Kids' Meals at Fast Food Restaurants Unhealthy

Many parents have done it. The kids are hungry, the parents are busy and tired after a long day at work, so the easy solution is to just drive-through a fast food restaurant and grab a kids' meal for a quick lunch or dinner. Not surprising, however, are new reports that were released documenting that fast-food restaurant chains and kids' meals are loaded with calories and salt which can be detrimental to our kids' health.

A report released on Monday showed just how much fat, salt and calories the fast food restaurant kids' meals contain. In fact, nearly ninety percent of the popular kids' meals on the market today are characterized as unhealthy for children because they have more calories than what is recommended for one meal.

The report was instigated by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, also referred to as CSPI, which is an organization that documented the fat content in many popular treats such as movie popcorn and takeout food like Chinese. The group noted that it required a lot of effort to find anything healthy that is offered to children at the popular fast food restaurants.

Kids' Meals at Popular Restaurants Studied

The menu choices for children were studied at various restaurants such as Taco Bell, KFC, Sonic, Chic-fil-A and Jack in the box. The items listed as menu options for children at these restaurants all contained too many calories for one serving. CSPI also researched thirteen other fashionable restaurants that advertise meals for children and found that a whopping ninety-three percent of the choices had more than four hundred and thirty calories per serving. The calories contained in these meals are more than what is recommended for children who are between the ages of four to eight. The group also stated that children who eat these fast food meals would consume more calories than what is recommended for two meal's worth in one meal.

Options for Healthy Kids' Meals

Children, notably the younger ones, will most likely eat what is available in the kitchen at their home. And for this reason it is imperative to stock the kitchen with healthy choices. Healthy food alternatives instead of fatty foods that are loaded with calories and salt should be offered.

Dieticians' Recommendations for Healthy Kids' Meals

Dieticians recommend fruits and vegetables be integrated into at least one daily meal with the goal of a minimum of five servings per day. And it is recommended that at every meal, some fresh fruits and vegetables be served. The ultimate target is to make it convenient for children to select healthy in-between meal snacks by stocking fresh fruits and vegetables that are easy to grab and eat. Various complete snacks include low-fat yogurt, peanut butter and celery, or cheese with whole-grain crackers. Parents should try to serve meats that are lean and offer a good source of protein, which include options such as fresh fish, eggs, nuts and beans.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child's diet, it is recommended that you contact a physician or licensed dietician so that you can be sure that the menu choices you offer constitute healthy kids' meals.