Out to Lunch

Out to Lunch is our long-running campaign calling on restaurant chains to improve the food they serve to children, making kids’ menus healthier, more sustainable and better for the planet.

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Kids' meals should be nutritious.

Out to lunch is our campaign that runs every two years and sends an army of secret diner parents to assess the quality of kids' food at popular UK high street food chains and attractions.

We shine a spotlight on the lack of healthy and freshly prepared options on kids' menus - and give credit to the businesses who are doing better.

Two children eating pizza

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Compare leading restaurant chains and see how they’re performing on providing healthy and freshly prepared kids' meals.

What should 2024's restaurants do next?

In 2024, the Soil Association focused it's campaign on the prevalence of ultra processed food on the high street. Ultra-processed food (UPF) is a leading concern for parents due to their link to health problems like cancer and heart, kidney and liver disease.

We were shocked to find a huge lack of fresh preparation. Restaurants are ripping parents off by serving children ready meals.

Wahaca, Wetherspoon, Harvester, Zizzi, Carluccio's, Toby Carvery and Leon are committed to serving freshly prepared, responsibly sourced and tasty food and have taken our groundbreaking pledge to report on their UPF ingredients.

Parents expect better. It's high time the rest of our restaurant chains started listening to them.

What the Out to Lunch campaign has changed

Since we started the Out to Lunch campaign in 2013, we’ve seen huge progress made by high street restaurant chains. Restaurants that are part of the campaign are committed to continuously improving their kid's menus, so they are more nutritious and sustainable. Changes we’ve seen so far include:

  • more veg is being served because of the Out to Lunch 2019 and 2021 campaigns

  • huge increase in vegetarian and vegan options, this reflects the customer demand for less meat

  • 10 out of 20 restaurants have signed the Stop Deforestation Pledge, which aims to make supply chains better for the planet

  • several restaurants are actively trying to reduce sugar levels in kids’ desserts

  • obtaining pledges from restaurants to report on ultra-processed ingredients in their kitchens - the first pledge of its kind

child-eating-chicken-nugg

Will you help us to change the menu?

As a charity, we rely on the passion and support of people like you. We work with farmers, retailers, caterers and government to change the way we farm and eat. Give a regular donation, and say yes to a food and farming future that supports public health.

Make a donation

Our wider work to improve children’s food

Out to Lunch is part of our wider mission to transform the way we eat. Our Food for Life programme works with schools, early years, care homes and hospitals to make good food the easy choice for everyone.

Find out how you can get involved.

Food

Our mission is to fix food for all, from farm to fork. We work with caterers, schools and communities within local food systems to make good, healthy and affordable food accessible to everyone. Find out how we are transforming the food system

Find out more about Food