Healthier Kids' Menus
Here's some good news about kids' eating habits in America: Healthier kid fare such as soup, yogurt and fruit are increasingly becoming more popular at restaurants while orders of less desirable choices like burgers, fries and colas are decreasing, according to recent research from NPD Group, a market research information service.
Researchers think the shift to healthier eating stems in part from changes in kids' taste preferences. Another factor may be that many restaurants, including fast-food outlets such as Burger King and McDonald’s, are offering better-for-you choices such as sliced apples, fat-free chocolate milk, fruit and yogurt.
Whatever the reason, the new trend may prove the old adage that if you give kids healthier choices, they'll eat it. My 8-year-old certainly has an occasional pizza or fries, but since he usually eats a well-balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, it all balances out. And who knows? The more restaurants go healthier for kids, he may even skip the fries and go right for a side of veggies the next time we go out. Well, there’s always the option, anyway!
How often do you let your kids indulge in unhealthier choices like burgers and fries? Have you noticed a change in kids' restaurant menus to healthier food?
Comments
We do not offer french fries as a treat – dark chocolate would be a treat, or chocolate dipped strawberries. There appears to be a trend toward offering healthier choices but it sure is a slow one.
Our kids order what we order. Since they were little they have always been good eaters of healthy foods, so it’s easy for us to keep them this way. They always order water instead of a soft drink. However, it can get expensive though when everyone is eating salad, steak, and lobster.