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Evie's Desk: High Calorie Kids Meals

August 25, 2008
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Earlier this month the Center for Science in the Public Interest released a telling report about the calorie content of most fast food kid's meals. While the results were not surprising — high calorie meals far exceeding the Institute of Medicine's recommended amount — the information in this report about the actual calories in certain meals can be a helpful guideline when you are trying to limit a child's caloric intake.

I'd like to share a few of the worst offenders, and I encourage you to check out the full report at www.cspinet.org for a broader picture of healthier fast food choices. Here is the report's "Hall of Shame":

  • Chili's country fried crispers, cinnamon apples and chocolate milk: 1,020 calories
  • Chili's cheese pizza, homestyle fries and lemonade: 1000 calories
  • KFC's popcorn chicken, baked beans, biscuit, fruit punch and Teddy Grahams: 940 calories
  • Burger King's double cheeseburger, fries and chocolate milk: 910 calories
  • Sonic's grilled cheese, fries and slushie: 830 calories

Of the 13 fast food chains surveyed, 93 percent of the 1,474 possible kid's meal choices exceeded 430 calories. The Institute of Medicine recommends that children ages 4 to 8 should consume 1,290 calories a day and 430 is a third of that amount.

Evelyn V. Martinez
Executive Director
First 5 LA

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