How Nutritious Are Kids’ Fast-Food Meals?

If you’re grabbing meals for your kids at fast food chains, you’re shortchanging them when it comes to nutrition. Researchers studying the nutrient quality of kids’ meals served at fast-food restaurants in major U.S. cities found that only 3 percent met federal dietary guidelines.

"Two trends motivate the need for an evaluation of the nutrient quality of fast-food kids’ meals: the increased prevalence of childhood obesity and the amount of food consumed away from home," said Michigan State University’s Sharon Hoerr, a food science and human nutrition researcher with the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.

The quality of kids’ meals were measured using nutrient values provided by fast food companies and the seven nutrient criteria from the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and dietary guidelines for sodium, fiber, added sugar and trans fat.

According to the study, more than 65 percent of the meals that did not meet the NSLP guidelines exceeded guidelines for total fat, while 75 percent were deficient in calcium. What's more, 82 percent of those meals were deficient in iron and 85 percent were deficient in vitamin A.

The small percentage of meals that did meet dietary guidelines included fruit as a side dish and milk, and nearly all were deli-sandwich meals. They also had about one-third the fat, one-sixth the added sugars, twice the iron and three times the amount of vitamin A and calcium as did the meals that did not meet the standards.

Hoerr believes fast-food kids’ meals can be designed to taste good and meet a basic level of nutrient quality.

"Through public policy efforts and purchasing choices, parents, physicians, consumer groups, policymakers and public health professionals can deliver a strong, united message to fast-food companies that kids’ meals are most desirable when they are nutritious as well as tasty."

Why does this matter to you? Because 25 percent of children consume fast food on a typical day. Until fast food chains are able to deliver a basic level of nutrient quality in kids' meals, make responsible choices for them. My recommendation is a Subway Fresh Fit for Kids Meals. Choose a turkey mini sub loaded with veggies and a side of apple slices or raisins. Skip the juice and opt for 1% low fat milk or a bottle of water.