The growing cases of childhood obesity have forced parents to review their children’s food plate. As a parent, you want to make sure your child eats only those foods that meet a child’s nutritional needs. However, there is a limit to the amount of control you can exercise.

For all those times when you’re dining out or for those times when you’re too busy to serve a meal, your family has no choice but to rely on restaurant-prepared meals. We can see how bad you feel, but it doesn’t have to be that way anymore. The restaurants, aware of the nutritional needs of children and the concerns of parents, have special menus and meals for children.

You may ask how they are different from regular restaurant meals. First, they differ in the ingredients they use. Second, they use healthy food preparation methods. Third, they make sure that the food they serve is appealing to both the eyes and little taste buds. Here’s a detail on healthy meals for kids at kid-friendly restaurants.

• Substituting white bread products with whole grains –

Many restaurants prefer to use whole grain products like whole grain breads and pastas instead of the white varieties. This is because white bread is difficult to digest and loaded with calories. Whole grains, on the other hand, contain a considerable amount of healthy, satiating fiber.

• Serving Organic Food –

Organic foods of both plant and animal origin are a healthier, safer and more nutritious option. You might ask why. Organic fruits and vegetables are produced naturally without the use of fertilizers, pesticides, or bioengineering. Similarly, the animals are fed only natural food and are not injected with antibiotics or growth hormones to increase production. If a restaurant serves organic food, go ahead.

• Grilled, Baked and Roasted –

The method of preparation also influences the nutritional value of the food. Foods fried in oil have a higher caloric content. Grilling, baking, and roasting are better food preparation methods.

• Avoid artificial colors and sweeteners –

You may also want to look for foods that do not contain high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener or artificial food colors. High fructose corn syrup is high in calories, while artificial colors contain toxic substances.

• Healthy drinks –

Many of the kid-friendly restaurants have removed sugary drinks and soft drinks from the children’s menu. Instead, they serve water, fresh fruit juices, and smoothies.

• Low calorie meals –

In many cases, it is not possible to eliminate certain ingredients because they are the soul and substance of a dish. In such cases, restaurants try to make it healthy by modifying its total caloric content. This includes the use of low-fat dairy products. You can omit the extra cheese or serve the sauces and dressings separately. The dishes are also prepared to contain a very small amount of sodium. If not, you can request that the changes be made to your plate.

You can also order healthy side dishes. Most restaurant meals today include fruits and vegetables such as steamed broccoli, fresh carrots, apple slices, tangerines and the like for kids to munch on; They have said goodbye to the fries.

So here’s the trick to making sure your child eats healthy even when dining out. Look for food chains that offer healthy and tasty food not only for children but also for adults and make your reservations there.