Restaurants roll out 'healthier' kids' meal options

ChitownFoodie

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/food/stew/chi-restaurants-to-offer-healthier-kids-meals-20110713,0,4960814.story

Just thought I should share this article in case you didn't know.

More than 15,000 restaurant locations will roll out healthier kids' meal options as part of a new program called "Kids LiveWell," the National Restaurant Association announced this morning.

Participating restaurants will include Au Bon Pain, Bonefish Grill, Burger King, Burgerville, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Chevys Fresh Mex, Chili's Grill & Bar, Corner Bakery Cafe, Cracker Barrel, Denny's, El Pollo Loco, Friendly's, IHOP, Joe's Crab Shack, Outback Steakhouse, Silver Diner, Sizzler, T-Bones Great American Eatery and zpizza.

To be part of the voluntary program restaurants agree to "offer and promote a selection of items that meet qualifying criteria based on leading health organizations' scientific recommendations, including the 2010 USDA Dietary Guidelines," the NRA wrote in a statement.

Here are some requirements for the program:

Offer a children's meal (an entree, side and beverage) with 600 calories or less; two servings of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and/or low-fat dairy; with limits on sodium, fats and sugar."


Offer at least one other individual item with 200 calories or less, with limits on fats, sugars and sodium, plus contain a serving of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein or low-fat dairy;


Display or make available upon request the nutrition profile of the healthful menu options; and


Promote/identify the healthful menu options.
"'Kids LiveWell' underscores that restaurants can be part of the solution to ensuring a healthier generation and providing consumer choice in dining options," said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association, who said she expects more restaurants to join in coming months.

While some support this voluntary move, others feel it should have gone further.

Consumer group Center For Science in the Public Interest released a statement Wednesday sayng that, "Most restaurants already offer one or two healthy choices—but they are present amidst a minefield of high-calorie, salty, high-fat options. The great majority of choices on children’s menus should be healthy, given that kids are getting one-third of their calories outside the home, and eating out is linked to obesity."

Additionally, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine said,"the recommendations are out of line with Institute of Medicine recommendations for kids’ meals—IOM, for instance, asks that children’s intake of sodium should be less than 435 to 474 milligrams (depending on age) at breakfast, but the BK muffin sandwich with low-fat milk, to cite just one example, has 675 milligrams. IOM also has a lower recommendation for fat in kids’ meals."

BeverageTreats

And which of these will allow adults to order off this menu?

PeachyKeene

And which of these will allow adults to order off this menu?

BurgerKing will I know! But, 600 calories still seems a bit high!

MrsZMartin

I also hope they'll let adults order off of these! I saw this topic on tv this morning, and they were talking about how kids will likely still choose the unhealthy options. That made me so sad. I mean, come on parents! It is your job to teach your child the VALUE of choosing these options, as well as saying no to the extreme choices many kids will make if left to their own fruition. I think this is great.

Rtrue18

Definitely a step in the right direction at least!

ebgbjo

Was going to say the same thing- 600 calories for CHILDREN is still high. And calories shouldnt be the only factor- how much sugar, fat, fiber, proteins, sodium, ect are in these "under 600 calories" meals??

EmilyAnn89

that is awesome!!