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Nov 19, 2008 10:00 pm US/Central
Picking Healthy Options For Kids When Dining Out
(CBS 11 News)
It can be tough getting kids to eat healthy when you go out to a restaurant. But CBS 11 News discovered that what many parents think might be the healthiest menu option, could actually be the worst for children.
Burgers, sandwiches, and pancakes, oh my!
With all the talk of childhood obesity, the writers of the popular book 'Eat This Not That' decided to create a version just for kids. They looked at kids meals, weighing just how healthy they really are.
Many North Texans find the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) a popular choice for breakfast. So which is better - the chocolate chip pancakes or the kid's cheese omelette?
According to Eat This Not That, the chocolate chip pancakes are the healthier option. The meal serves up 630 calories and 15g of fat, versus 790 calories and 40g of fat for the omelette.
At Chili's, what if you were given the choice between the Pepper Pals Cheese Quesadilla or the Pepper Pals Little Mouth Burger? In this case, the burger is the best choice, carrying 280 calories and 15g of fat. The quesadilla packs in 620 calories and 26g of fat.
Neva Cochran, a registered dietician with the Dallas Dietetic Association, says in some cases the high calorie and fat content could be due to the size of the meal. "I think a good suggestion would be to watch your portion sizes because children don't need to be eating these huge portions," she explains.
Inside Burger King, the Whopper Jr. is a good choice - with 430 calories and 12g of fat. Take that over the cheeseburger which has 560 calories and 29g of fat.
When dining at Olive Garden, 'Eat This Not That' suggests ordering the spaghetti with tomato sauce, instead of the mac-and-cheese. "The spaghetti is made from tomato sauce, which is fat free," Cochran says. "So for half a cup of tomato sauce is only 50 calories and no fat."
At Arby's, would you order the Arby's Melt or the Roasted Turkey and Swiss sandwich? Everyone CBS 11 asked picked the Turkey and Swiss, but that's wrong! The Melt has just 303 total calories, which is less than just the bread on the Turkey and Swiss sandwich.
Cochran says parents should set a good example and make balanced choices. "If you have fried chicken fingers, don't have french fries with it," she says. "Get some baby carrot sticks or some apple slices."
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