Healthy, Fun, Food Options for Children #KidsLiveWell

 I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the National Restaurant Association. I attended a live event and received a gift bag and promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.” In Chicago, a couple of weeks ago, McCormick Place was all abuzz about the NRA. No, not the guns and stuff, but the National Restaurant Association. This particular day, I was able to meet up with several other bloggers to see what the Kids LiveWell program had in store for us. Let me tell you, my five senses were delighted! The sights, sounds, smells, tastes and textures were almost sensory overload.

I was there to take part in celebrating the third year of the Kids LiveWell program, and to check out all of the new restaurants that they have added to the already full list. All of these places offer fun and healthy options for your children under 600 calories. A full list can be found at HealthyDiningFinder.com

A Kids LiveWell meal provides the following:
• 600 calories or less
• ≤ 35% of calories from total fat
• ≤ 10% of calories from saturated fat
• < 0.5 grams trans fat (artificial trans fat only)
• ≤ 35% of calories from total sugar
• ≤ 770 mg of sodium
• Each meal must contain two sources of either fruit, vegetables,
whole grains, lean protein or low-fat dairy
Individual and side items are also eligible for the Kids LiveWell
program if they include:
• 200 calories or less
• ≤ 35% of calories from total fat
• ≤ 10% of calories from saturated fat
• < 0.5 grams trans fat (artificial trans fat only)
• ≤ 35% of calories from total sugars (added and naturally
occurring)
• ≤ 250 mg of sodium
• Each individual side must contain a source of either fruit,
vegetables, whole grains, lean protein or low-fat dairy

The winning meals in the Kids LiveWell cooking competition were from Qdoba, Chartwells, Tim Horton Children’s Foundation, and Boston Lobster Feast Restaurant.

Qdoba offered a Lil Pulled Pork Naked Burrito with just enough spice to make your child’s tastebuds dance. It doesn’t hurt that it’s Qdoba either. Quite possibly one of my most favorite places to take the clan because everyone can get something great for them, and all of the meat is grilled, not fried. Fresh veggies, brown rice, cilantro, lime and other toppings too!

Below are the items from Chartwells – Chix-N-Cheddar Snappy Jalapeno Wrap

Here is some chicken parmesan with spaghetti squash from Bar Harbor Seafood Corp. The other items I couldn’t snap photos of quickly enough.

After the event, I was able to wander around the exhibition hall and snap photos of the rest of the great sights. These two happen to be my favorite. Seafood, and pickles. Not really two food items that go together, but OH. SO. GOOD!
If you are interested in learning more about the Kids LiveWell program, you can find them on Facebook, Twitter and at Restaurant.org/KidsLiveWell . You can also download the Kids LiveWell app for your Android or your iPhone to aid in your quest to find these restaurants on the fly.

Know that there are more than 120 restaurants that participate, which equates to more than 33,000 locations around the US alone! That’s a lot of healthy options that you can choose from.

Now, how about you? How you feel knowing that restaurants are going that extra mile to provide healthy food for your little ones? Knowing that dining out can be more than burgers and fries ALL the time?