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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 — 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.
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“It’s way more expensive at a restaurant than home. I don’t understand al these people who think it’s cheaper to eat out.”
Never said it’s cheaper to eat at a restaurant. It certainly is not.
“If you refuse to eat meat, what do you eat, bugs?”
Never said I refuse to eat meat. I eat meat every day. All steak is meat, but not all meat is steak.
It was funny the first time he wanted me to visit his house, it was inland (not coastal) and basically the typical moderately nice tract house you would find on a golf course, nothing special for Southern California, but he thought I would be impressed.
For some reason it didn’t occur to him that I had spent decades in and out of some of the finest homes on the Southern California Coast and the plush estates in Rancho Santa Fe.
I really bugged him for some reason, and seemed to trigger all his insecurities and jealousies, something that truly bugged me about him was that his wife would not voice an opinion if he was present, even if you looked her straight in the eye and focused on her, that really troubled me.
I thought maybe Mounjaro was behind it.
Those healthy apple slices are drenched in cancer causing preservatives. Same as Starbucks. How else can they sit in those bags and not brown for 6 months??? Avoid at all costs.
Maybe it’s not just the cost at McDonald’s and other fast food places. Hopefully, people are waking up to the fact that it’s garbage.
That's true, though I don't see why. Most portions are too big and pricey for me at most places.
They last about three days.
They are dunked in Ascorbic Acid to prevent browning.
That is vitamin c for those of you playing along at home.
I identify as a child so let them dry the chit on me
It’s also a likely guess that many customers are taking Semaglutide (like Ozempic), either in shots or pill form, which substantially lowers their appetite. If they eat more than that, they vomit it right back up.
Hence they quickly learn to eat smaller portions.
An estimated 6% of American adults, which translates to over 15 million people, were taking Ozempic or another similar GLP-1 drug in April 2024. Since then, the number and its rate of growth has skyrocketed.
Ahhh! Small minded people.
However, I'm very price conscious, shop in Walmart and note the price of the things I buy. Prices for those have been stable.
This is $.70 cents. It was $.70 in in February.
Yeah, I get it. I have 18 years of Retail Management behind me. ‘Food Service’ is just ‘Retail’ in a fancy dress. ;)
I ordered a pasta, chicken and veggies dish. It came in a BEAUTIFUL ceramic bowl - that was AS BIG AS a 2-Quart casserole dish that I’d use for a family-sized meal! The serving vessel was gorgeous - wish I could’ve taken THAT home, too. ;)
Good to know I’m not the only adult who buys kid’s meals... lol... but only in the drive thru.
I go in, I don’t care... lol
And I even look to see if I have two of the same toys, if so I have them trade one out for me. I give them to my Grandkids... lol
Love it! I have no grandkids, yet. But I found out that, if you ask CFA to keep the toy, they give a free ice cream. lol
We do the same thing. The portions are just too big for us. We’ll even split an El Pollo Loco bowl. We just can’t eat all that food.
That is better!
I just bought kids’ meals for my newphew and I took the toy...lol
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