Food environments are a key driver in influencing dietary-related health and in recent years, there has been a substantial shift in the way we dine. Eating out of home was once considered an indulgence, is now commonplace, with venues becoming more family focused. However, such venues continue to encourage the intake of energy dense, nutrient-poor foods and beverages, particularly for children1. In Australia, little is known about what parents/carers think about Kids Menus. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the perceptions, attitudes and understandings of parents/carers towards Kids Menus and potential innovations for promoting healthier options.
Parents/carers who had at least one child aged 2-12 years old and residing in Perth, Western Australia (n=668) were asked to complete a 65-item online survey. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise participant responses. The most prevalent reason for eating out-of-home with children was “Ease, convenience and accessibility” (59%). Over three quarters (76%) of parent/carers responded that healthy food and drink options should be made available for children when dining out and were supportive of the idea of a Healthy Kids Menu Venue Accreditation Program. Data also indicated close to half of participants would likely increase their dining at a venue if it was deemed an accredited Healthy Kids Menu Venue.
Findings from this study demonstrate parents/carers not only value the availability of healthier food options for children but also endorse policy and program innovations, such as a Healthy Kids Menu Venue Accreditation Program, as a means of creating positive change. These insights provide a clear opportunity for public health and food policy initiatives to collaborate with the hospitality sector in reshaping the out-of-home food environment to better support children’s health.