What happened to vegetables on kids’ menus?

In this episode of The Parenting Police: Investigates, Sean Szeps takes a deep dive into a familiar frustration for parents: taking your kids out to eat and being presented with a children’s menu dominated by nuggets, burgers and chips.

Sean investigates how kids’ menus evolved, from early children’s menus that included vegetables, fruit and more varied meals to the rise of the fast-food-style kids’ meal, complete with toys, simple choices and food designed to keep children happy. He then looks at 125 kids’ menus across Sydney, examining what restaurants are actually offering Australian children today — and the results raise some big questions.

The episode also explores why kids’ menus at cultural restaurants so often abandon the cuisine being served to adults in favour of the familiar nuggets-and-chips formula, and what Australia might learn from countries where children simply eat smaller portions of the same food as everyone else.

Ultimately, Sean asks whether restaurants could be doing more to offer families healthier choices — rather than making the fried favourites the default. So next time you sit down at a restaurant with your kids, take a closer look at the menu and see if you can spot the vegetables.

Join the conversation! Add #TheParentingPolice to your social post.

MORE FROM SEAN SZEPS:
Watch The Parenting Police on YouTube
Follow Sean (@seanszeps) on Instagram
Like Sean on Facebook

CREDITS:
Host: Sean Szeps
Video Producer/Editor: Aidan Parkes
Audio Producer: Adrian Walton
Theme song co-written and produced by Josh Pyke
Executive Producer: Damien Haffenden
Managing Producer: Ceci Herbert
Follow @novapodcastsofficial on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content

What happened to vegetables on kids&rsquo; menus?
In this episode of The Parenting Police: Investigates, Sean Szeps takes a deep dive into a familiar frustration for parents: taking your kids out to eat and being presented with a children&rsquo;s menu dominated by nuggets, burgers and chips.
Sean investigates how kids&rsquo; menus evolved, from early children&rsquo;s menus that included vegetables, fruit and more varied meals to the rise of the fast-food-style kids&rsquo; meal, complete with toys, simple choices and food designed to keep children happy. He then looks at 125 kids&rsquo; menus across Sydney, examining what restaurants are actually offering Australian children today &mdash; and the results raise some big questions.
The episode also explores why kids&rsquo; menus at cultural restaurants so often abandon the cuisine being served to adults in favour of the familiar nuggets-and-chips formula, and what Australia might learn from countries where children simply eat smaller portions of the same food as everyone else.
Ultimately, Sean asks whether restaurants could be doing more to offer families healthier choices &mdash; rather than making the fried favourites the default. So next time you sit down at a restaurant with your kids, take a closer look at the menu and see if you can spot the vegetables.
Join the conversation! Add #TheParentingPolice to your social post.
MORE FROM SEAN SZEPS:
<ul>
<li>Watch The Parenting Police on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@seanszeps">YouTube</a></li>
<li>Follow Sean (@seanszeps) on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/seanszeps">Instagram</a></li>
<li>Like Sean on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheSeanSzeps/">Facebook</a></li>
</ul>
CREDITS:
<ul>
<li>Host: Sean Szeps</li>
<li>Video Producer/Editor: Aidan Parkes</li>
<li>Audio Producer: Adrian Walton</li>
<li>Theme song co-written and produced by <a href="https://www.joshpyke.com/">Josh Pyke</a></li>
<li>Executive Producer: Damien Haffenden</li>
<li>Managing Producer: Ceci Herbert</li>
<li>Follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/novapodcastsofficial/">@novapodcastsofficial</a> on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content</li>
</ul>

The Parenting Police is a new podcast where Sean Szeps investigates the constant flood of toys, shows, trends and advice thrown at modern families and decides what's worth your time and money.

Each week, a celebrity parent helps Sean review the latest toys and fads to see if they stack up. 

Genuinely useful advice, always a little silly, and never any bullsh**. 

"We're here to protect and serve… your sanity."

The Parenting Police is a new podcast where Sean Szeps investigates the constant flood of toys, shows, trends and advice thrown at modern families and decides what's worth your time and money.
Each week, a celebrity parent helps Sean review the latest toys and fads to see if they stack up.&nbsp;
Genuinely useful advice, always a little silly, and never any bullsh**.&nbsp;
"We're here to protect and serve&hellip; your sanity."

The Parenting Police is a new podcast where Sean Szeps investigates the constant flood of toys, shows, trends and advice thrown at modern families and decides what's worth your time and money.

The Parenting Police

The Parenting Police is a new podcast where Sean Szeps investigates the constant flood of toys, shows, trends and advice thrown at modern families and decides what's worth your time and money. 

Each week, a celebrity parent helps Sean review the latest toys and fads to see if they stack up. 

Genuinely useful advice, always a little silly, and never any bullsh**. 

"We're here to protect and serve… your sanity."

The Parenting Police is a new podcast where Sean Szeps investigates the constant flood of toys, shows, trends and advice thrown at modern families and decides what's worth your time and money.&nbsp;
Each week, a celebrity parent helps Sean review the latest toys and fads to see if they stack up.&nbsp;
Genuinely useful advice, always a little silly, and never any bullsh**.&nbsp;
"We're here to protect and serve&hellip; your sanity."

The SHOCKING Truth About Kids’ Menus in Australia: The Parenting Police Investigates

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/3b384bcf-5949-4c86-9def-b4c80007036a/transcript