Anonymous wrote:I think "kid food" in the US is more chikfila nugget trays with bbq sauce, mac and cheese, pizza, and hot dogs. For the DCUM crowd add Annie's cheddar bunnies, all manner of fresh fruit, yogurt, and plain popcorn or veggie puffs.
The foods you list are very regional and probably dated (Betty Crocker 70s foods).
If your question is what to serve to be friend to white American children, get some goldfish, have plainer fruits and veggies on a tray, and serve macaroni and cheese, cheese pizza, or chicken nuggets with bbq sauce and ranch. No kids I know are going to be going for cheddar bacon dip or the meatballs (which my family ate at holidays with little cocktail weeneys, but that's another topic).
As for the cheese - yes, people eat cheese. Bowls full of melted cheese at each meal? Not normal.
As for the calories, I don't know if you are talking about east asian stir fries or Indian food, but I can imagine that a reasonable portion of meatballs and a reasonable portion of chicken tikka and a reasonable portion or beef with broccoli and rice are somewhat similar in calories.
I agree re calories are about portion control. I never ate cheese growing up. Our family would have pizza Friday nights but I would only eat the crust. My kids are cheesaholics.
Balance and portion control is what I try for.