Comments on Hazeltree Farm: Why are kids' menus options so unhealthy?

Absolutely agree! We have a 16 month old and I jus...

2012-01-24T21:57:53.598+13:00

Absolutely agree! We have a 16 month old and I just dont see why going out for dinner should mean her eating hot chips every time! Even when we ask for no chips, I dont think that greasy fish is really much of a step up! I want to introduce her to sushi so hopefully that will be a good option in the future.

Hi Pyrrha - We didn't order them anythi...

2012-01-18T15:12:31.913+13:00

Hi Pyrrha - We didn't order them anything off the kids menus,simply because there was nothing they could eat from them, even if we'd wanted to.

What I'm complaining about here is just the fact that the "kids menu" section of the menu always has (without fail, in my experience) the WORST food the restaurant has on offer. Always.

I think most sensible parents do what you're doing. We did the same. Luckily it was summer, and so salads were okay. But in winter we'd have been stuffed - no vego options either (although plenty of gluten free, interestingly - if you want a big slab of meat with veggies / salad).

Eating out shouldn't have to be this hard. And kids shouldn't be offered junk food in restaurants. Even McDonalds has been cleaning up their act, and offering fruit and veggies - why can't independent food outlets do the same! Grrr!

Hi Veggiegobbler - I don't get it eithe...

2012-01-18T15:08:36.480+13:00

Hi Veggiegobbler - I don't get it either. If they're going to offer kids milk, it should definitely be unflavored.

As for lemonade - I mean, WTF? Are they supported by the Impoverished Unethical Dentists Association or something? Crazy!

I'd just be doing the logical thing and providing free water on the tables, if it were me. But I've noticed fewer and fewer places doing that these days - I think, because times are tough, they're all hoping you'll buy more flavoured drinks, to boost their profits.

We never even look at kids' menus, never have ...

2012-01-18T08:06:34.405+13:00

We never even look at kids' menus, never have (that I can remember). We order three mains and share them between the four of us, and that's enough for us. We're usually at an Asian or Indian place, so stirfry noodles and veg, or a mild vegie curry and rice is perfect for them.

A cheap meal if you're out on the go and need a takeaway, are felafel rolls at kebab places. They're happy to seal both ends and cut it in half for the kids, and that's plenty for them. And fresh and healthy and yummy!

I so agree with you. Even if one option was health...

2012-01-17T18:46:31.599+13:00

I so agree with you. Even if one option was healthy! And why do they always offer lemonade with the kids' meals? Why not a glass of milk - not flavoured, sugary milk. Just milk.

Hi Viv - I'd eat chips all the time if I cou...

2012-01-14T10:40:52.304+13:00

Hi Viv - *I'd* eat chips all the time if I could! But I know it's not healthy for me, so I don't.

I guess that's the whole point, really. The restaurants serve chips to people for their kids because they're quick and easy, and the kids love them. But it's a real cop-out, and teaching our kids horrible habits besides.

Yeah, we did the chips and salad thing when we were on holiday - because there WAS nothing else :-( But I would have loved to see other options.

Cost is absolutely a factor, and I don't want to think how much my kids will cost to feed when they're older. But how much would it cost a restaurant to put a few dips and veggie sticks together? Honestly!

It sounds like we're all in agreement here. As for me, I'm going to complain at every restaurant I go to now that doesn't offer decent healthy kids menus.

Hi Make-do Mum - My son would LOVE to visit Japan,...

2012-01-14T10:36:41.411+13:00

Hi Make-do Mum - My son would LOVE to visit Japan, by the sounds of things! The amount of sushi he can eat at a sitting is scandalous, and yes, he loves miso too.

Maybe that's somewhere to go for our first family overseas holiday...one day...

We had the same problems. We mostly get around it ...

2012-01-13T22:52:11.567+13:00

We had the same problems. We mostly get around it by ordering decent entrees instead or a platter. The kids definitely liked to have the chips but I always insisted on the salad as well.

We now have teens so the problem is the cost rather than the content now :)

viv in dunedin

My favourite cafe creates a 'kid's platter...

2012-01-13T20:01:36.392+13:00

My favourite cafe creates a 'kid's platter' as platters are what they serve most of. The kid's platter has a sandwich, fruit kebab topped with marshmellow, pack of raisins and a serving of cheese. Water is free. It is also very reasonably priced.

When we visited Japan with our eighteen month old daughter we were able to eat out healthily every night. If there were children's meals then they were generally small versions of adult meals. This was the trip that developed her love of miso soup!

Hi Emu Undies - Oh no, don't tell me that! Sca...

2012-01-13T19:54:29.762+13:00

Hi Emu Undies - Oh no, don't tell me that! Scary though, I can believe. People *are* cheap.

Then their kids will have a weight problem, and they'll blame anything other than themselves for it.

*sigh*

Everywhere we go, we always get the kids veggies or salad - a full sized one. People look at us oddly, but we're teaching the kids that a meal has *vegetables* and *fruit* as well as the main dish.

I don't know how any kids will develop a sense of taste either.

The way things are going, they're going to grow up thinking every meal should come with chips and soft drinks, and be deep fried, and that fish fingers are the only way fish should ever be served!

Hi Dana - it's depressing, isn't it? I jus...

2012-01-13T19:50:12.839+13:00

Hi Dana - it's depressing, isn't it? I just look at the obesity statistics and cringe, because the whole thing is a bit like the Titanic heading towards that iceberg - you can see the disaster happening, but you can't do anything to stop it.

Yeah, my son is big enough to eat from the main menu these days, and usually does in Dunedin.

Whoever invented chicken nuggets should have been slung in jail for crimes against humanity (and chickens, for that matter!)

I can answer that. Cos NZ parents only want to pay...

2012-01-13T19:28:15.400+13:00

I can answer that. Cos NZ parents only want to pay for cheap crap. We had a beautiful kids menu at our Restaurant with options of smaller and slightly less intense versions of the dinner menu. A few tried it and loved it but most parents turned up their noses after reading it and asked "Do you have just chips and nuggets or something?"

And the few times kids wanted things off the "adult menu" the parents said no!

We had one Dutch family as old regulars and their kids always ordered a proper meal off the main dinner menu cos their parents encouraged them too, And they loved it! Hmmm, How will the next generation develop any sense of taste at this rate!

BTW our kids menu now consists of chips with either chicken nuggets, fish bites, or a burger. My partner hates cooking it but he has no choice. We offer a cute little salad on the side, FOR FREE, and most parents say no! they don't even try it

I can answer that. Cos NZ parents only want to pay...

2012-01-13T19:25:18.042+13:00

I can answer that. Cos NZ parents only want to pay for cheap sh*t! We had a beautiful kids menu at our Restaurant with options of smaller and slightly less intense versions of the dinner menu. A few had it and loved it but most turned up their noses before trying it and asked "Do you have just chips and nuggets or something?" And the few times kids wanted things off the "adult menu" the parents said no!

We had one Dutch family as old regulars and their kids always ordered a proper meal off the main dinner menu cos their parents encouraged them too, And they loved it! Hmmm, How will the next generation develop any sense of taste at this rate!

BTW our kids menu now consists of chips with either chicken nuggets, fishbites, or a burger. My partner hates cooking it but he has no choice. We offer a salad on the side for free too but most parents say no, they don't even try it!

i fully agree. its gross what our kids are offered...

2012-01-13T18:52:17.264+13:00

i fully agree. its gross what our kids are offered. we went out recently and our two girls (3y and 18m) just had to eat part of our dinners. getting gluten free kids sized meals is even harder than adults.
Dana

Comments on Hazeltree Farm: Why are kids' menus options so unhealthy?

Absolutely agree! We have a 16 month old and I jus...

Hi Pyrrha - We didn't order them anythi...

Hi Veggiegobbler - I don't get it eithe...

We never even look at kids' menus, never have ...

I so agree with you. Even if one option was health...

Hi Viv - *I'd* eat chips all the time if I cou...

Hi Make-do Mum - My son would LOVE to visit Japan,...

We had the same problems. We mostly get around it ...

My favourite cafe creates a 'kid's platter...

Hi Emu Undies - Oh no, don't tell me that! Sca...

Hi Dana - it's depressing, isn't it? I jus...

I can answer that. Cos NZ parents only want to pay...

I can answer that. Cos NZ parents only want to pay...

i fully agree. its gross what our kids are offered...

Hi Viv - I'd eat chips all the time if I cou...