Parents urged to demand healthy options in restaurants

Sausages, burgers and chicken nuggets are the most popular items on a kids’ menu, despite Ireland’s ever growing obesity problem.

 

According to research conducted by Safefood, 40% of restaurants offer chips with every kid's meal while just 42% offer any kind of vegetables.

 

The watchdog group, who launched the study at the All-Island Obesity Action Forum, is urging parents to demand that restaurants provide healthy food options for kids. Dr. Cliodhna Foley Nolan, Director of Human Health and

Nutrition at Safefood says that: “Consumer demand will ultimately dictate any changes to children’s menus”.

 

However, while most restaurants agree that healthy food options are important, 84% feel that the responsibility lies with parents.

 

79% of caterers said they would provide healthy menus if the demand was there and according to Dr. Ruth Price, researcher at the University of Ulster: “Children are in the driving seat when it comes to choosing from the restaurant menu.”

 

According to the survey, both parents and their children agreed that choosing from the menu was decided primarily by the child and while some restaurants do have healthy options they need to be made more appealing to kids, as presentation and marketing have a huge impact on what they choose.

 

The kiddie menu survey also associates eating out with higher energy and fat, lower nutrients and body fat and weight gain.