Healthy Kids Restaurant Meals: Is Your Child Eating Right?

The increasing cases of childhood obesity have forced parents to check their children’s food plate. As a parent, you want to make sure your child eats only those foods that meet a child’s nutritional needs. However, there is a limit to the amount of control you can exercise.

For all those times you’re dining out or just too busy to serve a meal, your family has no choice but to rely on restaurant-prepared meals. We can see how bad you feel, but it doesn’t have to be this way anymore. Restaurants, mindful of children’s nutritional needs and parental concerns, have special children’s menus and meals.

You may ask how they are different from regular restaurant meals. First, they differ in the ingredients they use. Second, they use healthy food preparation methods. Third, they make sure that the food they serve is appealing to both the eyes and the little taste buds. Here’s a tip on healthy kid-friendly meals at kid-friendly restaurants.

• Replacing white bread products with whole grains –

Many restaurants prefer to use whole grain products like whole wheat bread and pasta instead of the white varieties. This is because white bread is difficult to digest and loaded with calories. Whole grains, on the other hand, contain a considerable amount of healthy, filling fiber.

• Serving Organic Food –

Organic foods of both plant and animal origin are a healthier, safer and more nutritious option. You might ask why. Organic fruits and vegetables are produced naturally without the use of fertilizers, pesticides, or bioengineering. Similarly, the animals are fed only natural feed and are not injected with antibiotics or growth hormones to increase production. If a restaurant serves organic food, go ahead.

• Grilled, Baked and Roasted –

The method of preparation also influences the nutritional value of the food. Foods fried in oil have a higher caloric content. Grilling, baking, and roasting are better methods of food preparation.

• Do without artificial colors and sweeteners –

You may also want to look for foods that do not contain high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener or artificial food colors. High fructose corn syrup is high in calories, while artificial colors contain toxic substances.

• Healthy drinks –

Many kid-friendly restaurants have removed sugary drinks and sodas from the kids’ menu. Instead, they serve water, fresh fruit juices, and smoothies.

• Low calorie meals –

In many cases, it is not possible to eliminate certain ingredients because they are the soul and substance of a dish. In such cases, restaurants try to make it healthy by modifying its total caloric content. This includes the use of low-fat dairy products. They can omit the extra cheese or serve the sauces and dressings separately. Dishes are also prepared to contain a very small amount of sodium. If not, you can request that the changes be made to your dish.

You can also order healthy side dishes. Most restaurant meals today include fruits and vegetables like steamed broccoli, fresh carrots, apple slices, tangerines, and the like for kids to snack on; They have said goodbye to French fries.

So here’s the trick to make sure your child eats healthy even when dining out. Look for food chains that offer healthy and tasty food not only for children but also for adults and make your reservations there.