Zlati Meyer, USA TODAY Published Sept. 20, 2017

Long treated as the stepchild of the menu board, kids’ meals are getting a fresh look as quick-service restaurant chains pay more attention to nutrition in the food they offer their youngest customers.

Instead of just a separate kid’s menu, Panera Bread is announcing Wednesday that it will offer almost every one of its items in a smaller size for children. The move follows McDonald’s plan, disclosed last week, to replace regular apple juice with an organic, less sugary version in Happy Meals in November.

Panera, with its focus on health, portrays its smaller-size move as encouraging parents and their kids to move away from greasy, calorie-laden items.

“For too long, restaurants in America have served menus full of nutritionally empty chicken nuggets, pizza and fries, paired with sugary drinks and cheap toys,” said Panera CEO Ron Shaich in a statement.

Chains have been paying more attention to nutrition and calorie counts since a measure was proposed in New York City in 2015 to require fast-food meals aimed at kids to be healthier and come in at less than 500 calories total.

Read more … https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/09/20/how-good-kids-menus-fast-food-fast-casual-chain-restaurants-meh/682269001/