According to two recent industry reports, childrens' meals are a growing opportunity for foodservice operators looking to add more appeal to their menus. Technomic’s 2016 Healthy Eating Consumer Trend Report notes that 46% of diners with children aged 12 and younger say they are more likely to visit a restaurant that offers nutritious options for children. A Datassential MenuTrends report also shows that five out of 10 children enjoy adventurous ethnic cuisines.

To support this growing demand, Butterball Foodservice is showing how turkey can add lean protein and a differentiated flavor to these globally inspired recipe ideas:

• Banh Mi Turkey Wraps: Introduce Asian flavors in a fun way. Bright, crispy lettuce wraps add color and texture kids will love. For a more interactive dining experience, serve the lettuce cups, the ground turkey and other fun toppings separately so kids can create their own wraps.
• Turkey Meatballs: Italian spaghetti and meatballs is a traditional kids’ favorite. These turkey meatballs create a healthier twist, with more protein and less excess fat or calories.
• Turkey Pick-Up Sticks: These tasty skewers, made up of peppered turkey breast strips in a mild peanut sauce, offer a kid-friendly take on Thai food.

Chef Tony Seta, Director of Culinary Services for Butterball, said, “With parents looking for healthier options and children enjoying more ethnic cuisines, chefs can have fun extending their creative juices and really experimenting with new kids’ menu items. Butterball turkey is the ideal lean protein, which inherently delivers a lot of flavor that will please both adults and the taste buds of little ones—my two grandchildren included. The global recipe ideas we’ve created are only the beginning for what’s possible with our versatile turkey products.”