Almost Half of Adults Say They Are Ordering Kids’ Meals — Here’s Why
Ordering off the kids’ menu isn’t just for parents anymore.
With menu prices rising and portions feeling oversized, more adults are choosing smaller, cheaper kids’ meals. Surveys show many adults openly admit to ordering kids’ meals, and the reasons go beyond saving a few bucks.
From portion control to bundled value (entrée, side, drink), here’s why the kids’ menu is having a grown-up moment.
Sticker Shock at the Register
Menu inflation keeps nudging diners toward cheaper options. The July 2025 CPI shows restaurant prices remain elevated, with tariffs adding cost pressure across categories. For many, kids’ meals offer a way to keep dining out without blowing the budget.
A Trend That’s Hard to Ignore
A past Morning Consult survey found that 43% of U.S. adults have ordered from the kids’ menu, most often for price and portion size reasons. While not new, the finding highlights how widespread this habit has become.
Portion Control = Less Waste, Fewer Calories
Plenty of adults simply want smaller portions to avoid overeating (and leftovers). Morning Consult’s polling notes portion size as a top driver for ordering kids’ meals. Smaller plates help diners hit health goals and reduce waste, without skipping the restaurant experience.
Comfort Food, No Apologies
Kids’ menus are stacked with nostalgia: nuggets, grilled cheese, mac & cheese, mini-burgers. That “simple, familiar” lane is still wildly popular with diners looking for comfort, and when it’s bundled with a side and drink, it often feels like a better value than an à la carte entrée.
Bundled Value Beats À la Carte
With food-away-from-home prices elevated, bundled kids’ meals (entrée + side + drink) can beat adult-menu math. The National Restaurant Association’s 2025 State of the Restaurant Industry Report highlights that value-seeking behaviors are reshaping how consumers order.
Slow Service Is Fueling the Shift
A recent Lightspeed survey revealed that roughly one-third of diners walk out before food arrives due to inconsistent service. Kids’ meals are simpler and faster for kitchens to execute, another reason some adults choose them when time (and patience) is short.
Inflation Is Rewiring Dining Habits
Higher grocery and restaurant costs are pushing diners toward value hacks. USDA’s Food Price Outlook shows stubbornly high prices in several categories, keeping wallets tight and choices strategic. Ordering from the kids’ menu is one of the clearest ways adults are adapting.
Restaurants Are Taking Note
Some chains are refreshing kids’ menus with better sides, customizable options, or slightly more “grown-up” flavors, blurring the line between child and adult portions. It’s a quiet acknowledgment that adults want smaller, cheaper, familiar plates too.
The Kids’ Menu Grows Up
What used to be a quirky move is now mainstream. With inflation, portion fatigue, service frustrations, and value-seeking, adults are embracing the kids’ menu for what it offers: simplicity, speed, comfort, and cost control. If price pressure sticks around, expect restaurants to make kid-sized value even more appealing, no toy required.
