 |
|
Child Nutrition
Child Nutrition is a big trend right now in the restaurant industry. With Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” nationwide campaign, it has become a challenge to schools, doctors, nurses, parents and now the restaurant industry, to assist in the fight against childhood obesity. While adult menus continue to offer a variety of choices to include low calorie and low carb; kids’ menus continue to list the same items; hamburgers, spaghetti, pizza, chicken tenders, French fries, etc. The Let’s Move campaign is making parents aware that kids’ menus at table-service restaurants are not any healthier than fast food. Many parents appreciate the kid-friendly atmosphere and free crayons at sit down restaurants, but not many would expect the caloric count to be adult sized in their child’s meal. Any child consuming a cheeseburger, fries, Coke and sundae may consume a shocking 1,700 calories and 58 grams of bad fat (three and a half days worth). Restaurants trying to get families to dine out have a new recipe; healthier children’s menus and Kids Eat Free Nights. Such moves maybe difficult to do because restaurants must appeal to young palates while addressing parents’ health concerns. Even kid-friendly fast-food and family-oriented chains are also beginning to deviate from the usual menu by offering healthier kids’ dishes. IHOP, Denny’s Corp. and Bob Evans Farms Inc, are among the few which have added fruits, yogurts, fish, and healthy pasta dishes. Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association, issued the following statement regarding the White House announcement that the manufacturing members of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation have pledged to reduce 1.5 trillion calories by 2015. “We congratulate the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation for their leadership in reducing calories from the food supply. Such efforts will have tremendous impact on the caloric consumption of the entire population. This will assist the restaurant industry’s efforts to support the goals of the First Lady’s Let’s Move initiative to reduce childhood obesity. The new and reformulated products will become part of the food supply chain, which is key to helping restaurants continue to increase healthy and nutritious offerings for our customers.” “We recognize and support the importance of providing healthful options and nutrition information to consumers. We look forward to continuing our industry’s dialogue with the Let’s Move campaign on the steps the restaurant industry can take to aid this effort”. Encourage families to dine in your establishment by offering satisfying, delicious and nutritious meals for their children – (and) – keep them entertained with free crayons! Have a safe and healthy Summer,
Cindy Barnes ***For your convenience we have added healthy “kid-friendly” recipes in our recipe section.
|
