Children's menus revised for health concerns, evolving palates: 'Kids are not born with an innate desire for chicken nuggets'

CHICAGO - Kids' menus at most restaurants are as predictable as they are beige: chicken fingers, grilled cheese, buttered noodles, mac and cheese.

So Samira Nazem and her husband, Daniel Goff, make it a point to dine where they can find more varied and nutritious offerings for their two daughters, ages 4 and 6, whom they hope to expose to Chicago's different cultures through cuisine.

"We will certainly reward places that treat kids like they can handle quality food and flavorful food," said Nazem, 36, an attorney who lives on the city's North Side.

As busy families eat out more frequently than generations past, they are demanding healthier and more interesting meal options for kids - and restaurants are increasingly stepping up to the plate.

Some higher-end restaurants are revamping children's menus to cater to more sophisticated palates shaped by foodie parents. Meanwhile, a growing number of fast-food chains are reducing the calories in kids' meals and removing soda as the included beverage.

The shift comes as the deep-fried mozzarella sticks that were once a special-occasion treat threaten to become an everyday occurrence. Eating out now represents more than half of Americans' food spending, up from 44 percent 30 years ago, and more than a third of their caloric intake, up from 17 percent in the