the golden arches in New York, New Jersey and parts of Connecticut are now greeted with posters and brochures about how to cut the fat in their orders. For example, leave off the cheese -- or even the bun.

The Real Life Choices program shows consumers how to order their favorite McDonald's menu items and stay on track, whether they're watching calories, fat or carbohydrates. The company says it's trying to educate customers on how to fit the foods they love into the diet they're on.

An example of a meal under 400 calories is six-piece Chicken McNuggets, with a side salad and half a package of low-fat vinaigrette dressing. A low-carb meal would be a Quarter Pounder without the bun.

Jeff Cronin at the Center for Science in the Public Interest calls the program "a step in the right direction." But he said it would be more effective to put calorie counts on menu boards right by the price.

Copyright 2004 by LifeWhile.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.