Do you want carrots with that? McDonald's to go greener and healthier

Expect to see more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and sustainable beef on the menu, says McDonald's, which released details on its corporate responsibility plans for 2020. By 2016, the mega fast food chain says it will begin purchasing 'a portion' of beef from verified sustainable sources. (Read: Weight loss diet plans for different calorie needs)

Customers in nine of its top markets -- the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Japan and the UK -- can expect to see 100 percent more fruit, vegetables, low-fat dairy and whole grains on the menu. Likewise, 100 percent of the chain's coffee, palm oil and fish will also be sourced by verified suppliers, says McDonald's. (Read: Stay healthy with these 8 summer foods (Gallery))

By 2020, all the packaging used will be fiber-based from certified or recycled sources, while efforts will be made to increase in-store recycling to 50 percent. The goal will also be to increase energy-efficiency to 20 percent in seven of its top markets. Rival Burger King also pledged to purchase beef from suppliers that source only beef that has been raised in environmentally responsible ways. That means that none of the beef comes from recently deforested rain forests. (Read: 7 diet tips to stay healthy in the summer (Gallery))

Source: AFP

Image source: AFP

For more articles on diet & fitness, visit our diet & fitness section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.