By Elizabeth Stieber
Times Staff Writer
McDonald’s may be known for its burgers and fries, but with new menu items like salads and fruit, the company seems to be getting a fitness facelift.
The international fast-food corporation continued its initiative to encourage folks to Go Active! during the City of Brotherly Love Fitness Walk last Friday.
With exercise psychologist Bob Greene setting the pace, Mayor John Street and members of City Council joined McDonald’s employees and some Philadelphians in a walking mood for the one-mile trek around Independence Hall last Thursday.
"McDonald’s continues to be a leader in providing information to help people make informed decisions and inspire them to take personal responsibility for their own well-being. To that end, we are delighted to welcome Bob Greene to Philadelphia," said Dave Santoro, co-president of the McDonald’s Owner/ Operators Association of the Greater Philadelphia Region.
Greene is Oprah Winfrey’s personal trainer, and McDonald’s has teamed up with him in cooperation with the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and the American College of Sports Medicine to raise awareness and educate consumers about leading active lifestyles.
Greene’s visit to Philadelphia was an extension of McDonald’s Go Active! American Challenge, which is part of the company’s ongoing campaign to encourage balanced, active lifestyles. In just 36 days, Greene has traveled more than 3,000 miles to cities across the country to raise awareness about the importance of food and energy balance, and to provide tips about how to add activity to each day.
"The McDonald’s Go Active! American Challenge was an adventure of a lifetime for me," Greene said. "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to connect with people face to face in Philadelphia to express McDonald’s commitment to helping them achieve realistic exercise goals, make balanced food choices and live better lives overall."
Within the last year, McDonald’s has been heavily advertising a balanced, active lifestyle campaign and hooked up with Greene, who also has written books on fitness.
Greene has rallied around the launch of the Go Active! Happy Meal, which includes a salad, bottled water and a "stepometer" to monitor distance walked, along with the McDonald’s Go Active! American Challenge and the Happy Meal Choices, giving parents and kids such options as white or chocolate milk, apple juice and apple dippers in their Happy Meals.
Although this is the first time McDonald’s has debuted such a large healthy-lifestyles campaign, "we’ve always been about fitness and letting people be informed," Santoro said.
The fast-food giant was the first to supply calorie information on its items, he added.
Santoro hopes the fitness walks will encourage folks to incorporate healthful eating and walking in their regular routines. "It’s not just about (last Friday’s walk)," Santoro said.
"It’s doing it on a daily basis." oo
Reporter Elizabeth Stieber can be reached at 215-354-3036 or estieber@phillynews.com