The Kids' Menu Just Got an Upgrade--and a Search Bar

Restaurant Industry Expands Voluntary Commitment to Better-for-You Kids' Meals with New Kids LiveWell Website and More Participating Brands

• New Kids LiveWell^® website helps families find restaurants serving dietitian-verified, better-for-you kids' meals in their communities.
• 37 brands with nearly 75,000 locations nationwide have committed to offering menu options for children that meet the Kids LiveWell criteria for added sugar, sodium, saturated fat, and calories; include at least two food groups (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, meat or meat alternatives, or dairy); and maintain default kids' menu beverage options of water, milk, or 100% fruit or vegetable juice.  
• Voluntary, industry-led program is expanding choices for families.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Finding delicious, balanced meals for children just got a little easier at thousands of restaurants across the country. Today, the National Restaurant Association launched the latest evolution of the award-winning Kids LiveWell^® program, a new website that helps families find restaurants offering balanced menu options for children that have been dietitian-verified to meet the program's science-based nutrition criteria.

Parents and caregivers can now easily go online and search for a restaurant near them that has committed to offering a selection of menu items for children that focus on real foods like fruits, vegetables, meat or meat alternatives, whole grains, and dairy.

What is the Kids LiveWell program?

Kids LiveWell is a voluntary restaurant industry program that certifies kids' menu items against specific criteria. Registered dietitians verify each item based on menu and nutrition information provided by participating restaurants.

To participate, restaurants must offer at least two meals and two sides that meet science-based nutrition criteria and include at least two food groups. Dietitians evaluate each item for calories, saturated fat, trans fat, added sugars, sodium and servings of key food groups, including fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat or meat alternatives, and whole grains. Participating restaurants must also maintain default kids' menu beverage options of water, milk, or 100% fruit or vegetable juice.

The long-standing program is the centerpiece of the restaurant industry's commitment to providing better-for-you choices, especially for children.

"Restaurants that offer Kids LiveWell-certified menu options are helping families find meals they can choose with confidence," said Michelle Korsmo, President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association. "This new website, with an expanded roster of participating brands, makes it easier for parents and caregivers to find restaurant options that meet their family's needs when dining out."

How does the new Kids LiveWell website work?

The new Kids LiveWell website will be a trusted go-to resource for families that illustrates the program's nutrition requirements and showcases participating brands. Parents can go to the mobile-ready site, kidslivewell.com, and click on the Good Food Finder at the top of the page to see a list of participating restaurants. To explore Kids LiveWell offerings at participating restaurants, simply click the logo to view approved meals.

Parents can find an overview of the Kids LiveWell nutrition requirements at the top of the participating restaurants page on KidsLiveWell.com and can take an in-depth look at the nutrition criteria in the Kids LiveWell white paper here.

"The new Kids LiveWell website is another way restaurants are delivering value to the families they serve, including their youngest guests," said Korsmo. "Dining out remains an important part of daily life and families are paying closer attention to what they order and the value they receive. Paired with this new digital tool, Kids LiveWell menu options help participating operators strengthen their value proposition and meet the needs of today's consumers."

Which restaurants participate in Kids LiveWell?

Kids LiveWell restaurants fit the needs of every family's lifestyle. Menu options are available across quickservice, fast casual, and fullservice restaurants, including both independent operators and national chains. Regardless of restaurant type, all participants must meet the same rigorous nutrition standards, which are independently verified by third-party dietitians.

In the last year, the program has added 19 new participating restaurant brands, bringing the total to 37 brands with nearly 75,000 locations, including:

Anna Maria Oyster Bar, Applebee's^®, Arby's^®, Bonefish Grill^®, Buffalo Wild Wings^®, Burger King^®, Burtons Grill & Bar^®, Café on St. Armands, Carrabba's Italian Grill^®, Chick-fil-A^®, Chipotle Mexican Grill^®, Conchy Joe's Seafood Restaurant & Bar, Denny's^®, Dunkin'^®, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill^®, First Watch^®, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar^®, Golden Corral^®, IHOP^®, Jamba^®, Jason's Deli^®, Jimmy John's^®, Konala^®, McAlister's Deli^®, Moe's Southwest Grill^®, Outback Steakhouse^®, Panda Express^®, QDOBA Mexican Eats^®, Schlotzsky's Deli^®, Silver Diner^®, SONIC^®, Subway^®, T-BONES Great American Eatery, Ted's Montana Grill^®, The Dolphin Bar & Shrimp House, Wendy's^®, Whataburger^®

"Policymakers at every level are paying closer attention to the food options available to families, and the restaurant industry is meeting the moment head-on," said Sean Kennedy, Chief Advocacy Officer at the National Restaurant Association. "Kids LiveWell illustrates that voluntary industry leadership works. More brands are joining, more qualifying items are on menus nationwide, and the new website makes it easier than ever for families to find these options when dining out. This is the kind of progress that parents championing balanced choices can get behind."

To find a participating Kids LiveWell restaurant, go to KidsLiveWell.com.

"Bloomin' Brands has proudly partnered with Kids LiveWell since the program's early days, reflecting our commitment to providing families with nutritious, great-tasting menu options. By offering meals that meet Kids LiveWell nutrition criteria, we give families more choices and flexibility when dining with us."
—Chef Efrem Cutler, Vice President of Research & Development, Bloomin' Brands, Inc. 

"Chipotle is proud to support the National Restaurant Association's Kids LiveWell program and its commitment to helping families make informed choices when dining out. With real ingredients and a highly customizable menu, Chipotle makes it easy to build meals that meet a wide range of dietary preferences and lifestyles—without compromising on flavor or quality."
—Laurie Schalow, Chief Corporate Affairs and Food Safety Officer, Chipotle

"For more than three years, The Dolphin Bar and Shrimp House and Conchy Joe's Seafood Restaurant have proudly supported the Kids LiveWell program as the only independent restaurant group in the Treasure Coast area participating in the initiative. From fresh grilled fish and our signature salad bar, we offer quality ingredients throughout our kids' menus and believe dining out as a family should include nutritious options kids can enjoy. As longtime members of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and National Restaurant Association, we're proud to support programs that encourage thoughtfully balanced choices for kids and families in our community."
—Dave Gould CEC, Corporate Executive Chef, CJR, Incorporated 

"Dine Brands is proud to continue our support of Kids LiveWell with the National Restaurant Association. It is our pleasure and pride to provide families at Applebee's and IHOP with nutritious and delicious menu options that meet their family's needs."   
—Mirieta Selimovska, Senior Dietitian, Dine Brands 

"At First Watch, we believe families should feel good about the choices they make when dining out. As the leading daytime restaurant focused on fresh ingredients and wholesome, made-to-order dishes made in kitchens without deep fryers, microwaves and heat lamps, we're proud to support the Kids LiveWell program and its commitment to helping families find nutritious options for children. By making it easier for parents to choose balanced meals that kids enjoy, Kids LiveWell is helping create enjoyable and nourishing dining experiences for families across the country, and we're honored to be part of that effort."
—Chef Shane Schaibly, Senior Vice President of Culinary Strategy, First Watch 

"At GoTo Foods, we are committed to making it easier for families to find great-tasting meals they can feel good about. We're proud that Jamba, McAlister's Deli, Moe's Southwest Grill, and Schlotzsky's Deli are joining the Kids LiveWell program for the first time, expanding access to balanced menu options for children. Restaurants play an important role in offering families accessible, affordable meal solutions, and initiatives like Kids LiveWell help ensure those choices are aligned with evolving nutrition guidance. This milestone reflects our commitment to supporting parents and caregivers with quality options while delivering the flavors our guests love."
—Sarah Marjoram, Director of Nutrition, GoTo Foods 

"We're proud to offer Kids LiveWell items at our T-BONES Great American Eatery locations. The balanced menu offerings have been well received by kiddos and parents alike!  As a mom of five myself, it's so nice to see more and more restaurants offering easy to pick, nutritious options right in the kids' menu sections. It's perfect for parents." 
- Chef Nicole Barreira, Great NH Restaurants

"Jimmy John's is committed to offering families fresh, delicious options for every appetite. We're proud to support the National Restaurant Association's Kids LiveWell program and help make it easier for parents to find balanced kids' meals that meet their family's needs without compromising on taste or quality."
— Kate Carpenter, Chief Marketing Officer, Jimmy John's

"Families have always been at the heart of Anna Maria Oyster Bar, and being part of Kids LiveWell reflects our commitment to making dining out something parents can feel good about and kids can enjoy. We're proud to offer choices that help families eat well while still delivering what we're all about: great food, genuine hospitality, and Five-Star Fun."
—Eleni Sokos, Executive Vice President, Oysters Rock Hospitality 

"At QDOBA, we believe families should be able to choose balanced meals that are flavorful, nutritious, and made with freshly prepared ingredients. We are proud to support the National Restaurant Association's Kids LiveWell program and their mission to expand better-for-you choices when dining out."
—Chef Katy Velazquez, VP Culinary Innovation, QDOBA 

"At Ted's Montana Grill, we are committed to premium, timeless dishes with bold flavors and fresh, authentic ingredients. Every meal is made to order with no microwaves or freezers, and our wholesome kids' menu reflects that same commitment to quality. We want parents to feel confident that their children are enjoying delicious, high-quality food made with care. We're proud to support the National Restaurant Association's Kids LiveWell program and its commitment to helping families make nutritious choices when dining out."
—George McKerrow, CEO and Co-founder, Ted's Montana Grill 

About the National Restaurant Association
Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which is comprised of more than 1 million restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of more than 15.7 million employees. Together with 52 State Associations, we are a network of professional organizations dedicated to serving every restaurant through advocacy, education, and food safety. We sponsor the industry's largest trade show (National Restaurant Association Show); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF's ProStart). For more information, visit Restaurant.org and find us on Twitter @WeRRestaurants

SOURCE National Restaurant Association