Research conducted by GrubHub, a major online food-ordering company, has shown that kids menu order has grown at a rapid rate since 2012 – almost 40 percent growth in the last six years. With kid’s menus becoming increasingly frequent and wide-ranging, GrubHub found that childhood favourites still remain king. Chicken tenders, burgers, pizza and grilled cheese sandwiches remain the most commonly ordered menu choices. However, the analysis also found that the items with the highest order growth include French toast, at No. 1, and pancakes at No. 4, indicating more interest in breakfast foods among kids and parents.
GrubHub also found that by offering a children’s menu, restaurants could extent their profitability. The data showed that orders placed between 4 and 6 pm were 80 percent more likely to contain kids’ menu items than any other time of the day – earlier than traditional dining times. Winter saw a 10 to 15 percent increase in orders from the kids’ menu, summer a 5 percent increase and, curiously, autumn a 15 percent decrease.
"A combination of factors may explain the rise in kids' meal takeout, including convenience, variety and time pressures," said a GrubHub spokesman. "Year-over-year data shows that restaurants are clearly catering more to busy parents by providing food options that appeal to children, regardless of the cuisine."
| Most Popular Kids' Menu Items | Trending Kids' Menu Items |
| 1. Chicken Tenders – 19%
2. Burgers – 9% 3. Pizza – 7% 4. Fish - 7% 5. Chicken Nuggets – 5% 6. French Fries – 5% 7. Spaghetti – 5% 8. Macaroni & Cheese – 4% 9. Quesadilla – 4% 10. Hot Dog – 3% |
1. French Toast - 87%
2. Milk – 55% 3. Hot Dog – 46% 4. Pancakes – 31% 5. Chicken Parmigiana – 22% 6. Spaghetti – 20% 7. Chicken Wings – 13% 8. Pizza – 10% 9. Macaroni & Cheese – 10% 10. American Hot Dog – 10% |
