Kids’ Meals at Restaurants Not So Healthy
A nonprofit public health group released a report on Monday suggesting that parents aren’t likely to find healthy meal choices for their children on the menus of the nation’s top restaurant chains.
The report by the Center for Science in the Public Interest said nearly every possible combination of the children’s meals at Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell, Sonic, Jack in the Box, and Chick-fil-A are too high in calories.
The nutritional quality of kids’ meals at 13 major restaurant chains was analyzed for the report. The center found 93 percent of 1,474 possible choices at the 13 chains exceed 430 calories – an amount that is one-third of what the National Institute of Medicine recommends that children ages 4 through 8 should consume in a day.
Chili’s Bar and Grill for example, has 700 possible kids’ meal combinations, but 658, or 94 percent, of those are too high in calories. One Chili’s meal comprised of country-fried chicken crispers, cinnamon apples and chocolate milk contained 1,020 calories, while another comprised of cheese pizza, homestyle fries, and lemonade contained 1,000 calories.
Burger King has a "Big Kids" meal with a double cheeseburger, fries, and chocolate milk at 910 calories, and Sonic has a "Wacky Pack" with 830 calories worth of grilled cheese, fries, and a slushie.
The report said that while there are some healthy choices on restaurant menus, "parents have to navigate a minefield of calories, fat and salt to find them."
Among the chains examined in the report, Subway’s kids’ meals came out the best. Only 6 of 18 "Fresh Fit for Kids" meals – which include a mini-sub, juice box, and one of several healthful side items such as apple slices, raisins or yogurt – exceed the 430-calorie threshold. But Subway is the only chain that doesn’t offer soft drinks with kids’ meals, which helped lower the calorie count.
Eating out now accounts for a third of children’s daily caloric intake, twice the amount consumed away from home 30 years ago.
"Parents want to feed their children healthy meals, but America’s chain restaurants are setting parents up to fail," CSPI nutrition policy director Margo G. Wootan said in a statement.
"McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, and other chains are conditioning kids to expect burgers, fried chicken, pizza, French fries, macaroni and cheese, and soda in various combination at almost every lunch and dinner."
Around 45 percent of children’s meals were found to exceed recommendations for saturated and trans fat, which can raise blood cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease, and 86 percent of children’s meals are high in sodium.
Sonic is looking into adding a variety of healthy side items, and plans to introduce string cheese at 90 calories each in September, said Christi Woodworth, a spokeswoman for the company.
KFC released a statement saying the chain is "proud to offer a variety of kids meals for those looking for lower calorie, lower fat options." The statement noted that the report’s calculations include baked Cheetos and a biscuit, sides that are no longer offered.
“While kids meals are not a significant part of our business, parents do have several healthy items they can select for their children, such as applesauce and reduced fat milk,” said Jack in the Box spokeswoman Kathleen Anthony.
Other restaurant chains mentioned in the report have yet to comment.
Recommended suggestions from the report include:
- Reformulate their menu items to reduce calories, saturated and trans fat, and salt, and add more healthy items like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Make fruit or vegetables and low-fat milk or water the default sides instead of French fries and soda for children’s meals.
- Provide nutrition on menus and menu boards. New York and San Francisco are among the cities and localities that have adopted menu-labeling policies.
Other restaurant chains like Wendy’s, Dairy Queen, Arby’s and Denny’s were also included in the report.
The center said Applebee’s, TGIFriday’s, Outback Steakhouse, Olive Garden, Red Lobster and IHOP (International House of Pancakes) ““ were not included in the report because they do not disclose nutrition information about their meals even when asked.
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