LYFE - Former McDonald's Execs TO Open Healthy Fast-Food Chains...

Finally someone has emerged out the McDonald's camp with some sense and compassion, so let's hope that these guys can get it right. When McDonald's comes to mind most heads think of known for it's oversized portions and unhealthy food.

With the help Oprah Winfrey's former chef Art Smith and vegan chef Tal Ronnen (Oprah's 21-day vegan cleanse author) to help ensure quality ingredients and

 design the menu two former McDonald's executives recently announced plans to open a healthy restaurant chain concept called LYFE (Love Your Food Everyday) Kitchen, which will feature vegan, vegetarian, and healthy options in a fastfood atmosphere.

LA Time reports:

At LYFE's helm will be former McDonald's president and chief operating officer Mike Roberts and former communications boss Mike Donahue. Both will be taking cues from their former employer when it comes to smart real estate decisions and carefully constructed marketing campaigns--but that's where the similarities end.  "With two celebrated, taste-making chefs and a talented team of leaders and advisers, we believe LYFE Kitchen is a response to one of America's most significant unmet needs: the consumer's demand for delicious,affordable food that is good for you," states Roberts.

"In the Lyfe kitchen, butter, cream and high-fructose corn syrup are banned, and none of the food is fried. All of Lyfe's menu items contain fewer than 600 calories, including signature dishes [like] a Niman ranch beef burger with agave ketchup and pickles. The desserts are expected to be dairy-free."

The first LYFE store will open in Palo Alto, California at the end of this summer. The chain has plans to expand to 250 restaurants throughout the United States, including locations in Chicago, according to the LA Times.