Esslingen nutrition expert sounds the alarm: Unhealthy things for children!

Esslingen nutrition expert sounds the alarm: Unhealthy things for children!

More and more parents are wondering what their children eat in restaurants. The Esslingen nutrition expert Hanna Ritter has recently found clear words and criticizes the lack of variety and low-nutrient food on children's menus. Your concerns are not unfounded: many dishes that are served as part of the gastronomic offer for the little ones are high in fat and sugar. According to Stuttgarter Nachrichten fatty classics such as schnitzel, fries and chicken dominate Nuggets and fish fingers are on the menu.

A nationwide study by consumer advice centers confirms these observations and clearly shows that many children's meals are too one-sided. “French fries are usually prepared in an unhealthy way,” criticizes Ritter, “and the breading of schnitzels often contains far too much fat.” In addition, the popular ketchup sauces increase the calorie intake even further. She suggests that healthy alternatives in the form of lentils with spaetzle or grilled lean meat should be added to menus.

Focus on children's menus

Criticism of the children's menus has met with mixed reactions. While some restaurateurs in Esslingen cannot fully understand the concerns, the industry association Dehoga emphasizes that the offer is primarily determined by the restaurants' concepts and actual demand. In fact, it is still the case that classic dishes like schnitzel are particularly popular with children and their parents. 63% of the restaurants surveyed serve schnitzel, followed by 21% with spaetzle in various variations.

But there are also positive examples: Some restaurants, like Findelkind, have discovered the ability to create special children's menus that focus on healthy and vegetable-based options. Creative and child-friendly names such as “Lighthouse Keeper” or “Hero’s Feast” are intended to encourage little ones to try things out, while parents receive more transparency through detailed descriptions of the dishes.

Healthy nutrition for the little ones

But suppose you don't just want to look at the menu, but also want to optimize your children's diet at home? The Konsumerzentrale has some tips ready. For example, you could offer healthier desserts such as fresh fruit or provide healthy vegetable sticks while you wait. A “robber plate,” where children can sample from their parents’ plates, is also a creative way to offer children greater portion variety.

Gesundheit.gv.at also recommends that children drink plenty of fluids, preferably water and unsweetened teas, to stay well hydrated. They should also eat five portions of fruit and vegetables every day. Creative presentation and age-appropriate portions can help achieve this goal. We know that children have different needs in terms of food and nutrients than adults; That's why it's even more important to actively address your diet.

All in all, it is crucial that parents and restaurants work together to improve the food options for children. A balanced diet is not only important for physical health, it also contributes to development and positive eating habits. With this in mind, we need to focus on healthy variety both in restaurants and at home - it's not only delicious, but also important for our children's future!