There are more than 83 million generally broke millennials in America, and mighty McDonald's (MCD) - Get Report wants to be their place for cheap fast-food.

The Golden Arches has unwrapped several initiatives in recent months to welcome back millennials, who for years have migrated to chains such as Chipotle (CMG) - Get Report that serve healthier fast-food.  For example, McDonald's started testing kale bowls earlier this year in Southern California while also introducing touchscreen ordering tablets in select markets.  Even the launch of all-day breakfast last fall is millennial friendly -- an Egg McMuffin is more affordable than buying a Big Mac for lunch. 

Judging by McDonald's first-quarter results, it's having some success with the millennial crowd.

McDonald's reported Friday same-store sales in the U.S. rose 5.4%, propelled by interest in all-day breakfast and the company's new " McPick 2" value menu that launched earlier this year. The company's U.S. business has now posted two consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth above 5%.

"I think CEO Steve Easterbrook's approach is that McDonald's could try some things, not all at once though because he wants to keep the menu simplified," said TheStreet's founder Jim Cramer. 

TheStreet takes a brief look at what Easterberook has been trying to lure back the youth of America.

1. Selling Food That Millennials Would Eat

Spotted: kale at McDonald's.

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McDonald's said earlier this week it will launch brats in over 125 Wisconsin markets, which comes on the heels of pilots of kale bowls and yogurt smoothies in southern California. What millennial doesn't like a kale bowl or a glorified hot dog?

Further, a McDonald's spokeswoman tells

TheStreet

the company has

started testing

a "Grand Mac" and "Mac Jr." in over 120 restaurants in the central Ohio and the Dallas areas. The Grand Mac, which will cost $4.89, is made with two 1/6-pound beef patties on a larger sesame seed bun, compared to a traditional Big Mac, which has two 1.6 ounce beef patties. The Mac Jr. is a essentially a single-layer Big Mac that will go for about $2.39 and $2.59, depending on location.

The new Big Macs address two problems millennials may have had with the iconic sandwich: it's either too small relative to the better burgers served by Five Guys or is not easy to eat on the go. 

2. Making McDonald's Digital


What millennial wouldn't want to try these touchscreen ordering machines?

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According to a source who recently attended the annual McDonald's Worldwide Convention, the company now has touchscreen ordering kiosks in 600 U.S. restaurants. By year's end, it plans to have them in 1,000 locations. In addition, the company is nearing the launch of its first digital ordering app.

Digitizing the McDonald's experience is very millennial friendly -- the generation is perpetually on their smartphones and isn't keen on human interaction. 

3. Offering Even More Value


New McDonald's value menus are very millennial friendly.

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McDonald's has launched two different value plans this year, great news for cash-starved millennials. 

Earlier this year it launched the "McPick 2" value menu, where customers could choose two items for $2.  Then in late February, it debuted the "McPick 2 for $5", allowing a customer to choose two more premium items for $5. 

On a call with analysts Friday Easterbrook hinted McDonald's was nearing a national value plan.