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A comparison of the nutritional quality of kids’ versus adult meals from chain sit‐down restaurants (390.2)
Author(s) -
Scourboutakos Mary,
L'Abbe Mary
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.390.2
Subject(s) - calorie , meal , saturated fat , sugar , medicine , food science , added sugar , obesity , zoology , biology , endocrinology , cholesterol
The objectives were to compare the nutritional quality of restaurant meals from regular (adult) menus in contrast to meals from kids’ menus, and to compare the nutritional quality of meals marketed as being “healthy kids’ meals” in contrast to “healthy adult meals”. Nutrition information was collected from Canadian chain restaurant websites in 2010. Nutrient levels (including calories, sodium, sugar, saturated fat, fiber, protein and trans fat) and Ofcom nutrient profile scores in 1630 adult meals and 248 kids’ meals from seven restaurant chains were analyzed. In addition, 46 “healthy kids’ meals” and 20 “healthy adult meals” were compared. On average, kids’ meals had a significantly lower nutritional quality in comparison to adult meals (p<0.01). However, the difference varied depending on the restaurant. “Healthy kids’ meals” had significantly higher amounts of calories, sugar, trans and saturated fat (both per serving and per 100g, p<0.05) when compared to “healthy adult meals”. Additionally, “healthy kids’ meals” had two‐times more saturated fat, almost three‐times more sugar and a significantly higher percentage of total energy coming from fat (33% [healthy kids’ meals] vs 25% [healthy adult meals]), saturated fat (11% vs 7%) and sugar (23% vs 11%). In conclusion, kids’ meals are often nutritionally worse than adult meals, and there is a gap between what is being marketed as a “healthy meal” for kids versus adults. Grant Funding Source : Supported By: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, CIHR/HSF PICDP Fellowship, OGS, McHenry Grant