Here is the update on the report just published on top 13 restaurant chains and the calories in the kids meals.  The benchmark was 430 calories.   Meals offered to children should not exceed this amount for one sitting (one meal) based on the recommended total calorie intake for 4-8 year olds.

The center found that 93% of the 1,474 possible choices exceeded the 430 calorie allowance for one meal.

• Chillis has 700 possible kids meal combinations:  94% are too high in calories
  • The report found that many combinations added up to over 1000 calories in one meal.

• Burger King has Big Kids meals that include double cheeseburger, fries and chocolate milk that reaches 910 calories
• Other restaurants mentioned were Jack in the Box, McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Whacky, Sonic, Wendy’s, Dairy Queen,  Arby’s, Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell and Dennys who all had meals that were too high in calories for children
• Subway faired better with 6 out of 18 Fresh Fit for Kids meals

What did the Restaurant’s respond:  they offer choices and it is up to the parents to guide their children in what they should eat.

I have been reading a few blogs who also are tauting the same message.  Don’t discount the power of early nutrition education.  If kids had a better sense of what their bodies needed, it might make it easier for parents and kids to work together in creating healthier meals.  But nutrition education is dominated by high sugar and high fat food companies marketing the wonder and deliciousness and fun of their foods.  Makes it hard.

Just remember, little steps do make a difference.  Every small change is a step to a healthier child.  Start by talking with your kids and making small agreements. If your child drinks coke every day, (I really hope they don’t) then try making an agreement to drink coke every other day and substitute water.  Small steps do make a difference.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 at 10:10 am and is filed under Children nutrition, Balanced meal, Eating out. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.