When it comes to verbal throwdowns, Panera CEO Ron Shaich isn’t shy about expressing how he really feels about the chain’s rivals. Now, he’s challenging fast food executives to eat exclusively from their kids’ menus to prove they really like their own offerings. [More]
kid’s meals
Fewer Restaurants Serving Up Sugary Drinks On Kids’ Menus, But Most Still Do
By 7.24.17
American kids are eating out at fast-food and full-service restaurants more than ever, and that makes it even more important what restaurants are serving to them. A new study of restaurant offerings by the Center for Science in the Public Interest shows that while they’re not as common as they were in the past, meals that include soda or other sugar-sweetened beverages are still common. [More]
Panera Revamps Kids’ Menu To Remove Additives, Sweeteners, Soda
By 8.11.16
What should children eat when the family is out dining at a quick-serve establishment? In the latest front in the kids’ meal wars, Panera has announced a change to its menu for sandwich-lovers in training. The company plans to remove additives and extra sweeteners from its menu for children, and taunted its competitors, many of which are still serving up fries and soda.
[More]
Burger King Quietly Dropped Soda From Kids Meals
By 3.10.15
When Wendy’s decided it January to remove soft drinks from its kids meals, it meant that Burger King was the only one of the big three burger chains to still include soda with their youth-targeted menu. But in the last month, BK has quietly pulled the sugary beverages from its kids meals and menu boards. [More]
Wendy’s Dropping Soda From Kids’ Meals
By 1.15.15
More than a year after McDonald’s announced plans to remove sodas from Happy Meals, the folks at Wendy’s have reportedly decided that they should also stop including the sugary drinks in their kids’ meals. [More]
Burger King Adding Satisfries To Kids’ Menu Because Children Like French Fries
By 3.4.14
Having healthier menu options for kids is one thing, but convincing them that they want to eat apple slices or carrot sticks instead of fries? That’s an uphill battle for parents, says the girl whose first two words were “French fries.” As another option, Burger King is adding its healthier Satisfries option for kids’ meals. [via BurgerBusiness.com] [More]
Taco Bell Getting Rid Of Kids Meals Because Children Don’t Crave Fast Food At 2 A.M.
By 7.23.13
We’ve got some good news for parents constantly annoyed by their kids pestering them to go to Taco Bell just to get a kids’ meal with a toy in it — and also, some bad news for parents looking for excuses to eat South of the Border: Taco Bell is doing away with kids meals and the toys that go along with them at all U.S. restaurants. That way, it can focus more on those 20- and 30-somethings jonesing for a burrito at 2 a.m. [More]
Even Toys Aren't Enough To Tempt Children To Eat Kids Meals These Days
By 4.27.12
It should come as good news to parents who are sick of stepping on plastic pieces of various toys that come from fast food restaurants or other chains: Kids meals aren’t as popular as they used to be, perhaps because children are just way too cool for such things at an earlier age. [More]
San Francisco Burger Kings Also Charging $.10 To Get Around Kids' Meal Toy Ban
By 12.1.11
Today, San Francisco’s dreaded ban on including free toys in fast food kids’ meals kicks in. McDonald’s has already announced that it will get around the regulation by charging an additional $.10 for the definitely-not-covered-in-lead-paint-and-cadmium toys. And because everyone loves a loophole, the royal court of the Burger King has ruled that it will also follow suit. [More]
McDonald's To Make Apple Slices Mandatory In Happy Meals
By 7.26.11
With at least one lawsuit pending and some municipalities trying to ban Happy Meals and other fast food kids’ meals that offer some sort of prize or gift, McDonald’s has announced that it wants to healthy-up your kids’ food by making some menu tweaks, like automatically including apple slices in Happy Meals. [More]
19 Fast Food Chains Say They'll Offer Healthier Kids' Meals
By 7.14.11
Parents will get to feel a bit less guilty when hauling off their rugrats to fast food joints, thanks to a pact made by 19 fast food chains. The coalition of the willing has promised to supply healthier alternatives to the traditional burger and fries option. [More]
New York City Council To Consider Happy Meal Ban
By 4.5.11
Months after San Francisco’s city government voted to effectively ban fast food kids’ meals by requiring that they meet certain health requirements, legislators in New York City may soon face a similar decision. [More]
CSPI Makes Good On Threat To Sue McDonald's Over Happy Meals
By 12.15.10
Almost six months ago, the Center for Science in the Public Interest gave McDonald’s an ultimatum: Remove toys from your Happy Meals or we’ll sue. Now the group has made good on its threat. [More]
San Francisco Mayor Vetoes Happy Meal 'Ban'
By 11.15.10
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has made good on his earlier promises that he would veto the recently passed kids meal ban (which isn’t actually a ban, but new regulations that would effectively ban most kids meals from being sold in the city as they are currently configured). [More]
Should A Kid's Meal Have 973 Calories?
By 11.10.10
McDonald’s may be the fast food chain most are associating with the recently approved kid’s meal regulations in San Francisco, but when it comes to calories in meals targeted to youngsters, the Golden Arches is nowhere near the worst. [More]
5 Kids Meals With Adult-Size Calories, Fat
By 8.25.10
Next time you’re grabbing some breakfast with your children at McDonald’s, Wendy’s or Burger King, you might want to pay attention to the nutritional information for the kids meals you order. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine just released its list of the Five Worst Fast Food Meals to highlight those G-rated meals with R-rated calorie counts. [More]
