Starting this week, kids will find some new choices on their restaurant menus -- choices that will make their parents happy, too. More than 15,000 restaurants in the U.S., representing 19 chains, including Burger King, Cracker Barrel, Chili's, Denny's and IHOP, are participating in a voluntary new initiative called Kids LiveWell.
Many meals that fit the program will carry a red apple icon. Some meals that qualify healthy foods for children:
* Burger King's breakfast muffin sandwich with apple fries (slices) and fat-free milk.
* Corner Bakery Cafe's half turkey sandwich on harvest bread, with a side of baby carrots, fruit medley and low-fat milk.
* Cracker Barrel's kids' chicken n' dumplings with organic apple juice.
Margo Wootan of the Center for Science in the Public Interest said offering healthier kids' meals at restaurants is important because children are getting about a third of their calories from eating out, and eating out is a big contributor to obesity.
"Kids' meals have become synonymous with junk," Wootan said. "They are usually a hamburger, a slice of pizza or fried chicken tenders with a side of french fries and a soda.
"We need to get to the point that the kids' meals are the healthiest meals, because kids are growing and developing and forming eating habits that are going to affect their health for the rest of their lives
The push for restaurants to offer healthier food choices gained momentum this week when 19 chains under the National Restaurant Association banner agreed to rethink their children's menus. That development will increase the pressure for local restaurants and food-related small businesses to take a stand on the nutritional content of what they sell.
To participate, restaurants must:
* Offer at least one children's meal with 600 calories or less; two servings of fruits or vegetables, whole grain, lean protein, and/or low-fat dairy;
* Offer at least one individual item with 200 calories or less, limiting fats, sugars and sodium;
* Display the nutritional value of their healthy menu options.
For example, Burger King has changed the ingredients of its chicken nuggets with children in mind, and its personnel are being encouraged to offer apple fries rather than the alternative. IHOP has come up with four healthy children's menu offerings including a "Just for Kids Baby Cakes" that opts for scrambled egg substitute, turkey bacon, and seasonal fruit.
Among those commenting about the new program are Bryan Silbermann, president and CEO of the Produce Marketing Association. "What pleases me just as much is that this program really shows government and industry working together to ensure our children eat healthier and tasty meals, while providing clear guidance to parents for meals at home or dining out,” he said.
The National Restaurant Association is responding to a climate where the federal government is raising the bar for restaurants and retail food establishments to disclose the content of what is on their menus and their shelves. By clearly marketing healthy, kid-friendly menu offerings, your establishment could stand out from the competition.
