Most restaurants, especially family dining establishments, have two types of patrons to please – adults and children. It’s no secret that kids often have incredibly different food preferences from those of adults, so creating a children’s menu is a smart idea. Consider these tips for designing a great menu for kids to keep families return week after week.
Select appropriate menu items for kids
Selecting food that will appeal to children is key, but that doesn’t mean everything on the kids menu should be fatty and fried. Parents will appreciate a variety of menu items that include healthier children’s cuisine options. Traditional kid-friendly food like mac-and-cheese or pizza can be easily made more nutritious, and items can be paired with healthy sides like steamed vegetables and fruit cups. Grilled chicken, spaghetti and veggie tacos are other creative and nutritious options that have started to appear on many kids' menus.
Purchase the right restaurant equipment
Your current kitchen likely already has the restaurant equipment you need to create kids’ meals, but you may need to purchase additional supplies for select menu items. Commercial sandwich presses are key for grilled cheese and other hot sandwiches, a quality steamer will cook healthy veggies and meats quickly, and commercial choppers make it simple to cut up fruit and other produce. You may also need to purchase special plates, silverware and cups appropriate for child portions. Work with your food service experts at ACityDiscount to go over all the necessities for tips on prepping your establishment for kids.
Decide on menu pricing
Adults expect children’s meals to cost less than adult entrees. You can decide on one price for all meals on the kids menu, or you can price them individually. Typically, kids' portions are one-half or two-thirds of the price of a similar adult meal. Some restaurants opt to do special promotions to attract customers, such as a free children’s meal with a purchase of an entree. Whatever you decide, having a reasonable and tasty kids menu is sure to bring in families and boost sales.
