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Table 1 Parent and child survey items for orders, receptivity to healthier alternatives and restaurant frequency

From: Child and parent perspectives on healthier side dishes and beverages in restaurant kids’ meals: results from a national survey in the United States

Question

Response options

Child

 How likely would you be to order or ask for a restaurant meal if it came with each of the following as a side dish?

  (a) Vegetables such as a salad, green beans, or carrots

  (b) French fries

  (c) Fruit, such as apple slices, orange slices, or a fruit cup

1 = Very unlikely to

4 = Very likely

 How happy or unhappy would you be if your restaurant meal came with a vegetable or fruit side dish, but not French fries?a

1 = Very unhappy to

5 = Very happy

 How happy or unhappy would you be if your restaurant meal came with milk, water, or flavored water, but not soda or pop?a

1 = Very unhappy to

5 = Very happy

 How often do you eat food at a restaurant? This includes fast food restaurants (such as McDonald’s or Burger King), sit-down restaurants (such as Applebee’s or Chili’s), or a local restaurant in your neighborhood (such as a coffee shop or pizza place).

1 = Never to

6 = 4 or more times a week

 How often do you eat take-away from a restaurant? This includes fast food restaurants (such as McDonald’s or Burger King), sit-down restaurants (such as Applebee’s or Chili’s), or a local restaurant in your neighborhood (such as a coffee shop or pizza place).

1 = Never to

6 = 4 or more times a week

Parent

 How happy or unhappy would your child be if [(his/her)] restaurant meal came with a vegetable or fruit side dish, but not French fries?

1 = Very unhappy to

5 = Very happy

 How happy or unhappy would your child be if [(his/her)] restaurant meal came with milk, water, or flavored water, but not soda or pop?

1 = Very unhappy to

5 = Very happy

  1. aChildren were asked to explain their feelings in open-ended format unless they answered “neither happy nor unhappy”