Eat, Read And Grow Together

Want to know the biggest reason that I love McDonald's?  They care!  And I'm talking about my money.  They care about me and my family beyond being customers.  And this me and my family can testify about, especially my baby brother who received McDonald's scholarships two years in a row to help pay for his college education!  The McDonald's in my hometown has donated to multiple charity and school events that I had the pleasure of being a part of.

There are hundreds more stories and hundreds of more individuals from across the country who could probably tell you stories of how their local McDonald's have gone beyond the duty of just taking orders.  McDonald's commitment to caring is something that their company as a hold is about.  There latest display of this commitment will be taking place starting November 1st on National Family Literacy Day.  

Dedicated to being advocates for children's happiness and well-being, McDonald's will be putting an original McDonald's Happy Meal Book inside every Happy Meal ordered between November 1st to November 20th.  Over 20 million families here in the US will now have access to limited-edition children's books that will combine nutrition, imagination and play in a fun and enjoyable way while helping our children to devlop a sense of community.  Each book will feature McDonald's Happy Meal characters like Ferris, Deana the dinosaur, Goat, Ant and Doddi the dodo bird.  Your children will recognize them from the new McDonald's Happy Meal commercials.

McDonald's has also partnered with Reading is Fundamental (RIF) in effort to help families discover the joy of reading.  RIF will be will distributing 100,000 copies of Happy Meal Books to families across the country who do not have access to books.  "Books are essential for inspiring children to explore, dream, and achieve, yet far too many children do not have this basic resource," says Carol Hampton Rasco, RIF CEO.  "To change this unfortunate reality, RIF is uniting with McDonald's, a company that embraces the transformative power of books and is committed to helping families and communities thrive.  Together, McDonald's and RIF can truly help enrich kids' lives through access to books and by putting the fun back into reading."

Also, partnering with McDonald's is award winning global publisher DK Publishing.  In addition to the print books inside of the Happy Meals, families will also be able to access interactive digital books starting November 1st through the end of 2014.  These books will be available through McDonald's Happy Meal app, McPlay, McDonald.com and MeEncanta.com.  The first interactive e-book will be The World's Greatest Cities, part of DK Publishing's new Amazing World Series.

This Friday, the YUMMommy will be helping our local McDonald's to celebrate going beyond encouraging families to eat together by attending Family Reading Together Night!

We love books.  Around here we're not just committed to eating together,  but reading and growing together.  So, I challenge all you parents, uncles, aunts, grandparents and guardians to commit to eating, reading and together with our children!!  They are our future and that future will only be as bright as we help them to make it.  Let's commit to caring more about giving them the tools they need to succeed and have a good life.  Be sure to check with your local McDonald's to see if they will be hosting events for National Family Literacy Day.

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thankful Thursday everyone!  I'm this post from my front porch as I watch the kiddies play.  The weather is a bit cool and windy but still a good day to be outside.  The cabin fever was starting to set in.  And we don't do the playground in the winter since Moo is allergic to the flu shot.

I'm thankful to just have this opportunity to be out here surrounded by such beauty.  I'm thankful that we live in such a lovely neighborhood.  I'm thankful for these wonderful moment in my motherhood journey where I get to just it back and observe my kids in there elements.  I can snap candids for the scrapbook and just enjoy their laughter as they dig in the dirt.

I'm thankful that birthday will be here next week.  I know people get freaked out about becoming older but not me.  Each year brings new lessons, great memories and better accomplishments.  I'm looking forward to celebrating with the kids and the Mr.  And to make it even sweeter, I just got invited to a private movie screening.  So looks like we can save a few bucks ($21 to be exact) on the movie we were going to go see. And the movie we will be seeing is one that I wanted to see anyway. God is good yall!

I'm thankful that I've been making progress on my novel.  Being a published author is something I've dreamed about since I was child.  I'm beyond nervous because this book is like my third baby.  And while I feel great about what I'm writing, when it comes to creative things like books, fashion, movies, etc not everyone always loves it.  But I'm determined to persevere. 

Now this is going to sound crazy, but I'm thankful for the Angus CBO from McDonald's.  Yes, I am totally addicted to those things.  Why?  Well, it combines four of my favorite foods.  I live for a good juicy burger.  I enjoy cheese to the highest.  Bands don't make me dance, but bacon will! LOL.  And I can't live without onions.

Source: McDonald's

Source: McDonald's

I can't even tell you how many CBOs I've had since they've been introduced.  I really wish that tMcDonald's would make them a staple on the their menu.  I've even gotten the Mr hooked on the Premium Chicken CBO.  I think he thought I was nuts when I told him how good they were.  I know people say you shouldn't love food and that you should eat to live, but I love food.  I live for a good eats.

What are you thankful for this week?

Apples & Fries

My fellow McDonald's lovers, say good bye to the traditional Happy Meal as we once knew it.  This past Wednesday, January 18th, all North Carolina McDonald's unveiled the new, improved and healthier Happy Meal.

Notice anything different?

The new, healthier Happy Meal now comes with an order of apple slices and smaller container of French Fries with your child's hamburger, cheeseburger or McNuggets.  You can also skip the soft drink and substitute it for fat-free chocolate milk (new) or 1% low-fat white milk.  By incorporating these changes, McDonald's has reduced the calorie intake of its Happy Meals by 20%!

Another great plus is that the smaller container of French Fries will help to teach children about portion control.  "By showcasing portion control and moderation through the new Happy Meal, children are guided toward making better decisions when it comes to food," says Registered Dietitian and Licensed Nutritionist Melissa Herrmann Dierks of Charlotte.

I am very pleased to see our favorite fast food restaurant taking a voluntary step at making sure the food we feed our little ones from their eatery is nutritious.  It definitely shows me that they value more than just our hard earned  money.  In fact as 2012 goes on we can expect to see McDonald's continuing to support and create awareness about the importance of families (parents and children) living healthy lifestyles that include nutrition and being active.

Local Charlotte McDonald's owner and operator David Powell says "We've been looking forward to bringing the new Happy Meal into our restaurants since the initiative was announced last year.  Kids now get the best of both worlds-- they can still have their French Fries but they also get a half serving of produce through the apple slices."

I for one can't wait to see if McDonald's will take their healthier meal options one step further and offer soy milk and other fruit options in the future.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will since we have some dairy and fruit allergies in my household.  Either way this is a great step and start at getting children interested in making smarter lifestyle choices.

Want to find out more about McDonald's commitment to nutrition?  Click here.  Don't forget to visit them on Facebook and Twitter too!!

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post.

Breakfast and A Party

Whelp, Christmas has come and gone!  We had a wonderful time celebrating the birth of our Savior as well as spending time with my family.  The kiddies had an especially awesome time because they were more than showered with gifts this year from Grandma, Unk and the Aunties. We had good food, a little wine and lots of laughs.

However, the partying continues for us as we get ready to ring in the New Year with a FREE breakfast and a party all courtesy of the lovely folks at McDonald's-Charlotte!!  Woot, woot! Yes, our McDonald's is the greatest because they're always trying to stay active in the Queen City.  I also love them because most of the activities they sponsor and host are family related.  This is a huge plus since I'm a mommy of two.

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So, this Friday, December 30th from 7-9AM, you can come out and catch us enjoying the unveiling of McDonald's new Apple Cinnamon Walnut Oatmeal at Wells Plaza in the 300 block of S Tryon.  McDonald's will be rolling out this new addition to their breakfast menu sometime in 2012.  This reveal will allow the public to give their feedback on whether or not they want less apple, more walnuts or more cinnamon, less walnuts or they could love it as is.  And of course, for us non-oatmeal lovers, they will have some of their signature breakfast sandwiches along with their Premium Roast coffee and Hot Caramel Mochas.

The free coffee alone is enough to entice to me go.  I mean have you ever had coffee from McDonald's?  It's totally addictive!  But no worries if you can't make the breakfast.  On Saturday, you and the kiddies can check out McDonald's First Night Kids event from noon to 5 PM and get out party on.  We're looking forward to meeting Ronald down at the Convention Center and getting our picture taken with him.  He's a celebrity after all.

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I'm really happy to have these extra opportunities to make more memories with my family before 2012 gets here.  The kids are growing up so fast and I'm learning to cherish and take advantage of opportunities like these where there is a little something for everyone.

What are you and your family doing to ring in the New Year?  And will you be trying McDonald's Apple Cinnamon Walnut Oatmeal when it comes out in 2012?






YUMMommy


I was not compensated for this post.  All opinions expressed are my own