The Good and Bad News on Kids' Fast Food Diets

Remember the Subway commercials starring "The Subway Guy," Jared Fogel, who lost more than 200 pounds by dining on deli sandwiches and baked chips? And how about junk food lover Doug Logeais, who shed pounds on a daily diet of McDonald's food? According to Daily Mail, the 40-year old chose the chain's "healthier" menu items, like the breakfast burrito, grilled chicken snack wrap and salad.

Now there's the latest story of the Virginia woman who lost 76 pounds while dining on Starbucks menu items such as oatmeal, coffee, paninis, and fruit and cheese.

But are these fast food diets sending a message to kids that fast food is healthy?

Here's the bad news:

* A recent report from the Centers of Disease Control found that children in the U.S. eat almost as much salt as adults -- and they have the higher blood pressure to prove it. Children's Hospital at Montefiore nutritionist Lauren Graf said, "Many times the higher intakes of sodium may simply be a marker of a higher intake of fast food and processed foods."

* The Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine recently listed the worst fast food meals for kids, and the results may surprise you. Chick Fil-A's Grilled Nuggets Kids Meal contains the same amount of cholesterol as a Big Mac, while McDonald's Cheeseburger Happy Meal has more sodium than 13 orders of McDonald's kids fries. Burger King's Hamburger Kids Meal (yes, hold the cheese) contains almost as much cholesterol as six slices of pork bacon.

* In an age of high-sugar, caffeinated energy drinks, Taco Bell has found a way to taint an innocent cup of orange juice. Last month, the chain introduced MTN Dew A.M., a breakfast drink blend of Mountain Dew and Tropicana orange juice.

Here's the good news:

* New York Board of Health's newly instated ban on supersize sodas means consumers won't be able to buy a sweetened beverage larger than 16 ounces at the city's restaurants, food carts, fast food restaurants, movie theaters, and stadiums. Although the soda ban faces plenty of opposition, Mayor Michael Bloomberg tweeted, "Six months from today our city will be an even healthier place.It will help save lives."

* McDonald's is set to post calorie information on its menus, according to the Daily Ticker. The chain also announced it would start offering more health-conscious menu items such as an egg white McMuffin, grilled chicken Happy Meals and side items like blueberries and cucumbers.

* Healthy fast food chains may be on the horizon. According to Business Week, former McDonald's exec Mike Roberts plans to open a chain of healthier fast food restaurants in cities like New York and Chicago. The restaurants will feature items like a quinoa crunch wrap.



Victoria Leigh Miller is a freelance writer. She has been writing about parenting topics since 2001.



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