Amber Valley Cafes join Celebrated Chefs and National Chains by joining the Campaign to make Children’s Menus Better
Derby GP, and Mum of two, Dr Susie Bayley, became fed up with seeing the same few poor-quality, uninspired choices on kids menus when she took her kids out. Having had enough, she launched a brand new initiative to improve the quality and choice on children’s menus. Susie is the founder of betterchildrensmenus.com : an online campaign to kick start restaurants, pubs and cafes to serve a better standard of kid’s food, introduce more variety and have healthier options for our little ones. The campaign promotes progressive eateries, whilst acting as a community for like-minded parents.
As an inner city GP, Susie is mindful of the growing prevalence of childhood obesity and associated long-term consequences. As adults enjoy a food revolution, with an increase in gastropubs, fine-dining and international restaurants, children’s food appears to be ignored. In many eateries there is a woeful lack of inspiration and quality, with menus stuck in the 1980s.
For these reasons betterchildrensmenus.com was founded, to encourage restaurants (pubs/cafes) to take a second look at their menus and see if they could do better.
The Pledge:
Better Children’s Menus restaurants, pubs and cafes are committed to the following on their children’s menus:
Better choice: An increase in the breadth of child menus. Where possible, offering smaller portions of adult dishes (particularly where special dietary requirements exist e.g. dairy allergy/coeliac disease)
Better ingredients: Using fresh produce and avoiding processed food with additives, preservatives and excess salt
Better for them: Having some dishes which are healthier options
Better Children’s Menus started with venues within the East Midlands: The Loaf in Crich and Fresh Basil in Belper signed up early. There are now has over 280 venues nationwide that have signed up to the pledge, including: Rick Stein’s Restaurants, Mark Hix Restaurants, Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen in Cornwall, Carluccio’s, Leon Restaurants, and Las Iguanas. In addition 2 venues with Michelin Stars: The Elephant Restaurant, Torquay and The Pipe and Glass, South Dalton.
Susie says ‘I would love the campaign to become huge throughout the UK and really encourage eateries to take pride in their children’s food. I would be particularly proud if we could make Derbyshire the centre for this, as it is where the campaign started.’
The campaign is also being supported by Derbyshire food review site, "The Sticky Beak Blog' - when the blog reviews and lists a venue they are including a badge to indicate that the venue has signed up to the betterchildrensmenus.com pledge.
