News out today reporting that 19 chain restaurants have joined with the Healthy Dining group and the National Restaurant Association to participate in an initiative titled, Kids LiveWell.
The restaurants agree to certain nutritional criteria for a percentage of their kids meals and side dishes. They are then able to get promoted on the Healthy Dining group's website.
I am not that thrilled with the criteria. It is in some ways connected to the latest nutritional guidelines (DGA 2010), but does not go as far as the proposed rule for the National School Lunch Program. For instance the meal can have up to 600 calories and that seems high since the children who would be young enough for the kids menu need (roughly speaking) no more and usually much less than 1800 calories a day. (recall most kids menus are up to age 10 or 12). I see that the 600 calories includes one side item and a beverage - so that is better.
One of the restaurants that signed up is Cracker Barrel and that is what caught my attention when I heard the news story. I went to their website just now and I do not see anything as of yet. Today was to be the kick off. By the way, check out their kids menu as it stands now (the link just above)- CRAZY high in fat... check out the other links I have included in this post to learn more.
The criteria in the Kids LiveWell program is higher than is recommended for calories, total fat, trans fats and sugars - just so you know.
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