Nutritional Quality of Kids' Fast-Food Meals

Abstract

Despite the increasing consumption of fast foods, the nutrient quality of such meals has not been systematically evaluated I Turkey. Our study aimed to investigate and compare the nutritional value of the kids' menus of 4 popular fast-food chains and traditional Turkish menus created by specialist dietitians. The nutritional values of the kids' menus were assessed using the recommended daily allowance, dietary guidelines for Turkey, and national food-based dietary recommendations of the Turkish Ministry of Health. All meals were compared in terms of energy, macro food items, and sodium content. The kids' menus from the following 4 most preferred fast-food companies in Turkey were included in the study: McDonald's, Burger King, Popeyes, and Arby's. The menus with the highest energy and fat content were offered by Burger King, those with the highest protein content were offered by Popeyes, and those with the highest sodium content were offered by Arby's. The contribution of fat to the energy content was found to be low in traditional Turkish menus ( P < .05), whereas the contribution of protein to the energy content was significantly higher in the Popeyes menus ( P < .05). Improving the nutritional quality of kids' fast-food menus may be effective in controlling childhood obesity.