Nutritious fast-food kids' meals are scarce, researchers find

EurekAlert! ^ | 22-Dec-2008

[CE2949BB]

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Only 3 percent of kids' meals served at fast-food restaurants met federal dietary guidelines in the first study to examine the nutrient quality of such meals in a major U.S. metropolitan market.

[driftdiver]

So don’t go to a fast food restaurant.

[EyeGuy]

I would bet that the VAST majority of meals served in America, in home or otherwise, don’t meet the “guidelines” of the federal food commissars.

And about those ridiculous adult weight guidelines.....

[gwilhelm56]

It is NOT supposed to be NUTRITIOUS ... it is supposed to ...

TASTE GOOD!!!!

And I Prefer WENDY’s To Burger King!!!

[randomhero97]

And I Prefer WENDY’s To Burger King!!!

BLASPHEMY! Fine have it your way. ; )

[muawiyah]

"The small percentage of meals that did meet dietary guidelines included fruit as a side dish and milk, and nearly all were deli-sandwich meals. They also had about one-third the fat, one-sixth the added sugars, twice the iron and three times the amount of vitamin A and calcium as did meals not meeting the criteria."

Federal nutrition guidelines for children and adults are more political in nature than scientific. Agricultural interests dominate the regulatory process, and wheat growers (flour), fruit growers (fruit) and vitamin supplement manufacturers (vitamin and mineral additives) dominate the field.

The best diet would exclude milk and milk byproudcts, severely limit starches (which are essentially the same as other sugars)while emphasizing nuts and oils from plant sources.

[Freedom4US]

Better, don’t eat there 3 times a day, 7 days a week?

What a waste.

[driftdiver]

Burger King - the company that has a creepy ad campaign that actually turns people off from buying their product.

[driftdiver]

You mean the guidelines that push high sugar foods aren’t good for you?

[Alberta's Child]

I was pleasantly surprised when I went to McDonald's with my nephews for a well-earned treat after their first camping trip. Without any prodding, they all ordered kids' meals with the Apple Dippers -- and ate them without the caramel sauce!

Setting a good example and getting kids into good eating habits will go a long way towards keeping them fit.

And there's nothing wrong with a totally unhealthy junk-food meal every now and then!

[doc1019]

Fast food meals are a treat for kids (and adults), not something that they should get every day. Candy is a treat, cake is a treat as is ice cream and so is fast food, nothing more. Even though it was a dream of McDonalds to make their food popular, they never put their food out as a nutritional meal for kids (or anybody) for daily consumption.

[gwilhelm56]

I am always HIGHLY SUSPECT of ANY ORGANIZATION that tells me what is Nutritious or not.
The old 4 food groups seemed to work just fine.
The food pyramid, if followed religiously, is only GOOD IF You are an OLYMPIC Level or PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE. I followed the “pyramid” religiously and gained 40 pounds.)
The old “Center for Science and the Public Interest” (the anti Chinese food, Mexican food, and ANTI POPCORN BUTTER idiots) have been WRONG on EVERYTHING they've sent out faxes on.

SHUT UP AND LET ME EAT.. IF you are correct and I'm not.. at least I'll die with a Full BELLY and a SMILE!!

[muawiyah]

The guidelines continue to push high carbohydrate content foods, usually in the context of "whole grains". They should, instead, push high fat content foods, preferably from nuts and other plant sources.

[CE2949BB]

Federal nutrition guidelines for children and adults are more political in nature than scientific.

Agreed.

The best diet would exclude milk and milk byproudcts,

I can't live without milk.

I could drink a gallon a day. ;)

severely limit starches (which are essentially the same as other sugars)

That was the hardest part of doing Atkins (when I did it).

I've never been a big candy guy, but milk (lactose) and peanut butter (added sugar) are my biggest problem foods.

If anyone is wondering: Atkins does work, if you stick to it. I went from being about 250 lbs to 160 (ish, I've gained a few during Nov & Dec of this year).

[Lizavetta]

It's the fast food restaurants' fault that they don't provide nutritious food for children of LAZY LOSER PARENTS.

It's NOT the fault of the LAZY LOSER PARENTS who can't be bothered to cook.

[Signalman]

So don’t go to a fast food restaurant.

No, no you're thinking like a conservative and using too much common sense.

You've got to have the mindset of a liberal. We need to BAN fast food because THE PEOPLE are TOO STUPID to control their own lives and they need THE GOVERNMENT to make their decisions for them.

[driftdiver]

The stuff taste like cardboard no matter where it comes from. Hi fat, hi salt and low flavor.

Plus you get some high school reject thats probably peeing in the pickle jar.

[icwhatudo]

In other news, candy factories don’t make nutritious meals either.

[Mase]

The best diet would exclude milk and milk byproudcts

That's bad advice for children. Why force them to obtain the calcium and phosphorous they need from much more expensive sources like meats and fish when milk offers the highest level and best source for calcium and phosphorous at a significantly lower cost?

With milk, the phosphate and calcium are bound to the casein so the rate of absorption is excellent. Not so with meats and fish. The oriental diet is low in milk consumption and they are much smaller than we are and no, it's not all genetic. The Japanese used to suffer all sorts of bone maladies because they didn't get enough calcium and phosphate in their diet. Americans don't suffer from the same things and it's dairy that makes the difference.

[GOP_Lady]

The controlling nanny staters will never stop.