Clin Nutr Res.  2018 Oct;7(4):241-247. 10.7762/cnr.2018.7.4.241.

One Menu Please: Parents Want Affordable, Right-sized Portions for Their Children in Restaurants

• Lee-Kwan S
• Park S
• Maynard L
• Blanck HM

• KMID: 2424299
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7762/cnr.2018.7.4.241

Abstract

One contributing factor to the obesity epidemic is the large portion sizes served in restaurants. However, no study has looked at the parents' desire for smaller-portioned meals for their children at restaurants in the U.S. This study examined parents' preference for restaurants to offer smaller, lower-priced child portions for their children and reasons for the preference. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for the association between preference for child portions and variables on parental sociodemographic characteristics and weight status. About 70% of parents said they would prefer that restaurants offer smaller, lower-priced child portions of all menu offerings. The adjusted odds of preferring child portions were significantly higher among Hispanic parents (OR, 1.95 vs. non-Hispanic whites) but significantly lower among parents with lower education (≤ high school, OR, 0.64; some college, OR, 0.69 vs. college graduate) and parents residing in the Midwest or West (Midwest, OR, 0.61; West, OR, 0.58 vs. South). The most common reason for preferring child portions of all meals was "wanting my child to eat healthier foods that are not offered on the children's menu" (72%). These findings can be used to encourage restaurants and other venues to consider offering child portions of healthier menu items.

Keyword

Children; Fast foods; Restaurants; Parents

MeSH Terms

Child*
Education
Fast Foods
Hispanic Americans
Humans
Logistic Models
Meals
Obesity
Odds Ratio
Parents*
Portion Size
Restaurants*

Figure

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  Figure 1 Analytic sampling strategy.

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  Figure 2 Reasons reported by parents who would like restaurants to offer smaller, lower-priced children's portion of all menu items (n=897).

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