Assessing Healthful Food Choices and Nutritional Information on Kid's Restaurant Menus in Fargo, ND

Background: This study was designed to examine Kids' restaurant menus to determine the level of promoting and offering healthy choices. Methods: The Nutrition Environment Measures Survey- Restaurant (NEMS-R) was used in 128 restaurants throughout Fargo, North Dakota between April and August, 2009. Researchers went to each restaurant individually and applied the NEMS-R to each menu. The NEMS-R assessed the overall level of promotion of healthful items and the offering of nutritional information on kids menu's at fast food and full service restaurants.

Results: Nutritional information was available in 30% of restaurants surveyed, yet 47% did offer healthy entrees, defined as ‘baked', ‘broiled', or ‘grilled'. Healthy side items were offered at 48% of restaurants, with 9% of the “assigned” sides considered healthy, and 18% offered request only healthy side. Low fat or nonfat milk was available at 32% of restaurants, and 61% did offered 100% fruit juice. However, 93% offered free refills on pop, yet no free refills on milk or juice. Eleven percent of kids' menus routinely included a dessert, yet only 9% had any healthy desserts available (e.g. fruit).

Discussion: These results indicate that Kids' menus are lacking both information and healthy choices, which may be a prompt to encourage public policy change towards improving signage and offerings on Kid's menus. These types of changes may result in parents being able to make healthier food choices for their children leading to healthier children and adults in the future.