How to Design a Kids Menu That Works
Design a kids menu that parents like and kitchens can serve: portions, food safety, allergens, simple choices, pricing and ways to keep children busy.
Updated 5 min read
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Key takeaways
- Families choose places where children are welcome and parents can relax: speed, simple food and fair prices matter.
- Offer children small portions of real food, not only fried food, and let parents choose sides and drinks.
- Take extra care with food safety and allergens: cook food thoroughly and know every ingredient.
- Ask about allergies every time and tell the kitchen; a child cannot judge the risk.
In short: a good kids menu gives children small portions of food they will eat, gives parents peace of mind about safety and allergens, and arrives quickly. Keep it short, cook everything thoroughly, label allergens and price it fairly.
About 7 minutes to read. General information as of October 2026. Food safety and nutrition rules differ by country; check your authority.
Parents choose restaurants for speed, comfort and an easy menu as much as for food. A place that makes families feel welcome gets the next birthday meal, too.
What families want
- Speed: hungry children do not wait well.
- Simple choices: familiar food with a few options.
- Fair prices: a child's portion priced as a child's portion.
- Space and tools: high chairs, booster seats, cups, a place for a pram.
- Honesty: clear information on allergens and ingredients.
Design a short list
A kids list needs only a handful of items.
- A pasta or rice dish with a mild sauce.
- A small grill or roast with a side.
- A smaller version of a popular main.
- A vegetarian option.
- A fruit, yoghurt or small dessert.
Add sides that parents can swap: vegetable sticks, salad, rice, potatoes, fruit. Offer water or milk as the default drink. Do not make fried food the only choice. See vegan and vegetarian menus for plant based options.
Alternatively, offer small portions
Instead of a separate menu, many restaurants offer half portions of regular dishes. Benefits: more variety, less duplication in the kitchen, and a smaller portion for smaller adults. Drawback: some dishes do not scale well. Choose the dishes that do.
Cook thoroughly
Children, especially young ones, are more vulnerable to food poisoning. Many authorities advise full cooking for children's meals. The UK Food Standards Agency, for example, has said that burgers served to children should be cooked thoroughly, and in the United States the FDA Food Code does not allow undercooked minced meat, such as a rare burger, to be served from a children's menu (section 3-401.11). Check what your own authority says. See temperature logs for cooking limits and HACCP for restaurants. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the Food Standards Agency's Safer Food, Better Business packs help small caterers write down their controls.
Also consider the choking risk of some foods for small children, such as whole grapes, whole nuts and hard raw vegetables; cut or avoid them for young children.
Allergens come first
Food allergies are common in children, and a child cannot judge the risk. Rules:
- Record the 14 major allergens for every dish. See allergens and calories and the FSA's allergen guidance.
- Ask the parent about allergies at every order, and tell the kitchen.
- Never guess. If you are not sure what is in a dish, say so.
- Keep serving utensils and fryers in mind for cross contact.
- Keep allergen information the same across paper, online and kiosk menus. See allergen information for online orders.
Calories and nutrition
In England, calorie labelling rules apply to businesses with 250 or more employees, and only to items in scope of the government's guidance; check whether children's items are in scope for you. See calorie labelling for restaurants in England. Even if the rules do not apply to you, consider offering lighter choices and vegetables. Parents notice.
Price it fairly
Cost the dish as for any other. See recipe costing and how to price a menu. Parents look for fair value, and they often add drinks, sides and desserts. Consider:
- A price that matches the smaller portion.
- A meal deal that includes a drink and a small dessert. See set menus and lunch deals.
- A free child with an adult main at quiet times, only if the numbers work. Test it as in break even.
Speed and service
Make children's food a priority at the pass, and bring drinks and a small starter immediately. See ticket times. Offer to bring the children's meal first, and give the family the bill without a long wait.
A table ordering option helps parents who cannot leave a child. DineHarbor's QR table ordering lets guests order from their phones at the table, and your team can use the waiter app. See QR code table ordering.
Keep children busy
Colouring sheets, crayons, a small activity or a simple game help adults enjoy their meal. Keep these safe for small children and easy to clean. Avoid anything that contains small parts for young children, and do not use free toys without checking safety rules.
Welcome the whole family
- Offer high chairs and booster seats, and clean them between guests.
- Offer a space to change a baby and, if you can, a quiet room for feeding.
- Allow time for guests to arrive with a pram and move tables.
- Train staff to be friendly and calm. See staff training.
- Tell families about your policy on bringing baby food.
A family restaurant is built on reviews from parents. See reviews and complaints.
A checklist
- Short list or small portions.
- Vegetarian and vegetable options.
- Full cooking and safe handling.
- Allergens recorded and asked about.
- Fair pricing.
- Fast service for children.
- High chairs, cups and activity sheets.
- Review after a month.
Setting up table ordering for families? Start the 30 day free trial with no card needed.
Questions and answers
What should a kids menu include?
A short list of simple dishes in smaller portions: for example a plain pasta, a small grill with vegetables, a mini version of a main, and fruit or yoghurt. Include vegetarian choices and a few options with vegetables.
Should I serve children's burgers or eggs medium cooked?
No. Food safety authorities advise that burgers and eggs for young children be fully cooked. For example, the UK Food Standards Agency has said children and vulnerable people should be given burgers that are well done. Check your authority.
Do I have to list allergens for kids dishes?
Yes. The same allergen information duties apply to every dish, including children's meals. Ask parents about allergies when they order.
Is a kids menu worth having?
For family friendly places, yes. It speeds ordering, controls waste and costs. A flexible small portions option may suit other places better.
How do I price children's meals?
Cost them as you would any dish and set a price that is fair for the portion, while remembering that parents often add drinks, sides and desserts. Avoid making a child's meal cheaper than its true cost with no way to recover it.
See it in DineHarbor
About the author
Editorial team
The DineHarbor team writes this blog for restaurant owners and managers. Every article is checked against the product before it is published, so what we describe is what the software does.
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