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By Martha Sanders
Taking your kids out for meals at fast food restaurants can sometimes be a double-
I am not exaggerating here, most of the kids meals at fast food restaurants are high in fat, sodium/MSG and calories – your kids may be ingesting close to 1000 calories in one sitting.
Do you know Chili's country-
To ensure your children stay healthy and happy, you need to do your homework beforehand, and at the fast food restaurant, be firm without screaming.
Not knowing what to pick on the kids menu can be disastrous – it puts your kid at risk for childhood obesity and many chronic diseases later on in life.
In response to pressure from consumer and health advocates, many fast food restaurants today have lighter and healthy choices on kids menu. Some healthy fast food kids meals that meet CSPI's nutritional criteria are:
Subway's ham mini sub with juice box and apple slices or raisins; roast beef mini sub and juice box with any side, including apple slices or raisins or yogurt; turkey mini sub and juice box with apples slices or raisins or yogurt
Chili's grilled chicken sandwich with apple juice and corn kernels (or mandarin oranges or pineapple)
Denny's pancakes without meat, with maple syrup; macaroni and cheese, and grapes
Arby's popcorn chicken or junior roast beef sandwich with fruit cup and fruit juice
And, on the list of CSPI's "Hall of Shame" are:
Chili's country-
Chili's cheese pizza, home-
KFC's popcorn chicken, baked beans, biscuit, fruit punch, and Teddy Grahams – 940 calories
Burger King's double cheeseburger, fries, and chocolate milk – 910 calories
Sonic's grilled cheese, fries, and slushie – 830 calories
If a healthy fast food kids meal is not available on the menu, you can always improvise.
Ask if you can substitute standard milk with skim or low-
Request for baked potato in place of french fries; go for thin cheese crust without extra toppings; see if you can have the chicken grilled instead of fried or encourage your kid to pick yogurt over ice cream sundae and reject the offer to upsize your order.
With some knowledge and a little planning, your children can still have a pleasurable family time at fast food restaurants the guiltless way.
Healthy Fast Food Choices for Kids
Going crazy getting picky eaters to eat? You’ll love these tips – they always work like a charm for parents!
13 Sneaky Ways to Make Kids Love Veggies
Your kids hate vegetables? You can make kids eat veggies and help them develop lifetime healthy eating habits with these few tricks!
How to Encourage Kids to Eat Fish
Getting kids to love eating fish is possible, if you know some really clever tricks to make fish yummy!
How to Choose Healthy Drinks for Kids
What drinks are healthy for kids? How do common kids' drinks like fruit juices and milk measure up on the nutrition scale?
3 Healthy Snacks that Kids Should Eat
What healthy snacks that kids should eat ? How to make snacks interesting for your kids to enjoy?
5 Healthy Peanut Butter Substitutes
If PB is banned at your kid's school because of nut allergy concerns, don't miss these nutritious and tasty peanut butter alternatives.
What salad bar items can ruin your diet? How to make healthy choices without sacrificing taste?
Are You Buying Really Whole Grain Products?
How can you be sure a food is really made with whole grains? Learn to tell good sources
of whole-
Do you eat to relieve stress? Stress eating can bring many health problems, but munching on these foods can help you reduce stress fast and feel relaxed.
6 Bad Ingredients in Food Labels
Learn how to read food label for unhealthy ingredients, and know the effects they have on your health
