According to the Center for Disease Control childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. The prevalence of childhood obesity among kids aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008. The prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 18.1%.
Kids menus at restaurants aren’t so happy! Ask Mary Jo Messito, Director of the Obesity Clinic at New York’s Bellevue Hospital who told news sources that “Children’s meals at restaurants are garbage.”
News reports stated that one of the leading national fast food restaurant’s serves up Mac & Cheese Quesadilla kids’ and is at the top of the list of unhealthy foods at 2, 270 calories.
New York mom Felice Vaughn said she recently went to a national chain fast food restaurant and her son ordered the Mac and Cheese Kid’s dish with was served with a hot dog, soft drink and milk shake. No one should be eating like that!
Fred Lowenthal a NYC dad, recently went to a fast food restaurant (he declined to say which one in Midtown Manhattan) and said “My kid’s meal was over 1000 calories. It’s sick how many calories are in the menus that restaurants serve kids.”
According to the Today Show, a nationwide survey cites Friendly's Houlihans, Chevys, Outback Steakhouse and Applebee's as the worst offenders.
First Lady Michelle Obama recently launched an initiative to combat childhood obesity. It's so important to keep our kids healthy.
To learn more about feeding your kids healthy meals in and out of restaurants read Eat This Not That! for Kids!: Be the Leanest, Fittest Family on the Block! By David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding.
Parents should seek restaurants that really do offer healthy kids’ menus and skip the sodas, the mayo, look for vegetables and fruit and provide your children with the healthiest possible meal at these national fast food chains.
For more information on parenting issues visit Love Our Children USA
SUBSCRIBE above to receive email alerts about parenting issues
Click here for more articles
Twitter me http://twitter.com/ProtectChildren
Ross Ellis is also the Examiner for:
NY Parenting Issues
National Cyber Safety
NY Domestic Violence and Abuse
NY Real Estate
Comments