Kids LiveWell menu choices will be available at more than 15,000 participating restaurant locations nationwide. The menu items will focus on increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains and low-fat dairy, and limiting unhealthy fats, sugars and sodium.
Criteria for inclusion in the Kids LiveWell program includes meals that meet the 2010 USDA Dietary Guidelines. Additionally, they need to provide the following:
- Offer at least one full children’s meal (an entrée, side and beverage) that is 600 calories or less; contains two or more servings of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and/or low-fat dairy; and limits sodium, fats and sugar
- Offer at least one other individual item that has 200 calories or less, with limits on fats, sugars and sodium, and contains a serving of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein or low-fat dairy
- Display or make available upon request the nutrition profile of the healthful menu options; and
- Promote/identify the healthful menu options.
Among the restaurants participating in the program are popular favorites: Au Bon Pain, Burger King, Chevys Fresh Mex, Chili’s Grill & Bar, Corner Bakery Cafe, Cracker Barrel, Denny’s, El Pollo Loco, IHOP, Joe’s Crab Shack, Outback Steakhouse, and Sizzler.
Sample menu items include: Silver Diner Kid’s Turkey Sliders (seen in image above), that includes two small turkey patties with cheese on an oatmeal whole grain bun with fresh fruit and a glass of milk; Chili’s offers a grilled chicken sandwich with bowl of mandarin orange slices; Joe’s Crab Shack serves up an old-fashioned mini steam pot filled with several snow crab legs, shrimp, and corn on the cob.
It is admirable that restaurants are taking the extra step to offer healthy food to diners. To make this effort worth it, parents must choose these healthier options for their children. To find out if a restaurant near you is participating in the Kids LiveWell program
0 comments:
Post a Comment