Even if you do a good job of feeding your kids healthy food at home, many parents often let their kids eat too many calories when they eat out.
Calories in Fast Food
High fat foods and oversized portions can be an especially big problem at fast food restaurants, where your kids may have these different choices:
- McDonald's Happy Meals with Chicken McNuggets (without dipping sauce), Small French Fries, and 1% Low Fat Chocolate Milk - (26g fat, 5g saturated fat, 25g sugar) - 580 calories
- McDonald's Happy Meals with Chicken McNuggets (without dipping sauce), Apple Dippers with Low Fat Caramel Dip, and 1% Low Fat White Milk - (15g fat, 4g saturated fat, 27g sugar) - 390 calories
- McDonald's Happy Meals with Cheeseburger, Small French Fries, and 1% Low Fat Chocolate Milk - (27g fat, 9g saturated fat, 31g sugar) - 700 calories
- McDonald's Happy Meals with Hamburger, Apple Dippers with Low Fat Caramel Dip, and 1% Low Fat White Milk - (12g fat, 5g saturated fat, 33g sugar) - 460 calories
- Burger King Kids Four-piece Chicken Tenders (with Barbecue dipping sauce), Mott's Strawberry Flavored Applesauce, and Minute Maid Orange Juice - (12g fat, 3g saturated fat, 73g sugar) - 450 calories
- Burger King Kids Four-piece Chicken Tenders (with Ranch dipping sauce), Mott's Strawberry Flavored Applesauce, and Minute Maid Orange Juice - (26g fat, 5g saturated fat, 66g sugar) - 550 calories
- Burger King Kids Cheeseburger, Small French Fries, and 1% Low Fat Chocolate Milk - (31g fat, 11g saturated fat, 88g sugar) - 750 calories
- Subway Fresh Fit for Kids with a Turkey Breast Sandwich (without dressing), Apple Slices (no dipping sauce), and 1% Low Fat White Milk - (6g fat, 3g saturated fat) - 415 calories
- Subway Fresh Fit for Kids with a Turkey Breast Sandwich (without dressing), Dannon Yogurt, and a Minute Maid Juice Box - (4g fat, 1g saturated fat) - 400 calories
- Wendy's Kids' Meal with 4-piece nuggets with Barbecue Nuggets Sauce, Mandarin Oranges, and 2% Reduced-fat milk - (17g fat, 5g saturated fat, 52g sugar) - 430 calories
- Wendy's Cheeseburger Kids' Meal, French Fries, and 1% Low-fat Chocolate Milk - (24g fat, 8g saturated fat, 78g sugar) - 630 calories
- Pizza Hut Pepperoni Large Stuffed Crust Pizza - (19g fat, 8g saturated fat, 1.5g trans fat, 4g sugar) - 390 calories/slice
- Pizza Hut Meat Lover's Large Stuffed Crust Pizza - (29g fat, 12g saturated fat, 2g trans fat, 4g sugar) - 520 calories/slice
In addition to limiting how often your family eats fast food, as you can see, it can make a big difference what your kids eat at fast food restaurants. In general, try to choose healthier fruit side dishes instead of higher fat choices, such as french fries, and reduced fat or low-fat white milk.
Also make sure that you take into account the calories for any additions to your child's meal, including dressings and dipping sauces, which aren't always clearly posted with the nutrition facts information at the restaurant.
Sources:
American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Report. Lipid Screening and Cardiovascular Health in Childhood. PEDIATRICS Vol. 122 No. 1 July 2008, pp. 198-208.
Wendy's Nutrition Guide. Accessed July 2008.
Burger King Nutrition Guide. Accessed July 2008.
McDonald's Nutrition Guide. Accessed July 2008.
Pizza Hut Nutrition Nutrition Guide. Updated 6/14/07.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. 2007. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 20. Nutrient Data Laboratory
