Many fast-food chains have declared they will make healthier meals for children. However, this study by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine demonstrates that many of these so-called ‘healthy’ kids meals are in fact dangerous for health. Despite the addition of some healthier side dishes such as apple slices, ‘healthy’ kids meals often still have a high content of fat, cholesterol, sugar, sodium and processed meats.

This study reviewed the healthiness of children’s meal options available from fast-food chains. The researchers examined the nutritional information for various meals available on company websites. In evaluating each food item several factors were taken into account, including; calories, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, sugar, and the presence of red or processed meats.

The results indicated that many kids meals that are claimed to be ‘healthy’ are exceedingly unhealthy. The five worst examples were: Chick-fil-A Kids Grilled Nuggets Kids Meal, McDonald’s Cheeseburger Happy Meal, Sonic Kids’ Jr. Burger Meal, Burger King Hamburger Kids Meal, and Denny’s Build Your Own Jr. Grand Slam. These meals included excessive amounts of unhealthy fats, cholesterol, sugar, sodium and processed meats. These meals may therefore contribute to childhood obesity, cardiovascular risk, type 2 diabetes and other diseases related to diet.