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