Power bites for kids

Monkeys, millipedes and little bears are on the new healthy kids menu at the Talk Restaurant at Mövenpick Hotel, JBR

Kids menus seem to be the same the world-over — macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets with fries, fish fingers with fries, pizza, spaghetti and burger with fries. Yes, these six items with practically no nutritional value. But the Power Bites menu at the Talk restaurant at Mövenpick hotel, 
The Walk, JBR, is a little different. It has scuba toys ready to dive into a bowl of mixed fruits; monkeys racing up leaves to fresh banana smoothies, a mini hard-hat workman is installing tomato into a burger 
and a little girl trying to keep the monkeys away from the cakes.

Monkeys, workmen, farm girls and little bears? In a kitchen? Just what is going on? “We’re having fun launching our new children’s menu,” laughs Peter Drescher, vice president of food & beverage, Mövenpick Hotels, Middle East and Asia. “These days children have constant sources of entertainment in the form of iPads, phones and games. So, we have to be equally entertaining with our food.”

Childhood obesity and heart disease are modern concerns so all the ingredients are low fat, use low sodium salt and lean meat. There are lots of fruit and vegetables and saturated fats are a strict no-no.

Here, kids can eat with their fingers, paint carrots and arrange little characters.

To begin, what the little munchkin is sure to love is the ‘Monkeys munch’, a simple but very yummy banana smoothie enhanced with honey. There’s also the mouthwatering seasonal fruit sushi with coconut milk served with organic chocolate dip.

Try a real Ninja lunch, which is made of Edamame beans, cucumber sword, quail egg, cheddar cheese, grilled chicken breast 
and maki roll, or an ‘Afternoon Healthy Maze’ with farmer’s carrots, celery, organic flour crostini and Swiss cheese sticks.

A sure kids’ favourite would also be macaroni pasta baked with vegetables, forest mushrooms and farmer’s Swiss cheese.

There’s also the char-grilled breast of cornfed chicken, fresh green spinach cake and not to forget those tasty carrot crisps.

Another delight is the spaghetti pasta with three meatballs enhanced in organic tomato sugo.

But a thumbs up for the Curry-Cat — a caterpillar who carries curry-flavoured wholemeal toast bread and cucumber with him!

To round off the meal, your kid can choose one of his favourite flavoured mini low fat cream cheese cupcakes. Raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, mint… name it and he/she will get it. The cake lollipops with fresh fruits and sugar-free chocolate fondue are also delicious. Also, between the sheets is a vanilla-flavoured organic milk ricotta cheese cake surrounded by fresh summer berries, which looks really cute.

The food portions are tiny for adults but should suffice for the little ones. We also love the way toys have been used to liven up a plate — our little neighbour was drawn to a dish with a spinach patty! With the holiday season round the corner, looks like eating out is a little more fun for the little ones.

raziqueh@khaleejtimes.com

In seven words: 
A healthy, cool and fun kids menu

What we liked: The pleasing food illustrations

What we didn’t like: That the toys had to be returned with the empty plate

Restaurant best for: Power Bites menu which lets mummy and daddy enjoy a meal without being child-whipped in front of everybody else

Cost for two: Dh75-100

Did you know: When asked, most kids between the ages of three to 11 will list pizza as their favourite food

Contact: Talk Restaurant, Movenpick Hotel, The Walk, JBR, 04-4498888

• Food and Dining