Wendy's is the next fastfood chain to remove sodas from kid's meal after McDonald's started it in 2013. A move to fight child obesity, Wendy's joined the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a group focused on fighting child obesity and founded by the American Heart Association and Clinton Foundation.
The announcement of Wendy's to remove sugary sodas from kid's meal was made by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) where it includes taking down Frosty and sodas, and offering more fruits and vegetable choices, whole-grain rolls and lessening sodium in their menus, Yahoo reports.
In the official website of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, they encourage dropping liquid calories such as sugar sweetened beverages that are the largest source of added sugar in the American diet.
It also states that aside from sodas, flavored drinks and fruits juices are also source of additional sugar and sodium in the diet.
With Wendy's advocacy to promote health, you will not see any sugary drinks displayed on their menu board. You will only find healthy options including white or chocolate milk, water, and apple juice. However, if a parent order sodas, they will still be served and not turned down.
Wendy's 6,000 chains nationwide and three Sioux City locations join the healthier move of Wendy's in fighting childhood obesity.
"It's exciting. When we first heard the news, a lot of people were surprised that we've spoken with. But honestly if you look at national trends with fast food restaurants and the direction that those restaurants are headed in, this really shouldn't come as much of a surprise," says Chris Liberto with the Sioux City Blue Zones Project.
Aside from McDonald's and Wendy's, Siouxland Matters.com reported that Subway, Arby's, and Chipotle are also not serving sodas on children's meals. More restaurants are also joining the healthy league and now Clyde's Grill & Pub offers Milk on kid's meal instead of sodas.
After Wendy's joined McDonald's, Howell Wechsler, chief executive officer of Alliance for a Healthier Generation said, "Two down, one to go" pertaining to Burger King.
