Your restaurant may find great success with the current entrees that you offer customers, but a kids’ menu can boost sales to the next level. According to the United States Census Bureau, there are about 63 million parents with children under the age of 18 living in the country. When these families eat out, they may choose to order from a children’s menu for their little ones. That means that you could benefit from introducing children’s meals to your menu.

Read on to discover why offering a kids’ menu can make your restaurant a more attractive choice to families.

Benefits of a kids’ menu

There are many benefits that your restaurant can gain from a kids’ menu. If you don’t already have a specific list of food and beverage items for your younger audience, here are some reasons why you should consider implementing one: 

Differentiation for restaurants

There is an incredible amount of competition in the restaurant industry these days. Consumers have more choices now than ever before, and price does impact that decision immensely. Larger families must spend more money to feed all of their children, so less expensive restaurants may appeal to them. 

Parents will naturally choose restaurants that offer meals and prices suited for every family member over those restaurants that don’t. This is true for families that dine out as well as those that order food delivery. Including mouthwatering kid-friendly options in your menu can give your restaurant a point of difference over your competitors.

Kid-friendly food

It’s perfectly normal for young children to have fussy eating habits for several reasons — from taste and smell sensitivity to parental control. However, these factors can make it hard for parents to find nutritious food their kids will actually eat — whether at a restaurant or when ordering food for delivery. Kids’ menus can help make this task easier by offering kid-friendly foods that appeal to young palates.

Convenient ordering

Whether ordering for table-side service or delivery, parents of young children want to order easily and quickly. The faster they can feed their children, the happier everyone will be! By having a separate kids’ menu, parents can conveniently refer to a predetermined list of kid-friendly items rather than scouring the entire menu searching for something their kids might eat.

Popular food for kids’ menus

Children can be picky eaters, which may make eating at restaurants difficult for families. Captivating kids’ menus often feature simple and fun twists on classics. The most popular kids’ meal entrees include chicken nuggets, cheeseburgers, french fries, pizza, french toast, fruit and grilled cheese sandwiches. 

Not only are these menu items very common kids’ meals, but they’re also healthier for children than a full adult-sized meal. 

Kids’ menus offer smaller portions

It’s essential for restaurants to offer meals and other healthy dining items that are appropriately sized for children. On average, children only need about 1,200 to 1,800 calories every day. That means that a healthy kids’ meal should be about 500 calories or less. 

Today’s savvy parents don’t want to order more food than their child could (or should) eat. Kids’ restaurant menus offer smaller portions for smaller appetites. This means that restaurants can spend less on preparing kids’ meals and offer these smaller dishes at a lower price. Parents will appreciate your restaurant passing these savings to their families.

How to create a kids’ menu

Ready to create a delicious kids’ menu for your mini customers? Here are some tips on how to get started:

• Don’t put too many options: Kids don’t need a million entrees to choose from. Pick a solid four to six items that you believe children will love.
• Keep it simple: You can either add the kids’ meals to the existing menu, or you can create an additional sheet to list out the children’s options. Either way, you don’t have to go overboard with design and layout. 
• Include the nutritional information: These details aren’t for the children — it will help parents know what they are giving their little ones and whether it will provide the proper nutrients and energy they need. 

By offering a diverse and healthy kids’ menu, you can attract more families looking to take the stress out of mealtime, while helping them spend more quality time together. 

Ready to reach new customers and grow your business with Grubhub? Sign up today!