Noodles & Company, serving classic noodle and pasta dishes from its globally inspired World Kitchen, announced the launch of its new Kids Meal menu, created for the future foodies of the world. Children age 10 and under are invited to design their own meal made fresh to order with quality ingredients, by choosing their entrée, two sides, and a drink.
In addition to creating a menu tailored to younger food lovers, Noodles & Company is also launching a platform for kids to help other kids. For every Kids Meal purchased between September 30, 2015 and September 29, 2016, Noodles & Company will donate $.05 to No Kid Hungry, up to $100,000. With each $1 donated helping to connect a child with 10 healthy meals, the company is striving to provide 1 million meals to kids who need them.
“Beyond creating a menu tailored to our younger food lovers, we are excited to also announce our partnership with No Kid Hungry, encouraging kids to help other kids in their communities. Together, we will strive to provide 1 million meals to children who need them the most,” says Mark Mears, CMO of Noodles & Company. “We hope this new Kids Meal menu will not only nourish kids’ bodies, but also help bring the family closer together while inspiring kids to make a difference.”
Children are welcome to design their meal, any way they want. The Kids Meal menu includes Wisconsin Mac & Cheese, Spaghetti & Meatballs, Buttered Noodles, and Grilled Chicken with Marinara Dipping Sauce and sides, such as broccoli, carrots, fruit, or applesauce. Noodles & Company also partnered with the National Restaurant Association’s Kids LiveWell program to provide flavorful options verified by Healthy Dining’s nutrition experts. Future foodies can add protein or veggies to any dish for the regular protein or veggie add-on price. They also have the option of substituting gluten-free pasta, free of charge.
To further inspire kids while they fuel up, Noodles & Company will challenge young guests with a thought-provoking and highly interactive placemat the whole family can work on while enjoying their dishes. Founded upon the principles of S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics), this interactive placemat will feature a variety of brain teasers, puzzles, games, fun facts, as well as a link to videos highlighting the achievements of kids from around the world who have used these principles to invent, innovate, or inspire positive change.
“We know that today’s kids represent tomorrow’s future and face a more complex set of challenges than at any point in history. Therefore, our goal at Noodles & Company is to empower kids to ‘Use Your Noodle / Make A Difference’ in ways that help make their communities—and indeed our world a better place—one bowl at a time,” Mears says.
