Time for the Chicken Nugget Children’s Meal to Die?

There is a discussion over at one of the SMH blogs about whether kid’s meals just dumb down children’s diets. Most kid’s meals rarely stray from the fatty, bland formula of nuggets and chips or fish and chips.

Blogger Paula Goodyear writes, It’s as if we’ve become locked in a conspiracy that keeps so many children’s diets limited, with their parents saying ‘my kids won’t eat anything else’ and restaurants offering up the same predictable choices because they think parents won’t come if they don’t offer them.”

Paula is not alone – over at The Parents’ Jury they running an online opinion poll for parents to have their say about the food available on children’s menus and at entertainment venues (login needed to vote).

As I am lucky enough to have a toddler who does eat about whatever we put in front of him about 50% of the time, I wish kid’s meals were a bit more adventurous.

How about mini-size portions of the regular adults meals? Most pastas, rice dishes and variations on meat and three veg are totally toddler-proof. And if my son’s daycare can serve a kiddie Rogan Josh curry for lunch, why can’t Indian restaurants?

We mainly eat out at Asian restaurants as they are often more casual, quick to bring the food out and fried rice is always a failsafe option.

A straw poll amongst Babblebaby readers – would you like to see more choice in kids meals? What food does your child eat when out, if you are brave enough to take him or her with you?