Unless your kid is named Hansel, he probably doesn’t need to be fattened up like a juicy Christmas goose every time you go out to eat. That’s not what some of the biggest restaurants think, though: Chili’s has a kids’ meal that comes in at 1,020 calories, while Burger King and KFC both offer meals that are over 900 calories. Your healthiest option, says the Center for Science in the Public Interest, is Subway. Here are what some other restaurants are offering, as well as tips on how to make the best of a bad meal when your kid is eating out.
For children between 4 and 8 years of age, the recommended amount of calories per meal, assuming three meals a day, is 430. If the child is active, the amount goes up to 565. Using these numbers as a guide, the CSPI looked at the biggest restaurant chains in the country, then whittled their list down to the ones that offer dedicated kids’ menus and provide nutritional info. This meant the following were left out of the study because they won’t provide nutritional info:
- We don’t need no stinkin’ nutrition
- Applebee’s
- T.G.I. Friday’s
- Outback Steakhouse
- Olive Garden
- Red Lobster
- IHOP
Here’s what the CSPI has to say about those restaurants that do provide nutritional info:
Chili’s has 700 possible kids’ meal combinations, but 658, or 94 percent, of those are too high in calories, including one comprised of country-fried chicken crispers, cinnamon apples, and chocolate milk (1,020 calories) and another comprised of cheese pizza, homestyle fries, and lemonade (1,000 calories).
Burger King has a “Big Kids” meal with a double cheeseburger, fries, and chocolate milk (910 calories)
Sonic has a “Wacky Pack” with 830 calories worth of grilled cheese, fries, and a slushie.
KFC has a wide variety of side items, but there are few meal combinations that keep a reasonable ceiling on calories, according to the study. One example of a high-cal combo KFC kid’s meal (the chain calls them “Laptop Meals”) has popcorn chicken, baked beans, biscuit, Teddy Grahams, and fruit punch, which has 940 calories. (KFC has since dropped Baked Cheetos from its kids’ meals, and some outlets vary the number of chicken strips or sides.)
Most of the kids’meals (93 percent) at McDonald’s and Wendy’s are too high in calories, as are the possibilities at Burger King (92 percent), Dairy Queen (89 percent), Arby’s (69 percent), and Denny’s (60 percent-though its kids’ meals don’t include drinks). (Since CSPI’s study was completed, Burger King has introduced one new children’s meal with macaroni and cheese, apple “fries,” and 1 percent milk, which has a reasonable 420 calories.)
Subway’s kids’ meals came out on top. Only a third of its Fresh Fit for Kids meals, which include a mini-sub, juice box, and one of several healthful side items (apple slices, raisins, or yogurt), exceed the 430-calorie threshold. Subway is the only chain that doesn’t offer soft drinks with kids’ meals.
So how do you improve the nutrition of your kid’s meal the next time you eat at a restaurant? A spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association gave the following advice:
“Don’t be too alarmed even when [studies] come out and seem hopeless,” said Dawn Jackson Blatner, an American Dietetic Ass>ociation spokeswoman. “With a few swaps and switches, people really can make healthier choices at these fast-food joints, especially when the decisions are made before going in.
“Many of these restaurants have the nutrition information online that you can print out and go over with your kids even before you go, so that everybody is on the same page before they pull up to the drive-through or [head] to the counter,” Blatner said.
She also suggested that “instead of getting the fries, go with the apple slices. Many [restaurants] offer carrot sticks or apple slices or no-sugar-added applesauce or oranges, which make a big difference over deep-fried fries.”
And pay attention to how food is cooked. “Instead of the deep-fried nuggets, go for something like the grilled chicken, and you will save fat grams and calories,” Blatner said. You’ll also save calories by switching the soda, she added: “You can’t go wrong with unsweetened iced tea, water or a skim milk.”
As for the restaurants that refuse to provide nutritional info, maybe you should just eat elsewhere.
Click here for some specific replacement suggestions from the Chicago Tribune.
You can download a copy of the full CSPI report here.
(Photo: Getty)
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Hopefully no parent is taking their kids out to eat enough that the kid’s meals will really make a difference.
Nice list, though.
I get fast food approximately once a year, and even I can’t imagine doing it without getting fries.
Guess its not really that big a deal when a kid doesn’t clear his whole plate off.
These restaurants aren’t making your kids fat. If a kid is getting fat because he’s eating too many happy meals, then the parenting is the issue.
When I was a kid, “I’m bored” was the worst thing I could ever say. As soon as I said that I’d be outside digging a hole to fill it in. Give your critters some exercise and they won’t get fat no matter how many happy meals he/she eats.
Anyone who doesn’t think that fast food meals provide too many calories for their kids is either deluding themselves or not very bright.
Y’know, when I was growing up, eating out was a privelige, earned only when either we were on vacation or something special was going on. And even then we rarely ate fast food, we mostly ate out at nice restaraunts, and a few times I even had to dress up (which I hated).
I know that what with high inflation and declining wages there’s a pressure for both parents to work and none to cook, but if my single Dad can make dinner 7 nights a week (I was on my own for breakfast and ate at school) I can’t help but think that at least simple home meals can become the norm.
It was cheaper anyway.
…guess if the kids meals are this high the adult meals must be really over the top… I may have to start ordering the kids meal with my kids.
This is why it is a responsible parent’s duty to steal french fries from their kids.
@incognit000:
I have to agree, eating out should be an infrequent treat. When I was little, we went to McDonalds every payday (2 weeks). Of course, all you could get was a 12 oz soda, burger and fries (and get change from your dollar).
Fast food should not be a nightly meal.
I try to avoid fast food joints with my 5 year old when I’m taking him out. We go to more sit-down restaurants, or we simply don’t go out. I grill a lot of food (and I will do a ton of grilling all at once, then vacuum seal and freeze the leftovers for a quick meal on another day–might be a good tip for someone), so I know what he’s eating is relatively healthy.
Unfortunately, his mother will take him to fast food joints on her weekends with him, even though I beg her not to..to the point of sending some of that nice grilled food over with him to her place.
Few kids, unless being starved, eat more than their bodies tell them they need…excepting, of course, the “bad” stuff, like chocolates and candies.
This is just another example of CSPI agitprop, and another demonstration that they purposefully exaggerate the “3% Rule”…no matter what it is, at least 3% of the population will have an adverse reaction. CSPI tries to pretend “3%=100%”.
Recall that they “conclusively proved” garlic, pasta and wine killed everyone on earth faster than any other combinations of food? Turns out the people of Italy, France and several Asian nations where these are staples are healthier and longer-living than nations that do not have these foods aS common meals.
See “CSPI” and you know the claim is grossly exaggerated or patently false.
All of the above mentioned restaurants operate in New York City, and assuming they have a mere 15 locations, they are required to at least list calorie counts by law. Or are they brazenly ignoring that?
Haha “Big Kids” meal is right on. Who’s the guy in the photo? He might have a case against McDonald’s (hardy har har)
@gorckat:
That’s what I was thinking. My boy is only 12 weeks old, I have 10 nieces and nephews. The youngest is 4, and never comes CLOSE to eating everything on his plate at restaurants.
@RamV10:
When I was a kid, “I’m bored” was the worst thing I could ever say. As soon as I said that I’d be outside digging a hole to fill it in.
lol
Did she also tell you that what you had there was a failure to communicate?
@RamV10:
Amen to that. Up until a certain age, the only source of food that they have access to is whatever is provided through their parents/caregivers. They can’t read or do math, much less understand the concept of a calorie. All they know is “Oooooh toy comes with food” So I wouldn’t blame the restaurants on this one.
My kids get to eat out as a reward for being student of the day in karate. 9 times out of 10, they choose chick-fil-a. I’m pretty sure that karate 3-4 times a week as well as swimming lessons negates any caloric effect from the kids meal they eat once every two weeks.
None of these makes kids fat!!!
It is time people take responsibility for their actions and my Finger is pointing straight at the parents. It’s parents faults for not protesting when the amount of physical activity classes were reduced. It’s parents faults for not complaining and protesting at the type of advertising directed to children, Parents fault for not getting their lil fat darlings off the couch and away from T.V., Video Games, Computers and being involved in their own children’s active life styles.
Parents are to blame for not balancing the food groups and the type of food their children eat. It’s not about diets it about life style changes and not being lazy and parenting. Not only would this solve the weight issue of their children but the discipline and attitudes that go along with it.
I’m sick and tired of people trying to blame every one else for THEIR choices.
And yes I have three kids and live by what I’m saying. I some time work 10 hour day but I MAKE the time to be active with them and to cook fresh properly balanced meals for the sakes of their health and my own. We have T.V. Video games and computers in our home but as parents WE control the amount of time the kids are on them. We don’t drive to the local store or library
It’s not easy but no one every said life or being a parent ever would be. I have been at board meeting at the school pushing for changes in the meals and snacks offered, and there are now more daily lunch time organized sports available. They have a daily walk in the morning for all grade level and the kids receive 25, 50, 100 ect badges for the number of KM over the year they walk.
Better Question -
“Which Parents are Making Their Kids Fat?”
It’s funny to me how these studies come out and blast fast food places for being….GASP!…so UNHEALTHY!
News Flash…it’s FAST FOOD. Anyone who goes to a fast food place should not expect to eat healthy. I think it’s good some of the chains are attempting to offer healthier items, except that for the most part of they are crap with a different look.
If you want your kids to eat healthy, stay away from fast food chains.
Cheap, greasy, meat- and salt-based food is bad for you, film at 11.
Try cooking for the little bastards at home every now and again. They’ll thank you for it someday.
I do think this is kind of a stupid study.
Pretty much everyone these days KNOWS what foods are bad for them. Sometimes, we choose to eat them anyway. (Last night’s Godiva cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory, I’m looking at you.)
It’s all about moderation. It’s always all about moderation. You can have a deep-fried turkey covered in twinkies and topped off with a whole cheesecake and a bottle of vodka *IF* you do it once a year, and it certainly won’t make you fat. But putting cheese on all your veggies every day will.
If restaurants are an indulgence or an exception, instead of the rule, then pig out. Even one bad splurge a week won’t derail you too badly if the other 6 days are extremely health-conscious.
Or just lock the kids in the basement when you go out to eat. Be sure to leave them some canned goods, and maybe a knife to fight off the rats.
I will not eat at a fast food joint which doesn’t provide nutritional info. Good day sir.
You can be a better parent if you have more information on the nutritional value of various restaurants’ kids’ meals.
That’s why studies like this are valuable, not stupid. I’m all for personal responsibility, but you need all the information first before you can take intelligent action. Your alternative, in the face of no info, is to avoid restaurants altogether. It’s better (or at least more realistic) to keep restaurants in the picture and arm yourself with nutritional info.
The industry specifically targets kids with their ads for a reason – it works. From the parents point of view, it’s cheap, fast and tastes pretty good (bitch all you want about how awful it is, it sells in large part because many people like it.)
This list would be helpful for any parent that wants the convenience of fast food, but would like to help their kids eat better. Kudos to Subway for offering reasonable options too.
(And yes, it is the parent’s responsibility. But they can use all the help they can get.)
Kids get fat because parents throw food at them as a way to shut them up. Plain and simple. Crying in the back seat? Here’s a snack. Crying at the mall? Here’s a coffee and a cinnabon. Crying at a party? Here’s some cookies, cake, cookies, and three cans of Coke.
That and the fact that parents tend to take the easy route and buy all the pre-processed snacks instead of actually having fruits and vegetables available.
It’s not necessarily the parents’ but the huge corporations shoving this garbage down our children’s throats via advertising that are making kids fat. It’s freakin’ everywhere you look. All to make more money because they are just a bunch of greedy bastards that don’t give a damn about the health of a nation. MCD’s is the worst imo.
+y’all need to stop blanket hatin’ on the study! It’s not saying ALL FAST FOOD IS CRAP, it’s saying here are the “worst” meals and here are the “best.” It’s providing an overview of the fast food market place and explaining where the real trouble spots are and where the best choices are. That’s all good info for parents.
@kaptainkk: When did McDonald’s start grabbing people off the streets and force-feeding them double quarter pounders with cheese?
Because until that takes place, it absolutely is the parents’ responsibility to make better choices. Just because something’s advertised all over the place doesn’t mean you don’t have the option to ignore it.
My eyes glaze over whenever I see stories like this, because the conclusions drawn always seem completely obvious. The common denominator is poor parenting.
However, I have a friend who I can count on to be ASTONISHED by stories that report how fast food is high in calories. Just utterly amazed, as if nutrition was some arcane lore that nobody understands.
His kids are fat, btw.
Uh, excuse me, the only thing that “makes a kid fat” from eating is the food choices that the adult caring for them makes. Let’s not foist the blame off on restaurants when it’s your choice as the grown-up to go somewhere else.
Well at least Burger King is being upfront about the “Big Kids” meals, if you assume that by “big” they mean really that “this meal will make your child too big to fit into normally-sized clothes”.
I’m not sure why they’re only talking about kids (granted the study was geared at kids nutrition).
Remember a child has a much higher metabolism, I won’t touch the likes of Applebees with a 10ft pole.
@evslin: Of course parents have an obligation to make sure their kids eat healthy meals. The fact is that there are no options available, unless you want to eat organic carrots and celery forever or cook meals from scratch. From all the processed foods in the grocery store to all the fast food, none of it is healthy for you. It can be made healthy but they choose not to because of the almighty dollar and keeping shareholders happy comes into play. Stop trying to protect corporations, they don’t give a damn about anyone.
When I was a kid eating at a restaurant was a treat. Yeah, it was unhealthy, but that was the point since we didn’t go very often. If I wanted a sandwich and a juice box, I’d just eat it at home.
@quagmire0: Amen. Restaurants don’t make kids fat. Not moving your ass makes you fat. When I was a kid, playgrounds, running, swimming, riding my bike- those were the things kids did.
This is the same watchdog group that predicted something to the effect that we are all going to die from movie popcorn, chinese food, etc.
The point here is that taken in moderation these menu items probably aren’t harmful. However, a sustained diet of greasy fast food isn’t good for anyone, especially children. It’s common sense.
Should read: “Why are you making your kids fat?”
@EBounding: Exactly. I mean to some extent you could just do burgers on the grill at home and baked fries in the oven, but to go out was supposed to be a once in a while treat.
Because let’s be serious here, it takes far more caloric intake than the overage caused by a fast food meal even once or twice a week to cause consistent weight gain in a vast majority of people.
Dear people,
Fries are not a side dish for pizza.
Pizza does not require a side dish.
That is all.
–Kitt
@Gann: My kids aren’t fat, they’re famine resistant!
@kaptainkk: It’s a little extreme to say that the only way to work around the poor nutrition of fast food is to go veggie or scratch cook everything you eat. Even though very few would sing the praises of traditional processed foods, you can certainly find a good deal of low-fat, lower sodium foods, or make changes to the preparations that make them “healthier.” But seriously, even “scratch” cooking doesn’t have to be as complicated as you seem to imply. It takes less than 30 minutes to throw a few skinless chicken breasts in the oven, make some rice or potatoes, and steam some broccoli. Every home-cooked meal doesn’t have to be an extravagant 4 course meal for it to qualify as home-cooked.
I don’t think the situation is as polarized as your post makes it seem. The choice is not “fast food every day for the rest of your life” or “quit your job because you’re going to be home milling your own flour for the rest of your life.” It seems the middle ground might be “Everything in moderation?”
If your kids never get any exercise and you eat at restaurants or take out every night they will be either fat or unhealthy, or both.
@kaptainkk: The fact is that there are no options available, unless you want to eat organic carrots and celery forever or cook meals from scratch.
So what you’re really saying is that there are options, but you’d rather just swing at McDonald’s for not being healthy anyway. Hey, that’s cool. That’s wrong, but that’s cool.
As for me protecting corporations, if that’s what you want to call it then that’s your decision – I’m more reacting to your “OMG ADVERTISING
” rant than anything else. Quit being such a defeatist and get out of the frozen section of your grocery, for starters. Nobody is being forced to live on chicken nuggets here.
Anyone else get a mental image of the BK King or Ronald McDonald force feeding Augustus Gloop with a funnel, foi grass style, after reading this?
@armour: Amen! Society too often now wants to point the blame else where. Video games are too violent, fast food has too much fat and calories, etc… No body wants to accept the blame and responsibility! When did it become other peoples job to take care of your own kids? Parents need to stand up and start taking responsibility of their own kids, and not rely on TV to babysit, or school to make sure that the kids are getting their exercise.
@HPCommando: Few kids, unless being starved, eat more than their bodies tell them they need…excepting, of course, the “bad” stuff, like chocolates and candies.
Michiline Man Jr. has something to say about that, but he is currently eating…
@Tmoney02: Michelin*
Add another to the “when I was young eating out was a treat” blah blah blah. Fast forward to middle school when my parents were working two jobs each and eating out at BK was a twice a week event. Of course, I was going through the insatiable hunger phase of puberty at the time and was eating two double cheeseburgers (sometimes with bacon) plus a large (sometimes king sized) fries and a regular soda. In doing a quick check I was easily scarfing down 2100 calories or so a night. I guess in a way since I was in my “not eating lunch” phase of life as well I at least saved myself from total morbid obesity.
Was BK to blame? No. Were my parents to blame? Partly. Was I to blame? YES! I should’ve been satisfied with a kids meal. In fact, in the rare case I go to a BK/McD that’s all I get is a kids meal.
@Kitteridge: A small salad is a nice side for pizza.
@Tmoney02: I wonder whatever happened to that kid. Maybe his parents found him being the mock of all Internets and put him on a diet.
evslin: Hehehehe. I love the image of some one with a gun to their head, stuffing frozen chicken nuggets in their mouth. I agree with you, but I do think it’s unreasonable to not hold companies responsible their impact on their customers. If we just say, people have choice and if they make bad choices it’s their deal then we are basically living in a libertarian society. Which I’m not down with.
I Think the headline is a bit much, seeing how the restaurant never put a gun to anyones head and made them eat there, but there seems to be too much worry over peoples weight. If we want to be fat, then let us. I have mentally handicapped family members that when I was a kid I asked why my mother didn’t feed them more healthier food. Her response: They weren’t even supposed to have lived as long as they have according to what doctors have told us. She just didn’t have the heart to feed them nasty crap, seeing how their time here may be limited anyhow, she thought she’d at least let them enjoy what life they could.