McDonald's kicks off the new year with the national introduction of its new Fruit & Maple Oatmeal available for customers for breakfast and throughout the entire day. Delivering two of the three recommended daily servings for whole grains and about a half cup of fruit, Fruit & Maple Oatmeal is McDonald's first new breakfast offering since 2008.
McDonald's Fruit & Maple Oatmeal is prepared with 100 percent natural whole grain oats, light cream, and brown sugar, and topped with diced, fresh red and green apples, dried cranberries, and two types of raisins. As part of McDonald's ongoing commitment to customer choice, every bowl of Fruit & Maple Oatmeal is freshly prepared upon request: customers may order it with brown sugar or without brown sugar for those who prefer a less sweetened option. Beyond breakfast, Fruit & Maple Oatmeal is served any time of the day in all of McDonald's participating 14,000 restaurant locations in the U.S.
"With McDonald's Fruit & Maple Oatmeal, we're offering a portable, affordable, and balanced breakfast solution to help customers start their day right," says senior director of Nutrition Cindy Goody, Ph.D., MBA, R.D. "McDonald's wants to help make it easier and more inviting for our guests to eat more whole grains and fruits, and Fruit & Maple Oatmeal is an effective way to help our customers integrate these important food groups into their daily diets."
Fruit & Maple Oatmeal has 290 calories per serving and is a good source of fiber and vitamin C. It provides 32 grams of 100 percent natural whole grain oats and about 25 percent of an individual's daily recommendations for fruit—two food groups that consumers are encouraged to consume more often. Fruit & Maple Oatmeal without brown sugar has 260 calories per serving.
"Studies continue to confirm the health benefits of consuming whole grains," says Kara Berrini, program manager of Whole Grains Council and Oldways. "Despite the recommendation that at least half of all grains eaten should be whole grains, data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey shows that more than 95 percent of individuals are not eating enough whole grains.We commend the visibility and accessibility that McDonald's launch of new Fruit & Maple Oatmeal brings to whole grains. And, we're excited that Fruit & Maple Oatmeal will be available all day so that customers can get their whole grains whenever they want."
