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Almost half of adults say they are ordering kids' meals. Here's what's behind the trend.
CBS News ^ | August 21, 2025 | Megan Cerullo

Posted on 08/21/2025 11:05:18 AM PDT by nickcarraway

Almost half of U.S. adults say they're ordering from restaurant kid menus in order to save money when they go out to eat and to opt for smaller portions, new research shows.

About 44% of adults surveyed by Lightspeed Commerce, a provider of point-of-sale technology for hospitality businesses, said they're ordering from the kids' menus at restaurants. Kids' meals are traditionally less expensive than those on adult menus because portion sizes are usually smaller.

The trend comes as some consumers are cutting back on eating out, with McDonald's and Wendy's earlier this month reported sluggish breakfast sales. The companies attributed the trend to heightened economic uncertainty and pressures facing low-income consumers.

Adult diners said smaller portions, simpler menus and lower prices are compelling them to turn to kids' menus, Lightspeed said.

"Whether it's a mini burger or mac and cheese, the kids' menu is becoming a smart option β€” not just a nostalgic one," Lightspeed researchers said.

The cost of fast food has also skyrocketed over the past decade, according to a 2024 report by FinanceBuzz. The personal finance site found that the price of a McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese meal more than doubled in price from $5.39 in 2014 to $11.99 in 2024.

At McDonald's, a six-piece chicken McNugget Happy Meal, which comes with fries, milk and apple juice, costs $5.99. By comparison, an order of six McNugget's from the burger chain's McValue menu costs $5.59, but doesn't include fries or drinks.

Eating at restaurants has become more costly, with the most recent consumer price index data, which measures changes in the price of everyday goods, showing that the cost of dining out has risen 3.9% over the past 12 months.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Food; Society
KEYWORDS: eatingout; food; meals

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To: V_TWIN

The ultimate cheap was a millionaire who said he would buy our 5 adults lunch while we were helping a senior citizen move, he sent his wife to Subway without taking our personalized orders which was odd, but what he served us was the oddest meal related thing I’ve ever seen.

The millionaire had bought a single 1 foot subway, dry with no dressings or lettuce and tomato, he set it down and cut it into five pieces for five hard working adults, a bite apiece.


21 posted on 08/21/2025 11:38:11 AM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: nickcarraway
Don’t some restaurants not allow adults to order of the kids menu?

Yes, you are correct. However, I would hope these same restaurants would have senior citizen options.
22 posted on 08/21/2025 11:38:23 AM PDT by copaliscrossing (The truth is always your friend.)
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To: nickcarraway

On the rare times I go out to eat (birthdays, mainly) I KNOW to order something I REALLY like because I’ll be eating it for two more meals as well.

Portion sizes these days are ridiculous.


23 posted on 08/21/2025 11:40:29 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: V_TWIN

I eat out often because I travel for work (no reimbursement, I’m an independent contractor). What I have noticed is that the smaller steaks have gone up in price so much that they have almost caught up with the big ones which apparently aren’t as popular. I keep a cold bag in my vehicle and plan on leftovers. I had a 20 oz bone-in ribeye (yum!) with all the fixings and tip for about $45 at Texas Roadhouse. That gave me 4 meals with 1/4 lb of steak plus the divvied up sides. Compared to 4 Quarter Pounders, I think I did OK. :-)

That said, in situations where I can’t keep leftovers, I would definitely consider the smaller kids meals, because that’s really all I need at one time, and I can’t stand to waste food.

Love,
O2

Tagline tagline tagline


24 posted on 08/21/2025 11:42:05 AM PDT by omegatoo (You know you'll get your money's worth...become a monthly donor!)
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To: nickcarraway

8 bucks for a Whopper at Burger King, and it does not even come with cheese. They can keep it.

Arby’s has a special. 4 roast beef sandwiches for 10 bucks. Now here is the catch. If you want cheese on those then it cost 90 cents for each sandwich. That is $3.60 plus tax to get them with cheese. And its like a shot of cheese wiz. They can keep those too.


25 posted on 08/21/2025 11:44:06 AM PDT by Revel
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To: Liz

“The policy at most restaurants is you get a
kids meal only when you order a regular meal.”

I only eat where I can get a kid’s meal and my Senior Citizen’s Discount... lol


26 posted on 08/21/2025 11:45:54 AM PDT by Openurmind (AI - An Illusion for Aptitude Intrusion to Alter Intellect. )
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To: nickcarraway

Not inflation not tariff’s not shortages odd how prices have increased now Trump is in office huh Moe.


27 posted on 08/21/2025 11:49:02 AM PDT by Vaduz
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To: nickcarraway

They could keep the toy if they’d let me play in the ball pit. But nooooo...


28 posted on 08/21/2025 11:49:52 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: nickcarraway

Military spending πŸ’° inflation. Nskiers.


29 posted on 08/21/2025 11:50:47 AM PDT by Varsity Flight ( "War by πŸ™ the prophesies set before you." ) I Timothy 1:18. Nazarite warriors. 10.5.6.5 These Days)
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To: Openurmind

Another thing to do is order the basic old fashioned burger instead of the flagship. At Burger King, I get the basic bottom of the menu “Double Cheeseburger” instead of a Whopper.
About half the size, and half the price. And more like what you got long ago.


30 posted on 08/21/2025 11:53:47 AM PDT by DesertRhino (When men on the chessboard, get up and tell you where to go…)
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To: Varsity Flight

Property taxes. βœ–οΈπŸ’°πŸ‘€


31 posted on 08/21/2025 11:53:58 AM PDT by Varsity Flight ( "War by πŸ™ the prophesies set before you." ) I Timothy 1:18. Nazarite warriors. 10.5.6.5 These Days)
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To: Varsity Flight

Unhealth insurance scam. βœ–οΈπŸ’°πŸ‘€


32 posted on 08/21/2025 11:54:38 AM PDT by Varsity Flight ( "War by πŸ™ the prophesies set before you." ) I Timothy 1:18. Nazarite warriors. 10.5.6.5 These Days)
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To: MDLION
-Sirach 37:27,30,31

I think actual scripture is a much better source. And much more poetic.

Pro 23:2Β  And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
33 posted on 08/21/2025 11:56:22 AM PDT by wbarmy (Trying to do better.)
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To: ansel12

Our company was pretty successful and the owner had purchased a VERY nice home on a golf course that was part of the PGA tour. He decided to celebrate the good year by having the staff over for a holiday dinner of filet and lobster. He really played up how wonderful this was going to be.

Then he put his wife in charge of the meal.

She was the disastrous combination of cheap and health conscious. The boss had ordered the filets from a local butcher. She took one look at the 6 to 8 ounce fillets and concluded they were too big. Ditto the lobster tails. She sliced everything in half. This was also served restaurant style with the completely plated dinner on each person’s dish...not buffet or family style.

Our delivery girl, Ann, weighed a good 250. Her husband Tim was 6’ 4’ and nearly 400 pounds. The look on Tim’s face when they placed the food in front of him was priceless. Pure shock and confusion. Tim then looked and saw that everyone was getting a micro-meal. He sighed, cut his fillet in two and ate each half one after another in less than a minute.

We lost it. Everyone around the table was snickering and trying to contain themselves. The boss was humiliated and embarrassed. His wife was clueless and kept asking “what’s so funny?”


34 posted on 08/21/2025 12:03:08 PM PDT by Crusher138 ("Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just")
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To: Vaduz

Have they?

I haven’t really noticed much increase at the various restaurants between February and August...


35 posted on 08/21/2025 12:10:06 PM PDT by Alas Babylon! (Repeal the Patriot Act; Abolish the DHS; reform FBI top to bottom!)
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To: nickcarraway

Wendy’s doublestack and a water right about 3 bucks.. And it’s a meal (for me).


36 posted on 08/21/2025 12:20:27 PM PDT by sonova (No money? You're free to go.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Portion sizes these days are ridiculous.

There's some non-intuitive economics going on here.

The biggest driver of restaurant meal prices isn't the ingredients, it's the cost of maintaining the building (paying rent), utilities, preparing the food, serving it to you, and cleaning up after. If they cut the portion in half, it will still cost almost as much to prepare it and put it on your table. Apparently, a critical mass of customers get upset if the portion is "too small" relative to the price. So ... they give you a huge portion. And they don't get upset if you take half of it home for lunch.

37 posted on 08/21/2025 12:20:39 PM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: DesertRhino

“About half the size, and half the price. And more like what you got long ago.”

Yeah, but you still get more if you buy two rather than one of the others.

Reminds me of when our little town got it’s first drive through fast food. It was Jack in the Box and you could get four kid’s Cheese Burgers for a dollar. We didn’t even care how good they were, all we cared about was putting something cheap in our bellies before going to the river to get drunk... lol


38 posted on 08/21/2025 12:22:01 PM PDT by Openurmind (AI - An Illusion for Aptitude Intrusion to Alter Intellect. )
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To: DesertRhino

Shouldn’t they be paying you to eat that?


39 posted on 08/21/2025 12:26:02 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

“Why?”

It’s too f**king EXPENSIVE!!

We CAN afford it, but refuse to pay those ridiculous prices. Whatever we’re saving in the economy, groceries prices are increasing.


40 posted on 08/21/2025 12:29:00 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam (It's hard not to celebrate the fall of bad people. - Bongino)
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