Despite Promises, Restaurant Kids Meals No Healthier

Despite Promises, Restaurant Kids Meals No Healthier
Children eat a Happy Meal at a McDonald's restaurant in this file photo. In recent years, restaurants have vowed to change up the menu and offer healthier choices for kids. Kristian Dowling/Getty Images
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Chain restaurants are not known for serving up healthy kids’ meals. Most entrées on a kids’ menu are either fried, breaded, or doused in cheese. Fresh fruits and vegetables are rarely side dish options, and french fries abound.

Looking at nutritional content alone, some drinks could easily be mistaken for candy. For example, one serving of Sharks in the Water–a blue raspberry soft drink sold at restaurant chain Friendly’s—has more than an entire day’s worth of added sugar.

Although big chain restaurants have a long way to go, some smaller restaurants have made promising changes.
Alyssa Moran
Alyssa Moran
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