Kids' Menus In Madison County

Childhood obesity is a serious problem that faces Americans. Today, more people eat out than ever before. When they eat out, they tend to eat more than when they eat at home and the portions served tend to be bigger. Eating out contributes to the increasing obesity epidemic in America.

This summer I took a closer look at the kids’ menus of full-service, independent restaurants in Madison County. The aim was to 1) see what is on the menus 2) assess why the restaurants chose to put those items on the menus, and 3) suggest possible directions for restaurants to improve their current offerings for children.

Interestingly, the idea to have a kids’ menu separate from the adult’s menu implies that kids should be eating food that is different from what adults eat. It presents the idea that there is special food for adults and separate food for kids. The USDA recommends the same balanced diet filled with fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains for everyone over the age of 2.

Results showed what I expected: lots of chicken tenders, burgers, pasta, French fries, and soft drinks. 100% of the restaurants had chicken tenders on kids’ menu, and only one restaurant did not have French fries, even though the restaurant cuisines ranged from Mexican to diner food to country club to Italian. Only two restaurants offered some sort of vegetable with one restaurant offering a seasonable vegetable or a side salad and another offering celery and carrot sticks.

The interviews I conducated with restaurants owners showed that kids’ menus are meant to be kid-friendly. Kid-friendly to these owners mean chicken tenders, hamburgers, pasta, and French fries. However, restaurant owners said they will accommodate the desires of customers. Most owners allowed for substitutions of a vegetable or side salad if a child or parent requested it. Many of the owners said there was no extra charge for substitutions even though this was not listed explicitly on the menu. Many owners said that too few kids eat vegetables and fruit for a change on their menu at this point, but if parents and kids start ordering healthier choices, restaurants will be sure to respond and meet the need. I personally did not know that restaurant owners would be willing to make me something completely off-menu.

           

Research shows that people generally stick with default options. Yet, the default options for side dishes and drinks with restaurant children’s meals are often high in calories like French fries and soft drinks. If something is not explicitly listed on a menu or listed as a default, customers are less likely to order the item. At Disney theme parks, fruits and vegetables are the default side dishes and low-fat milk and juice are the default beverages with children's meals. The healthier options have been well-received, with two-thirds of parents sticking with the healthier meal options for their children.

As one restaurant owner stated, “It’s a work in progress to make kids make healthier choices.” If more parents start asking for and ordering more vegetables, fruit, or low-fat milk for their kids, restaurants are likely to make the default items healthier. This will in turn make everyone more likely to stick with the healthy default options, making the overall food environment a healthier one!