Restaurant Kids' Meals Calorie Loaded

Study Shows Combinations Of Kids' Meals At Top Restaurants Are Full Of Unnecessary Calories

(CBS/ AP)  Healthy kids' meals at top restaurant chains are slim pickings, according to a report by a nonprofit public health group.

Nearly every possible combination of the children's meals at Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell, Sonic, Jack in the Box, and Chick-fil-A are too high in calories, the report by the Center for Science in the Public Interest said.

The report, scheduled for release Monday in Washington, looked into the nutritional quality of kids' meals at 13 major restaurant chains. The center found 93 percent of 1,474 possible choices at the 13 chains exceed 430 calories - an amount that is one-third of what the National Institute of Medicine recommends that children ages 4 through 8 should consume in a day.

For example, Chili's Bar and Grill has 700 possible kids' meal combinations, but 658, or 94 percent, of those are too high in calories. One Chili's meal comprised of country-fried chicken crispers, cinnamon apples and chocolate milk contained 1,020 calories, while another comprised of cheese pizza, homestyle fries, and lemonade contained 1,000 calories. Burger King has a "Big Kids" meal with a double cheeseburger, fries, and chocolate milk at 910 calories, and Sonic has a "Wacky Pack" with 830 calories worth of grilled cheese, fries, and a slushie.

CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann reports that restaurants only add to the difficulty of trying to eat healthy.

"Many restaurants don't post the calories or fat in their food," Strassmann says. "Chick-A-Fil does, but not the kids' meals. That's another complaint of this survey. Restaurants should make it easier for parents trying to make smart choices."

While there are some healthy choices on restaurant menus, "parents have to navigate a minefield of calories, fat and salt to find them," the report said.

Subway's kids' meals came out the best among the chains examined in the report. Only 6 of 18 "Fresh Fit for Kids" meals - which include a mini-sub, juice box, and one of several healthful side items such as apple slices, raisins or yogurt - exceed the 430-calorie threshold. But Subway is the only chain that doesn't offer soft drinks with kids' meals, which helped lower the calorie count.

The report notes that eating out now accounts for a third of children's daily caloric intake, twice the amount consumed away from home 30 years ago.

"Parents want to feed their children healthy meals, but America's chain restaurants are setting parents up to fail," CSPI nutrition policy director Margo G. Wootan said in a statement. "McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, and other chains are conditioning kids to expect burgers, fried chicken, pizza, French fries, macaroni and cheese, and soda in various combination at almost every lunch and dinner."

The report also found that 45 percent of children's meals exceed recommendations for saturated and trans fat, which can raise blood cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease, and 86 percent of children's meals are high in sodium.

Christi Woodworth, a spokeswoman for Sonic, said the chain is looking into adding a variety of healthy side items, and plans to introduce string cheese at 90 calories each in September.

KFC released a statement saying the chain is "proud to offer a variety of kids meals for those looking for lower calorie, lower fat options." The statement noted that the report's calculations include baked Cheetos and a biscuit, sides that are no longer offered.

Jack in the Box spokeswoman Kathleen Anthony said while kids meals are not a "significant part of our business," parents do have several healthy items they can select for their children, such as applesauce and reduced fat milk.

Calls over the weekend to other restaurant chains in the report were not immediately returned.

The report recommends restaurants:

- Reformulate their menu items to reduce calories, saturated and trans fat, and salt, and add more healthy items like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

- Make fruit or vegetables and low-fat milk or water the default sides instead of French fries and soda for children's meals.

- Provide nutrition on menus and menu boards. New York and San Francisco are among the cities and localities that have adopted menu labeling policies.

Other restaurant chains included in the report are Wendy's, Dairy Queen, Arby's and Denny's.

Six leading restaurant chains - Applebee's, TGIFriday's, Outback Steakhouse, Olive Garden, Red Lobster and IHOP (International House of Pancakes) - weren't included in the report because they do not disclose nutrition information about their meals even when asked, the center said.

[ksharon1]

I am always befuddled by stories like these. Why is it so hard for people to choose healthy food? Is it ignorance or passive indifference? I think it is the latter. Convenience is the downfall for many and laziness for others.

[mwhc1]

just stop taking your kids to McFat land. Problem solved. In fact, take your kids home and teach them how to cook a meal (and yes! with some veggies!).

[honestabe8]

"Non Profit Group" = Liberal Left using OUR tax Dollar$

"Faith Based Initiatives" = Right Wing Evangelicals using OUR tax Dollar$

[kamsack50]

America is a fat culture. Everything is about excess and richness of all kinds.
That''s the beginning and end of it and you can have these so-called health officials yammering away all they want about lettuce and brockley, it means nothing.
If it''s available, people are going to go for the rich, fat yummy food.
So, you''re going to have try taking it away from ''em
or raising prices - like they do with tobacco.
End of story. Wake up people and look in the mirror.

[daysrnumbrd]

I ate, I never gained a pound. How? I took my skinny little butt outside and worked and played. Tks, Lousy couch potato

Posted by adfolder at 06:00 AM : Aug 05, 2008
...........

When we were kids, there were NO...

...game consoles, computers, 500 (24/7) TV channels, home theater systems (for the kids room).

Our version of a "first-person shooter game"...

...included plastic/toy guns with some playing the "cops" and some playing the "robbers". (And occasionally some tricycles, bicycles, or whathaveyou).

[sunnyconure]

Have you looked at your kid''s plate lately? Do they actually finish the whole meal? I work with the public school system... where they serve "healthy" choices; but the kids throw away enough every day to feed a third world country for a week! (Personally, I never eat from the cafeteria...)What with all the eating disorders prevelant to our youth, anorexia and bulemia aren''t exclusive for high fashion models anymore... I say let them eat whatever they want. Education is the answer - but it''s not just the "teacher''s job". Overweight kids need to learn about proper portion sizes and the health benefits of exercise, while the self-starved kids need to learn about the health risks and nutritional needs of their bodies.

[adfolder]

When I was a kid, I ate junk,junk, and more junk. I was skinny as a rail. Didn''t matter how many calories pop-tarts, mary janes, kits,sweet-tarts,mcdonald burgers, bit-of-honeys,regular cokes and pepsies,frizzies,nutty buddies, kool-aid,fat back, fried chicken, ect.,ect.ect. I ate, I never gained a pound. How? I took my skinny little butt outside and worked and played. Tks, Lousy couch potato

[grammawhamma]

Kids need to go outside and play. Get rid of the video games and TV and buy them a bike, roller skates, basketball hoop and a jump rope. They will be fine...even with a little bit of junk food.

[beehive21-2009]

The truth is ,look at all the fatsos you are producing ? Kids today are mostly fat .look at the parents fat, too.Macs in the rest should not be eaten more than ,yearly.Americana are and drinking and eating themselves to death.

[niketa46]

I second the idea of cooking at home and getting the kids outside and playing. In addition its the parents responsibility to make sure these kids are making healthy choices and lead by example - this includes exercise. By making the healthy choices now and showing your kids you exercise they will pick up on your good habits.

Eatting out should be seen as a treat and shouldn''t be done everyday!