No. 21 includes an item that “Eat This, Not That!”
called the “worst kids’ side dish” in America.
Maybe that’s an ironic smile?
Just when I was feeling good about children’s menus, this depressing round-up crossed my desk. In it, the Daily Beast names the 25 worst meals from kids’ menus at chain restaurants, analyzed for calorie count, saturated fat, carbohydrates and sodium. I’m not into counting calories for kids. And I think standard dietary guidelines like the USDA food pyramid are out of whack (for instance, saturated fat, despite a bad rap, is actually good for you). Plus I’m all about the ingredients, so to even call this “food” makes me cranky.
But when one restaurant meal provides 800 to 2,270 (yes, 2,270) calories for kids who should be eating 1,200 to 2,200 calories a day, well, that’s just not right.
I know you’re with me. (Check out the comments on my three previous posts about children’s menus: the rant, the survey and the chef.) So how about this? If you come across a children’s menu that rocks — or one you’d like to sock — send it my way. I’ll periodically feature them in a kids’ menu Hall of Fame and Hall of Shame (or some other, more cleverly named sections TBD).
If the menu is online, just post the link in the comments below. If not, and you’d be so kind, you can scan it (or photograph it) and e-mail me: christina [at] spoonfedblog [dot] net. Or snail mail it: Spoonfed, P.O. Box 10878, Rochester, N.Y. 14610.
In the meantime, check out the Daily Beast picture gallery and let me know what you think. (I can probably guess what you think. But tell me anyway.)
Yikes. There is a restaurant in Portland that I went to once and it was fabulous for kids. If only I could remember the name!!
This menu is from a local restaurant that has some decent options – brown rice, quinoa, veggies, etc. But their kid’s menu leaves a lot to be desired. I couldn’t even find it mentioned on the link with nutritional information.
I always order something from the regular menu and let my two kids split it. I’m so tired of restaurants thinking that mac and cheese is the only thing kids will eat.
http://www.crazybowlsandwraps.com/#/menu/
I have given you an award! Come and see here: http://www.breastfeedingmomsunite.com/2010/07/purposefully-self-absorbed/
Well, thanks, Melodie! I’m very honored that you think I have “A Blog with Substance.” So cool.
Ugh-those kids’ menu choices are revolting.
Here’s a good one:
http://www.beansproutscafe.com/images/beansproutsmenu.pdf
This kid-friendly cafe is only in Wisconsin (so far), but the food sounds really great. The women who own it even wrote a cookbook, which I have, and which is also fantastic.
What a great idea! I’ll see what I can find around here. We don’t eat out much once we’re home from vacation.
We don’t eat out much. But on a recent trip we stopped into a restuarant I’ve heard other’s raving about. As far as I know it’s a Canadian only chain. There isn’t one where we live, but 10 hours away where our family lives.
It still has areas for improvment but I loved that it’s main feature was the pile of fresh fruit on every plate. They don’t even have fries on the menu (though you can get them if you ask, but they’re pan-fried potatoes). Theire “kid’s” menu is just smaller portions of their adult menu.
Yes they’re still deepfrying and yes there’s cream with the waffles (though it’s mostly yogurt) but it’s the first time my kids have been in a restuarant, cleaned off their plates, sat quietly and we all felt good afterward
http://www.chezcora.com/a/02-au-menu/2-0-caroussel.htm