PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Elise Kohl Grant, Member of the Public, on Nutrition Standards for Kids' Meals
3:11:52
·
123 sec
Elise Kohl Grant, a mother of two living in New York City, testifies in support of the bill to improve nutrition standards for kids' meals in restaurants. She emphasizes the importance of diverse, healthy food options for children and the need for affordable choices on children's menus.
- Highlights research showing children consume more calories, sugar, and sodium when eating at restaurants
- Argues for broader, healthier food choices on children's menus to expose kids to different cultures and flavors
- Points out the cost burden on parents when having to order from adult menus for their children
Elise Kohl Grant
3:11:52
Hello.
3:11:53
Good afternoon, everyone.
3:11:54
I just wanted to provide my testimony that I am in support of this bill.
3:11:59
I am a mother of 2 that live who lives in New York City, and wanted to include that, you know, research has shown that when eating at restaurants, children consume more calories, sugar, and sodium.
3:12:12
You know, we all live in New York for the diversity of the people that we live next to, our neighbors, and that also includes our food choices.
3:12:21
Right?
3:12:21
And, I choose to live in New York City and particularly Brooklyn to expose my children to different cultures, and that includes food flavors, textures.
3:12:32
So I am very much in support of this bill because I believe that my children have, the right to choose.
3:12:39
Right?
3:12:39
And, usually, what I see on children menus are chicken nuggets, buttered pasta.
3:12:46
Those are both things that are very easy and cheap to prepare at home.
3:12:49
When I actually decide to take my children out, I'd like to have them have a more broad, choice of healthy food options so they can experience not only healthy food, but also the culture, that we wanna expose our children to.
3:13:04
Right?
3:13:04
And, sure, it's easy to say, well, why don't you choose to purchase another entree entree for them instead of just choosing off the children's menu?
3:13:13
Well, that leads to my next argument is that that's very costly for the parents.
3:13:18
Right?
3:13:18
When we already have so many bills to cover for our children, it's costly to have to choose outside of the children's menu knowing that our child will only eat a portion of the food that we purchase if it is a regular adult entree.
3:13:35
Particularly, my children like seafood.
3:13:37
They don't like breaded things.
3:13:39
And so that leaves me with very limited options to choose at restaurants that I think that, our children, you know, will thank us for later if we can expose them to more healthy food options and make it, you know, affordable for the parents.
