It’s not just kids who are going back to school this Fall. It’s Kids’ Menus.
Except that they’re failing already!
Adult menus are usually far healthier.
Read the whole report
, free, here.
Have your kid order from the adult menu! And then split the meal with her!
For example, at Burger King, 92 percent of the kids meals have over 430 calories. That’s more than the number of calories that kids (ages 4 to 
should get at a single meal.
At McDonald’s and Wendy’s, it’s 93 percent of the kids meals.
The winner? Subway. Two-thirds, or 67% of the kids’ meals have fewer than 430 calories.
What’s the take-home?
No one goes to any of these places for a healthful meal. They go because it is convenient, or easy, or inexpensive.
And kids need to know it’s ok to splurge once every few weeks, but that food is great fuel, and that you really are and can feel what you eat.
It would be great if parents could lead by example. Not all can. But every parent can pack a lunch for kids—which would be the best effort of all. Here are some easy, inexpensive ideas.
Sandwiches and Substitutes
* Peanut or almond butter and apple slices on whole wheat
* Canned salmon salad made with celery and lemon
* 1 individually wrapped string cheese and 1/2 banana bran muffin
* 1 wedge Laughing Cow cheese and 4 mini-party whole grain slices
* Warm corn tortilla spread with vegetarian refried beans and sprinkled with pumpkin seeds and avocado and then rolled up
* Turkey breast slices spread with mustard and avocado, rolled up and cut—serve on party bread slices
* Peanut or almond butter mixed with raisins on a toasted whole wheat English muffin
* Hard boiled eggs and whole grain crackers
Foods That Add Crunch (other than regular chips)
* Melon balls
* Apples or pears or plums
* Baked chips
* Air-popped popcorn
* Mini carrots
* Pretzels in fun shapes
Sweet Endings
* Low-fat individual yogurt cup
* Fruit cup, fresh
* 2 Hershey’s dark chocolate kisses
* Drained mandarin oranges or regular orange sections
* Melon cubes
* Drained pineapple chunks
* Plain cereal mixed with a few M & M’s or mini chocolate chips
