The kid menu offers opportunity for fresh produce
Finding ways to ensure kids are eating balanced meals remains a challenge for parents and an opportunity for foodservice according to Datassentials. ?There is a growing demand for menu options that are innovative, healthy, and tasty for children. ?The top kids’ dishes at restaurants tend to include chicken strips, burgers, and cheese with a side of fries offering an opportunity for produce pairings.
Increased awareness about health issues and changing consumer preferences led to increased demand for nutritional kid items as parents become more conscious of what they feed their children. In addition, social media campaigns promoting healthy eating habits among children helped to add produce to the kids menu
Today’s generation of kids, Gen Alpha, is mostly comprised of the children of Millennials –a “foodie” generation with a propensity for global cuisines and clean labels according to Datassentials. ?The result is operators are also treating children to more grownup selections. According to Sodexo, this includes offering children:
According to Datassentials,
35% of restaurant operators say Gen Alpha is already important to their business.
According to?Technomic,
51% of parents agree that healthier kid selections would drive them to restaurants more often.
For more information about produce in foodservice go to freshproduce.com.