Perkins joins other restaurants with kids eat free deals

August 18, 11:04 AMOrlando Parenting ExaminerRobyn Kurth

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Perkins Restaurants are offering a free kids' meal
with the purchase of an adult entree. (Photo:
Perkinsrestaurants.com)
 

Perkins restaurants are now offering a free kids' meal for children 12 and under per paid full price adult entree all day long Mondays through Fridays, adding Perkins to the list of restaurant chains using "kids eat free" deals to get families in the door.

As of this morning, the Perkins kids eat free deal did not appear on the company Web site, but TV commercials have been airing in the Orlando market and a call from the Perkins corporate office confirmed that the deal is in effect for an indefinite time.

IHOP is also offering a heavily promoted free kids meals seven days a week (one kids meal per adult entree) but the offer is only valid between 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. and ends on September 13.

There are plenty of Web sites that list kids eat free deals, including MyKidsEatFree.com, CouponDivas.com, FrugalLiving.tv, and MommySavers.com. Since the deals are usually for a limited time, it's important to contact the restaurant ahead of time if you are going out of your way to take advantage of a kids eat free offer.

Which brings up another question posed by a recent USA Today article: Do 'kids eat free' deals encourage parents to spend more money than they normally would without the enticement of the free meal? During tough economic times restaurant visits are more likely to be reserved for "special occasions," so free kids meals are one way to get families to spend money eating out instead of dining at home.

With all of the tourists in Orlando, many visiting families don't have the option of a home-cooked meal, making the kids eat free deals offered at the numerous resorts and International Drive chain restaurants practical as well as economical. And given the choice of dragging the family out to I-Drive or the local strip mall for a free meal versus making one at home, chances are most local families will stick with the home cooked meal (or a Publix prepared meal) and take advantage of these free offers during weekend outings or heavy duty errand days, especially if back to school shopping necessitates a trip out to the I-Drive outlet malls.

For more info:  The McDonald's Happy Meal turned 30 this summer. Find out more HERE.