Nutrition Of Kids' Menu Items May Be Tough To Swallow

The so-called food police are going after the fatty offerings on children's menus at some of the country's top chain restaurants.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest said table-service chain restaurants like Applebee's, Chili's, and Outback Steakhouse are no healthier than fast-food restaurants because the most popular menu items -- french fries, chicken fingers, burgers and pizza -- are loaded with fat.

"Many parents appreciate the kid-friendly atmosphere and free crayons at places like Applebee's, but not many would expect adult-sized calorie counts in a children's meal," said CSPI nutritionist Jayne Hurley. "These chains should be encouraging kids to eat some of the healthy dishes they offer adults, but instead, their kids' menus primarily feature oversized portions of burgers, fries, and fried chicken fingers. Now, kids come to expect that kind of junk food at school and at home."

The organization tested the nutritional value of foods from several national chain restaurants, such as the Boomerang cheeseburger with fries at Outback Steakhouse, which has 840 calories and 31 grams of saturated fat.

The group found that Applebee's grilled cheese sandwich has 520 calories and 14 grams of saturated fat. With fries, the meal has 900 calories and more than a day's worth of saturated fat -- which it says is the equivalent of three pork chops.

Officials said that some chains, such as Red Lobster, are lightening up their kids' menus by adding a few healthier choices, including grilled chicken with steamed vegetables.

Macaroni Grill and Cracker Barrel are the only other chains the CSPI looked at that offer kids a choice of grilled chicken. CSPI also praised Olive Garden for offering a spaghetti and tomato sauce kids' entree, but panned that chain's cheese pizza, which has 8 grams of saturated fat.

"If kids' menus have rooms for puzzles, mazes, word games, and advertising, surely they have enough room for some basic nutrition information," said Michael Jacobson, CSPI's executive director.

The National Restaurant Association calked the survey "another stale and worn-out attempt by CSPI to sensationalize an issue" and "vilify the food industry."

CSPI said legislation requiring large chain restaurants to print nutrition information on menus is pending in five states, the District of Columbia, and in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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