Is a healthy kids meal an option when at a fast food restaurant?

Don't think that by ordering a kids meal at a fasthave to reall be aware of the true amount of
food restaurant because it's smaller will save youcalories and salt that the foods contain. The
on salt and calories - it won't.report also found that 45 percent of children's
On Monday, August 11, a non profit public healthmeals exceed recommendations for saturated
group released a study highlighting kids fast foodand trans fat, which can raise blood cholesterol
choices. Over all, parents are left with very fewlevels and increase the risk of heart disease, and
healthy choices. All the kids meals at Taco Bell,86 percent of children's meals are high in sodium.
Jack in the Box, Sonic, Kentucky FriedApplebee's, TGIFriday's, Outback Steakhouse,
Chicken,and Chick-fil-A are too high in calories,Olive Garden, Red Lobster and IHOP, weren't
says the Center for Science in the Public Interest.included in the report because they do not
Fast food restaurants are included.disclose nutrition information about their meals
Examining the nutritional content of kids meals ateven when asked, the center said. Wendy's,
13 major restaurant chains, the center found 93Arby's, Dairy Queen, and Denny's were also in the
percent of 1,474 possible choices at the 13 chainsreport.
exceed 430 calories - an amount that is one-thirdThe report recommends that all restaurants start
of what the National Institute of Medicineincluding more fruit and vegetables,whole grain
recommends that children ages 4 through 8foods, and reformulate all meals to have fewer
should consume in a day.calories, saturated and trans fat, and salt, with
For example, Chili's Bar and Grill, including Chili's, haschoices like fruit and vegetables and low fat milk
700 possible kids' meal combinations, but 94the default sides instead of French Fries and soda.
percent, or 658, of those are too high in calories.It was suggested that restaurants add nutrition
One Chili's meal composed of country-friedinformation on boards and on menus. Few cities
chicken crispers, cinnamon apples and chocolatehave started labeling menus with nutrition
milk contained 1,020 calories, while anotherinformation - New York and San Francisco are
composed of cheese pizza, homestyle fries, andamong them. Hopefully Fast Food Restaurants will
lemonade contained 1,000 calories.follow suit.
The "Big Kid's" Meal at Burger King has a doubleZach Hunt is a Fast Food expert, personal trainer
cheeseburger, fries, and chocolate milk at 910and owner of Physzique, a fitness coaching
calories, and Sonic's have a "Wacky Pack" withservice in Spokane, WA. Go here: Personal
830 calories worth of grilled cheese, fries, and aTraining in Spokane for more fitness tips.
slushie. There are healthy choices, but parents