Parents reject children’s menus in service stations and department stores

Citation

(2004), "Parents reject children’s menus in service stations and department stores", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 34 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2004.01734bab.007

Parents reject children’s menus in service stations and department stores

A Parents Jury of nearly 1,500 parents has judged the quality of children’s menus around the UK, giving awards to the best and worst children’s food on offer.

During the summer holidays, parents say that they are faced with little choice when they take their children on journeys and outings. “It’s chicken nuggets and chips wherever you go,” said one mother. Another commented: “If parents tasted the food that is available on children’s menus I am sure that they wouldn’t waste their money on it!”

“Children’s menus are typically full of highly processed food of low nutritional quality,” said Annie Seeley, the Food Commission nutritionist who coordinates the Parents Jury. “Service stations and department stores could be encouraging children to enjoy good food, but instead many of them serve up the same old junk. And parents are telling us that they’re sick of it!”