Hyatt Hotels to make children's menus healthier

In a move that could ripple across the hotel industry, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts today will announce a commitment to making its kids' menus healthier, Hyatt tells Hotel Check-In.

The news means that over the coming year, you'll likely see fruits or vegetables automatically arrive on your child's plate - instead of fries or chips. French toast will be made with whole grain bread instead of white bread.

And eventually, kids will be able to get a free refill on their low-fat milk, similar to the way soda is typically sold today.

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The improvements will also eventually influence the regular adult menus so that the rest of us can benefit, too, Hyatt says. By 2016, Hyatt has promised to reduce the calorie footprint in its hotels by at least 10% all food menus - with a goal of having at least half of its hotels complying within three years.

All of Hyatt's full-service hotels in North America - including Park Hyatt and Grand Hyatt properties - will adopt the improved menus by November 2012, Hyatt says.

The move is the result of Hyatt's work with Partnership for Healthier America, a non-profit that works with Honorary Chair first lady Michelle Obama and the private sector to fight childhood obesity, Hyatt says.

The Partnership for Healthier America will monitor the menu changes.

The new children's meals will meet the new federal MyPlate nutrition standards.

Hyatt feeds nearly 3 million kids every year in its hotels.

The arrangement is being announced today at the non-profit group's inaugural Building a Healthier Future Summit.

"Hyatt sets a new standard for leadership in the hospitality industry," said Lawrence Soler, CEO of Partnership for a Healthier America, says in a statement. "In the last decade, Americans have spent about half of their families' total food budgets, and consumed nearly a third of all their calories, away from home. Making healthier options available wherever families are eating is critical in the fight against childhood obesity."

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What is Hyatt promising?

So what will a children's menu with an "improved nutritional profile" look like?

While the emphasis is on kids menus, Hyatt is also vowing to help all travelers stay healthy by revamping recipes in a way that cuts back on calories, sugar and sodium content.

Hyatt's hotels have already made some changes to menus in the USA and Canada, such as the use of cage-free eggs in all restaurant and room service menu items.

Hyatt details the coming changes

Children's menu changes starting now, to be phased in by November 2012:

• Offer a fruit or vegetable as the default side item with all children's meals;
• Make 8 oz. servings of nonfat or low-fat milk available with free refills. Promote milk or water prominently on the menu with other beverage options displayed less prominently;
• Offer at least one children's menu meal option that meets the MyPlate federal guidance: one to two servings of fruit and vegetables, a whole grain serving, a lean protein serving, and a low fat dairy (or dairy substitute) serving, which together have a nutrient composition equal to or less than 600 calories, 30% of total calories from fat, 10% total calories from saturated fat, 600 mg of sodium, and no more than 10 grams added sugar. Position and feature that meal as the first on the children's menus;
• Ensure any food illustrations on children's menus depict nutritious options, including milk or water as the beverage of choice if beverages are depicted.

Readers: What do you think about these changes?