Healthy Family Restaurants

Posted by Kelby Carr Sep 11, 2006

OK, I will grant them, there are some healthy-esque options on the children's menu (like pasta marinara), but I don't think Chili's and immediately think healthy. Isn't this a restaurant that serves steak, which is then battered and deep fried, and then they add gravy? Tasty, for certain. Healthy? Not really.

Child Magazine's list also includes Legal Sea Foods, Mimi's Cafe, Red Lobster, The Melting Pot, The Old Spaghetti Factory, Benihana, Ruby Tuesday, Elephant Bar Restaurant and Bertucci's.

According to the Travel Gossip blog, Child Magazine's standards weren't all that high. They simply looked for restaurant menus containing at least two nutritional entrees, including a vegetable besides french fries and offering milk among its beverage choices. Of 125 chains, only one out of six met that most basic criteria.

If you're traveling and concerned about this issue, considering packing your own healthy kid snacks.

There's no question childhood obesity is a huge issue. What is your take on the list? Do you agree? Do you think restaurants do enough to provide healthy offerings, particularly for children? Discuss how healthy chain family restaurants are!