Chick-fil-A kids menu getting healthier options, dumping Hi-C

By Leon Stafford

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Chick-fil-A is making some menu changes to offer a little healthier options for children.

The Atlanta-based chain said on Monday it will introduce Grilled Chicken Nuggets and Buddy Fruits applesauce for kids meals and eliminate Hi-C from its children's beverage line.

“Our new Kid’s Meal reflects our commitment to helping parents strike a balance between nutrition, convenience and price," Woody Faulk, the company's vice president of brand strategy and design,  said in a release.

Chick-fil-A follows McDonald's, which began adding apple slices to Happy Meals in metro Atlanta in September to up the nutritional value of its children's offerings. The company is expected to make the slices available in Happy Meals nationwide this year.

Chick-fil-A's said that when its grilled nuggets, fruit cup and one-percent milk are combined as a meal, the intake is 210 calories and 3 grams of fat. That is a 56 percent reduction in calories and 86 percent cut in fat from previous offerings, the company said.

The chicken chain said it also is working to reduce salt in its menu, including a 40 percent cut in its Chargrilled Chicken filet, 25 percent in breads and 10 percent in dressings and sauces. Chick-fil-A also has removed high fructose corn syrup from its chocolate milk as well as some salad dressings and sauces.