Overview

• A study of 100 restaurants in Germany found two-thirds of children's menus feature schnitzel, often with fries, while 40% include nuggets and half offer pasta.
• Nearly 40% of the 456 evaluated dishes were vegetarian, but many were limited to items like plain fries, showing a lack of diversity in options.
• Three-quarters of the dishes were rated neutral or unbalanced, with only a quarter scoring positively for including vegetables, whole grains, or unprocessed proteins.
• Few restaurants offer alternatives like the 'Räuberteller,' a free plate for children to share portions from parents’ meals, or child-sized portions of regular menu items.
• Experts recommend expanding menus with healthier options—such as vegetable sides and whole-grain dishes—without removing popular classics like fries.