WSJ Your Money Briefing: More Adults Are Ordering From the Kids’ Menu

Episode Release Date: February 27, 2025
Host: J.R. Whalen
Host Contributor: Mariana Aspuru
Reporter: Roshan Fernandez

Introduction

In the February 27, 2025 episode of WSJ Your Money Briefing, hosted by Mariana Aspuru, the focus shifts to an intriguing trend in the dining habits of adults: the increasing propensity to order from children's menus. Amidst rising food prices, more adults are seeking cost-effective and smaller portion options typically designed for younger patrons. This episode delves into the reasons behind this shift, its financial implications for consumers, and the potential impacts on the restaurant industry.

Rising Trend: Adults Opting for Kids’ Menus

Mariana Aspuru opens the discussion by highlighting the growing trend of adults choosing kids' meals as a cheaper and healthier alternative for dining out. She poses a compelling question: "Are you looking for a cheaper, healthier alternative for your next meal out now? What if it came with a little prize or toy? More adults are now ditching a full-size entree for a kid's meal." (00:49).

Roshan Fernandez, a Wall Street Journal reporter, confirms that this is not an isolated phenomenon. He explains, "People are really just looking for cheaper menu options. Some people are looking for a smaller portion. Some people are looking to lose a little bit of weight or feel the nostalgia of being a kid again." (02:11). This multifaceted motivation underscores the complexity behind the trend, combining economic factors with personal and emotional reasons.

Statistical Insights and Consumer Behavior

Fernandez provides empirical evidence from Circana, an industry research firm, revealing that adult orders from kids' menus have surged by 28% since 2019 (02:30). This significant increase illustrates a tangible shift in consumer behavior, driven primarily by the need to manage high food prices without compromising on dining out experiences.

The reporter further elaborates on the types of items adults are ordering, noting that it's not limited to the typical chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese. For instance, Ashley Garrett, a TikTok influencer known as the "kids meal connoisseur," showcases more diverse and appealing options such as chili from Texas Roadhouse and broccoli cheddar casserole from other establishments (03:01). This diversification of options contributes to the attractiveness of kids' menus for adult diners.

Financial Implications: Savings and Value

A central theme of the episode revolves around the financial benefits of choosing kids' meals. Fernandez discusses how much consumers can save, though he notes that savings vary by restaurant. Haley Hansen, a consumer who created a 10-point rubric to evaluate the best kids' meal offerings, emphasizes the importance of factors such as calories per dollar ratio and meal satisfaction over mere calorie count (03:31). Hansen explains, "Some things, things are going to be a smaller meal and that's what you would expect because you're ordering off the kids menu." (03:31).

Hansen's rubric ensures that the meals are not just cheaper but also provide adequate satisfaction, preventing customers from feeling shortchanged despite the smaller portion sizes.

Practical Considerations: Ordering Policies and Meal Preferences

The discussion also touches on the logistical aspects of ordering kids' meals as an adult. Fernandez mentions that while some restaurants have age restrictions (typically 12 and under), enforcement is challenging. As a result, many adults opt to order to go, circumventing potential refusals (04:17).

Moreover, the trade-offs between portion sizes and leftovers are explored. While ordering a kids' meal typically means fewer leftovers, some consumers, like Hayley Hanson, appreciate the lack of excess. Hanson shares her personal experience: "I would have to throw it out every day. She realized then that it would just be smarter to order the kids quesadilla and so she started doing that." (04:41). This perspective highlights a practical advantage for those who prefer not to deal with leftovers.

Impact on Restaurants and Service Staff

The surge in adults ordering from kids' menus has broader implications for restaurants and their staff. Fernandez cites a restaurant investor’s viewpoint: "If adults are flocking to your kid's menu at a restaurant, that's not a great sign. That probably means your menu prices are too expensive." (05:41). This trend could indicate underlying pricing issues within establishments.

Furthermore, the economic impact extends to service staff. Fernandes explains, "If you're ordering off the kids menu, your overall bill will be lower and so that's going to result in a lower tip for a waiter who perhaps waited on your table for 30 minutes or however long just for you to order chicken tenders and fries." (05:57). This decrease in average bill sizes could affect the earnings of waitstaff who rely on tips as a significant portion of their income.

Strategic Responses and Future Outlook

In response to this trend, there is an argument for restaurants to price kids' menu items appropriately to mitigate potential losses. By ensuring that kids' menus are competitively priced, establishments can discourage the overuse of these options by adults while still providing affordable choices for younger customers.

Conclusion

The episode concludes by encapsulating the various dimensions of the trend of adults ordering from kids' menus. From financial savings and portion control to emotional satisfaction and practical meal preferences, the shift presents both opportunities and challenges. For consumers, it offers a way to navigate rising food costs without entirely foregoing dining out. For restaurants, it signals a need to reassess pricing strategies and its effects on service dynamics.

Produced by Zoe Kulkin with supervising producer Melanie Roy, the episode provides insightful analysis into a consumer behavior trend that intersects economic necessity with personal choice, highlighting the nuanced ways in which individuals adapt to changing financial landscapes.

Notable Quotes

• Mariana Aspuru (00:49):
  "Are you looking for a cheaper, healthier alternative for your next meal out now? What if it came with a little prize or toy More adults are now ditching a full size entree for a kid's meal."

• Roshan Fernandez (02:11):
  "People are really just looking for cheaper menu options. Some people are looking for a smaller portion. Some people are looking to lose a little bit of weight or feel the nostalgia of being a kid again."

• Roshan Fernandez (03:01):
  "Some of the people I spoke to, like this one lady, Ashley Garrett, makes TikTok videos and she calls herself the kids meal connoisseur. And she was really out looking for the best side options. So she highlighted Texas Roadhouse has chili and another place had a broccoli cheddar casserole."

• Haley Hansen (03:31):
  "She had a number of categories including calories per dollar ratio. And she had another category for meal satisfaction because she was explaining to me that just because something has a lot of calories doesn't mean you're going to be full."

• Roshan Fernandez (05:41):
  "If adults are flocking to your kid's menu at a restaurant, that's not a great sign. That probably means your menu prices are too expensive."

• Roshan Fernandez (05:57):
  "If you're ordering off the kids menu, your overall bill will be lower and so that's gonna result in a lower tip for a waiter who perhaps waited on your table for 30 minutes or however long just for you to order chicken tenders and fries."

Timestamp Reference

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• 00:49 – Introduction to the trend
• 02:11 – Reasons behind adults ordering kids' meals
• 02:30 – Statistical increase in orders
• 03:01 – Examples of diverse kids' menu options
• 03:31 – Financial evaluation by Haley Hansen
• 04:17 – Age restrictions and ordering strategies
• 04:41 – Personal experiences with portion sizes
• 05:41 – Impact on restaurant pricing
• 05:57 – Effect on service staff tips