Food Marketing > Healthier Kids' Meals
On any given day, one-third of children and teens consume fast food, which is high in calories, saturated fat, sodium and sugar. To address public health concerns, large fast-food restaurants have pledged to offer healthier drinks and sides in their kids’ meals. However, evaluations of company pledges demonstrate few improvements in the nutrition quality of fast-food meals offered and consumed by children.
Increasingly, local communities and states are passing laws that require restaurants to offer healthier kids’ meals.
Rudd Center Research
- Parents’ report of fast-food purchases for their children: Have they improved? Rudd Report. September 2018.
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Are fast-food restaurants keeping their promises to offer healthier kids’ meals? Rudd Report. August 2017.
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Fast Food FACTS. Measuring progress in nutrition and marketing to children and teens. November 2013.
Resources
- UConn Science in Seconds video: The Truth about Fast-Food Kids’ Meals
- Parents’ report of fast-food purchases for their children: Have they improved? Rudd Summary. September 2018
- Are fast-food restaurants keeping their promises to offer healthier kids’ meals? Rudd Summary. August 2017
- Click here for each restaurant’s healthier kids’ meal pledge.
- Click on the infographic below to download:
