Back to school time is fast-approaching! While it is a great idea to plan ahead for those busy school evenings as much as possible, there will certainly be some nights when meal prep is simply not an option. When considering dining out, it is comforting to know that there is a way to choose a restaurant that offers healthful menu options for your family.

Having a Plan B for back to school meal prep is easier than ever with the National Restaurant Association’s Kids LiveWell program, which features restaurants that offer nutritious meals with a focus on fruit and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains and low-fat dairy. They also limit unhealthy fats, sugars and sodium.

Currently celebrating its fourth year, the Kids LiveWell program has grown from 19 to over 155 participating restaurant brands, representing more than 42,000 locations nationwide with dietitian-approved menu options. Newly-added restaurant brands include Baja Fresh, Hard Rock Café, Red Robin, Schlotzsky’s and Wolfgang Puck Pizza Bar, among other regional chains and independent restaurants. Thanks to the Kids LiveWell program, more and more restaurants in every state and of all sizes are making the effort to serve nutritious options for kids.

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Parents can easily find the participating restaurants and qualifying menu choices online at the Healthy Dining’s website, and on the free Kids LiveWell app, helping parents to locate participating restaurants while on-the-go.

With after-school programs, team sports, and PTA meetings, there may not always be time to cook dinner at home. The Kids LiveWell program allows parents to take a break from the back to school meal prep and breathe a sigh of relief that when dining out, kids can be healthy and happy.

Back To School Meal Prep

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The Kids LiveWell app is available for free download on iPhone and Android. Visit the Healthy Dining website here to learn more. You can also connect with Kids LiveWell on Twitter.

Back To School Meal Prep