Recently, IHOP and Applebee’s made headlines with their decision to eliminate soda from their kids’ menus. While some parents are applauding this move, it raises a question: why do restaurants feel the need to intervene in parental choices regarding their children’s diets? Shouldn’t parents just be able to say no?
DineEquity, the parent company of these two popular eateries, issued a statement to ABC News, saying, “We believe this is a small step in assisting parents while dining out, as parents are in the best position to determine the appropriate food and beverage choices for their children.” And they’re absolutely correct. Parents are the best equipped to make those decisions. So, it’s puzzling that of all the ways to ease dining out with kids, this is the path they chose. It almost feels patronizing, doesn’t it? As if parents can’t even tell their kids they can’t have soda when it’s on the menu.
Parenting blogger Lisa Johnson expressed appreciation for this change, noting it gives her one less “no” to deliver to her children. She states, “I understand why they’re asking: ads, in-store displays, commercials, and culture all tell them to want it. Many kids will keep asking, even after one ‘no.’ If you have a child who stops asking after one ‘no,’ consider yourself lucky. Marketers know most kids don’t, which is why they have a term for it: ‘Pester Power.’ Wouldn’t it be nice to have one less thing to say no to?”
We can all relate to that sentiment to some degree, but the reality is that kids need to learn to make healthy dietary choices from an early age. Sure, it might be more convenient for parents if soda isn’t an option, but it’s essential to teach kids how to make solid decisions, which they will carry into adulthood. If we remove all “bad” choices, how will they ever recognize what’s good? Let’s face it: soda isn’t going anywhere. Children should know what it is and understand that there are healthier alternatives available.
We can’t censor every menu for the rest of their lives. Instead, we should teach them how to make healthier selections when the option exists. If a child can read “Coke” on the menu, they’re probably old enough to grasp why their parents may not want them to order it.
Moreover, both restaurants still offer juice and chocolate milk on their kids’ menus, which are also loaded with sugar. While soda might rank lower on the nutritional scale, many parents are just as adamant about not allowing their kids to have juice. For some families, a restaurant outing is a rare occasion when their children can enjoy a small soda. Dining out often means treats; why not teach kids that occasionally enjoying a soda isn’t harmful?
Although it’s understandable why parents might prefer soda to be removed from kids’ menus, shielding children from less healthy food options won’t ultimately serve them well. Let parents make the decisions and allow kids to see what’s available. We don’t need restaurants deciding what our children can or cannot have. We are entirely capable of making those choices ourselves.
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In summary, while the decision by restaurants to remove soda might seem beneficial at first glance, it ultimately undermines parental authority and does not teach children about making healthy choices. Parents should be empowered to say no, and children should learn to navigate their own dietary options.
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