About the Campaign

Did you know that children eat almost twice as many calories when they eat a meal at a restaurant than when they eat a meal at home? 
But don’t just take our word for it, the facts support a need for change:

• Americans now spend more of their food budget on foods prepared away from home than on foods at home.
• Children consume roughly 25% of their calories from eating out, and about 42% of children aged two to nine eat fast food on a given day.
• Studies link eating out more with higher amounts of body fat and higher body mass index. They also show that eating fast food meals often is associated with consuming more calories and saturated fat.

By asking local restaurants to offer more fruit, vegetables and whole grains, as well as adhering to recommended limits on calories, salt and fat, City Council can promote healthy choices and help kids grow up at a healthy weight. And a healthy entrees and sides policy doesn’t restrict choice; parents could still order anything they want for their kids from the wider menu.

As families dine out more often during busy times, restaurants can help support them by offering healthier menu items, especially for our kids. City Council has already taken action to help protect kids by passing a healthy default drinks policy for restaurant kids’ meals in 2020. Including healthy entrees and sides will go even further to ensure parents and kids have healthy options when dining out. 

Cleveland's families need your voice!
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