Some Chains Offer Kids Better Options

Almost every busy parent has found themselves a situation like this: You've got to get Junior to his karate lesson, pick up Muffin from her soccer practice and stop by the mall to get a birthday present for little Buster's kindergarten teacher.

Then it hits you: It's dinnertime, and there's no way in Hades you're going to have time to fix a meal. The drive-through beckons, with promises of food that the kids will eat without complaint and toys that might last at least until the car ride is over.

But where do you go? Many adults are struggling today with weight problems that can be blamed at least in part on the deep-fried, fat-laden kids' meals with which they were presented on a regular basis during childhood. We've got 10-year-olds with cholesterol problems, which should be frightening to anyone with kids.

Fortunately, the increase in health consciousness among adults has bled over into the world of cartoon-themed kid-friendly dining. More and more fast-food outlets are offering healthier alternatives to the traditional menu items, most of which are still quite palatable to short folks.

In this article, we'll take a look at the major chains and grade them based on their offerings. This is not a nutritional comparison, since all available options will be taken into account, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that apple slices are better for you than french fries.

First up, the biggest of them all:

McDonald's: It's safe to say that kids' meals might not exist were it not for the iconic Happy Meal. Billions of those cardboard boxes have been handed out drive-through windows, and until recently they were stuffed with a frightening amount of fat, calories and sodium. While the main menu items are still fairly hefty, with a hamburger, cheeseburger or McNuggets, the drink offerings now include lowfat milk and apple juice. Instead of fries, you can substitute apple slices with lowfat caramel sauce that all but guarantees they'll be polished off. Grade: B-.

Burger King: Admit it: You'd pay real money to watch an ultimate fighting match between Ronald McDonald and the creepy Burger King. If you want real competition, you'd better hope for that, as BK's kids' meal options are just about identical to McDonald's.

One major difference is the option to pick Kraft macaroni and cheese as the entrée, which actually packs fewer calories than the burgers or chicken tenders. However, they also have the capacity to really do a number on your upholstery. Grade: B-

Wendy's: Wendy's goes just a step farther with its kids' meal offerings, adding a chicken sandwich to the standard trio of cheeseburger, hamburger and nugget-like objects. This slips in a bit more protein than the nuggets with less total breading. Also, Wendy's replaces apple dippers or fries with mandarin oranges, which provide a hefty dose of vitamin C. Juice and milk are offered as drink options. Grade: B.

Arby's: Arby's offers something other than the usual trio, with a Jr. Roast Beef sandwich joining the familiar chicken in nugget form. The chain phones it in a bit with applesauce as an option to fries or potato cakes, basically a nutritional null, with a hefty dose of sugars. Fruit juice and milk are offered. Grade: B-.

KFC: It shouldn't be surprising that KFC offers only chicken in various forms -- strip, popcorn or drumstick -- in its kids' meal. What is surprising is that all those options are fried. The side items are the standard fat-laden KFC fare, and the meal even comes with a sack of Teddy Grahams. Milk is not offered as a drink choice, but apple juice is. Grade: D.

Taco Bell: Here we have an example of a chain seemingly making a conscious decision not to even try to go the healthy route. Your choices for entrée are two tacos or a bean burrito. Instead of fries, you'll get an order of cinnamon twists loaded with enough fat and sugar to guarantee Junior will be wearing those husky-size jeans in no time. Drinks? Choose from our fine soda menu, please. Grade: F.

Jack In The Box: Jack wins the prize for most entrée options, with the usual trio augmented by a tasty grilled cheese sandwich, French toast sticks or a Breakfast Jack. Like Arby's, applesauce is the option to the fries. JIB does get points for offering orange juice, which is far more nutritious than apple. Grade: B+.

Chick-Fil-A: Here again, it should come as no surprise that the offerings are all poultry. Again, sadly, they are all fried. However, the Chick-Fil-A strips and nuggets are far more lightly breaded than others, and the taste is excellent. Instead of fries, a fresh fruit cup can be substituted for a minimal charge, which beats applesauce and even mandarin oranges by a mile. Milk and juice are offered, also. Grade: A-.

Sonic: The chain that brought the world the fat-laden wonder known as the Toaster Sandwich also just happens to offer the best kids' meals around. The entrée options are varied, with burgers, chicken strips, corn dogs and grilled cheese. The drinks include milk and juice. But the real surprise is in the sides, where the usual fries and applesauce are joined by … a banana. That's right, you can get an honest-to-goodness piece of real fresh fruit in Muffin's kids' meal. I also have it on good authority that Sonic offers the best toys, not that I have a drawer full of them or anything. Grade: A.

It's encouraging to see that almost every chain is making at least some effort at providing healthier choices and lighter fare for the kids. Nobody's made any great strides as far as main menu items yet, but parents are no longer forced to pile fries atop an already-heavy meal.