Families can prevent the onset of childhood obesity - even on vacation - by training kids to eat healthy.

For many families who embark on vacations, the easiest food to grab on-the-go is fast food. Despite the enforced crack-down on the use of trans-fats in food (trans-fats raise the level of "bad" cholesterol in the blood, therefore increasing the risk of heart disease), more and more travel destinations and fast-food chains are recognizing both the necessity of fast food to a family on vacation and the danger of trans-fats, and are changing the face of their menus to provide guests with healthier, trans-fat-free foods.

Reducing Access to Unhealthy Foods

Royal Caribbean International was the first cruise line to initiate a program to remove trans-fats from its menus on March 1st, 2007. To make its cuisine healthier, the cruise line has replaced the "pour-and-fry" oil previously used in food preparation with a healthier, trans-fat free oil. Dishes prepared with the new oil are not only better for you, but also better tasting according to a test-run aboard the Navigator of the Seas last November. By the end of the year, Royal Caribbean's goal is to have completely eradicated trans-fats from all of its kitchens, and to have introduced entirely new trans-fat-free menus on its ships.

Hotels are following suit. Both Marriott and Omni Hotels are transitioning to a zero grams trans fat cooking oil to replace the partially hydrogenated oil (a primary source of trans fats) currently in use. Eliminating trans fats from the menu is the first of many steps the hotel chains are taking to create a more healthy but delicious menu.

One by one, major theme parks have been phasing out the use of artificial fats and joining the trend towards healthier eating. Walt Disney World has initiated new children's menus to place a cap on total calories consumed (the result is smaller portions), in addition to implementing limitations on fat, saturated fat, and sugar content in the offered meals. To disguise the healthy-lifestyle agenda of its new menu, Disney has dubbed its healthier cuisine "Kids' Complete Meals," which include entrees such as whole-grain macaroni with beef plus fruit and vegetable side dishes. French fries and soft drinks are still available, upon request, for no additional cost.

Healthy dishes and trans-fat-free foods are available throughout all of Universal Studios U.S. theme parks. Now, both kids and adults can enjoy healthy side options with their meals: kids can choose from fruit or french fries prepared with trans-fat free oils, and adults can choose from a side salad or the fries. Healthier beverages are also available. A similar change has occurred in the SeaWorld theme parks.

But what are parents to do when kids are hungry and the only restaurants for miles are the likes of McDonald's, Applebees, and KFC?

Healthykids.com, a website dedicated to passing on important health tips for children and parenting advice, recently published a list of family-friendly roadside restaurant chains that are adding healthier menu options for kids. A few of those listed include the widespread Applebee's Neighborhood Bar and Grill and Chili's (more than one thousand restaurants nation-wide), and the entertaining hibachi restaurant, Benihana.

Both Applebee's and Chili's are allowing young diners to substitute fresh vegetables in place of the traditional kids-meal side of french fries. Also, the restaurants have dishes such as grilled chicken sandwiches and pasta with marinara sauce in place of cheeseburgers and chicken fingers.

Benihana, an "eatortainment" restaurant where trained chefs cook guests' meals right in front of them, features grilled dishes such as hibachi chicken and shrimp and teriyaki steak in place of fried foods. Kids will delight in the live cooking show, while parents will be happy with the meal options and sides such as salad, fresh vegetables, steamed rice, and Japanese onion soup.

Healthier Eating Tips

When stops at fried food joints are inescapable, American Baby magazine and healthykids.com writer Kristin Finello propose 10 ways to make fast food healthier for children.

Her first rule for parents is say "no" to super-sizing meals. Regular portions are often larger than they should be anyway. Finello urges parents to seek restaurants that offer healthier alternatives such as grilled chicken and leaner sandwiches (as opposed to Arby's sandwiches, which can run up more than 500 calories). Fast food does not have to be fried.

Keep kids satisfied along the way with healthy snacks like raisins or carrot sticks, because going to a restaurant when you're starving can lead to overeating. Finello stresses the importance of adults taking responsibility for their children's diets; if parents know that their kids will be eating fast food at some point during the day, they should make sure that the rest of their meals are healthy. Variety is essential to any child's diet; not only will they appreciate the different foods, but mixing up the menu is a great way to ensure that kids receive all of the nutrients they need.

Now that more and more restaurants are making healthier food available for families on-the-go, one challenge remains for parents: can they get their kids to choose grilled chicken and veggies over a cheeseburger and fries?

Perhaps the PBS series Chefs A' Field: Kids on the Farm will help shape healthier eating habits. In the TV series, now in its 3rd season, America's best chefs and their kids venture out to farms, fishing boats and ranches from Mexico to Seattle. Together, parents and kids search for the fresh ingredients necessary to prepare unique local specialties, interacting with farmers, fishermen, foragers and ranchers along the way. The show can be seen on local public TV stations nationwide and also on all PBS HDTV/Digital channels every Sunday at 5pm ET / 2pm & 11pm PAC.

Compared to today's options of healthier choices and recent campaigns to clean-up their own menu options, we noticed what a long way the fast-food industry has come.

1st Place - Ruby Tuesday
2nd Place - Shoney's
3rd Place - Bob Evans
4th Place - T.G.I. Fridays
5th Place - HomeTown Buffet
6th Place (Tie) - Outback Steakhouse/Red Lobster
7th Place (Tie) - Applebee's/Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
8th Place - McDonald's
9th Place (Tie) - Burger King/IHOP