Best and Worst Restaurants for Kids
The folks at Men’s Health Magazine have published the results of a year-long study where the goal was finding the best and worst restaurants for kids. They reviewed 43 fast-food and sit-down chains in total. I’ve made the graphic below to give you a quick reference for the fast-food ratings. Chick-fil-A earned the top score, and was also named “America’s Healthiest Chain Restaurant for Kids”. There were 6 that received the lowest possible score of “F” but none of those were in the fast-food category.
Co-authors David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding calculated calories, fat (trans- and saturated), and sodium, as well as the average number of calories per children’s entree, and discovered that many of America’s most popular chain restaurants are nutritional nightmares for America’s children.
The authors compared children’s entrees; credited restaurants for having healthy adult options that would appeal to the young palate; evaluated healthy vegetable and fruit sides and drink options that go beyond sugar-laden soda; and docked points for restaurants still dishing out unhealthy trans fats or for refusing to release any nutrition information to their customers.
Visit Men’s Health Magazine to read the full report, including tips on what to order for your kids at each restaurant, and ratings for 43 fast-food and sit-down chains.
The worst restaurant for kids? Any one where I’m sitting, trying to have a nice quiet meal.
Well, if you’re taking your kid to these places often, I could see giving horrible grades.
But come on, if you take them say once in awhile…. whats the harm in having them enjoy the lunch buffet from Pizza Hut? Moderation.
I guess I’m just slightly wary of something that says that meals “falling below 300 calories per meal” on the kid’s menu is a good thing. Maybe I’m an odd duck but I was ACTIVE as a boy, I’d probably eat that and be hungry half an hour later.