Theme parks to offer healthier food for kids

Theme park operator Merlin Entertainments has vowed to improve its healthy food offering in an effort to answer long-standing criticism of the attractions industry over limited menus.

The company, which operates attractions including Madame Tussauds, Alton Towers and the London Dungeon, has enlisted the help of children's food and nutrition expert, Annabel Karmel.

The new dishes will include fish pie, mild thai curry and pasta dishes, and will be made available in time for Easter.

Merlin will also be introduce a new range of fruit and vegetable snack pots such as carrot sticks and houmous, new lunchbox options containing healthier sandwiches, fruit and snacks and new menu designs aimed at encouraging visitors, particularly kids, to choose the healthiest options.

Theme park operators have come under fire from campaigning groups such as the Soil Association for offering limited and unhealthy menus to their largely family-based clientele.

Gary Henderson, Merlin's head of group commercial development, said: "Improving the nation's diet is a huge and highly political issue, and not one which an attraction company can ever look to solve.

"That said, we can do our part, regularly reviewing our menu choices in line with changing tastes; and making sure that our traditional and most popular dishes are cooked well, using fresh ingredients wherever possible."

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By Daniel Thomas

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