NRA KLW Promotes Healthy Menus

The largest foodservice trade organization globally, the National Restaurant Association promotes the interests of the more than 15 million Americans who work in the restaurant industry. The organization provides resources to help restaurants implement accurate labeling on menu items, including nutritional information complying with menu labeling regulations.

The National Restaurant Association works closely with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to educate operators about labeling requirements for menu items, foods on display, and food in self-serve areas. To further support restaurant owners in creating balanced, nutritious options for the whole family, the National Restaurant Association operates the Kids LiveWell (KLW) initiative. Launched in 2011, the campaign supports the restaurant industry in providing healthy options for parents and children dining out.

Restaurants that voluntarily participate in Kids LiveWell commit to offering healthy menu items for children, including options such as fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Additionally, Kids LiveWell restaurants aim to reduce the number of high fat and sugar items on their children’s menus.

Restaurants who join the program commit to offering meals, sides, and beverages that meet nutrition criteria established by registered dietitians who collaborate with consumer advocates and public health officials. The program incentivizes restaurants to promote healthier choices for children and parents, creating menu options that meet science-backed limits or calories, sugar, fat, and sodium.

Using current nutrition science outlined in the Children’sFood & Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI), Kids Live Well updated its requirements effective January 1, 2022. The new guidelines require menu items to meet a maximum threshold of 15 grams of added sugar for meals and five grams of added sugar for side dishes, and sodium limits of 700 milligrams for main dishes and 225 milligrams for sides. No artificial trans fats are allowed in Kids Livewell menu items.

In addition, the guidelines align with the recommendation for children to consume reduced-fat dairy products, requiring menu items to contain only one percent or no-fat dairy varieties. Fried foods are allowed as designated LiveWell menu items only if they meet all nutritional criteria.

Kids LiveWell also outlines requirements for beverages included in children’s menus. Default beverage choices must be water, either flavored or sparkling without added artificial sweeteners, flavored or unflavored non-fat or low-fat milk (dairy or non-dairy), or 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice. Any juice or milk beverage must have a maximum serving size of eight ounces.

To receive a Kids LiveWell designation, restaurants must offer two certified KLW meals and two sides options, in addition to adhering to the default beverage policy. The benefits to restaurants are multi-fold. First, accredited restaurants are included in the Kids LiveWell directory, which parents can use to seek healthy options in their local area.

Participating restaurants receive access to the KLW social media toolkit, which provides logos on menus, social media, and printed advertisements. In addition to receiving publicity from the National Restaurant Association, restaurants can share insights and experiences with other operators committed to providing healthier menu options for children. For more information about Kids LiveWell criteria or to browse participating restaurants, visit http://restaurant.org.