In October, a marketing representative from Arby’s restaurant asked if my family would like to sample their new kid’s meals.
This was the response on the part of my kids:
They had never been to an Arby’s, only because we have fallen into a nasty McHabit when it comes to eating at fast-food establishments.
(I blame those dollar cheeseburgers.)
Yet, when I read the email that Liz from Arby’s sent me, and saw that The Arby’s Foundation is contributing a minimum of $1 million to the No Kid Hungry Campaign…
…and that they are using the profits from their kids’ meals to do so…
…I decided we needed to expand our palettes.
The verdict? Arby’s goals are excellent but their kids’ meals, just so-so.
I’m sorry, Arby’s!
I like that they’ve introduced low-fat options, but my kids barely touched the turkey sandwich. They are used to the soft, squishy buns at that other place, I’m afraid, and the bun that came with the turkey sandwich was hard and cold and not that appealing.
Neither did they like the dipping sauce that came with the apple slices. Cate said that it tasted like “strawberry-yogurt-flavored medicine” and the rest of the children just avoided it.
The curly fries, though, they found acceptable…and they thought the onion rings were awesome. (One order was not enough for our family. Enough said?)
I think that it all comes down to balance…balance and good flavor, of course. I will take my family back to Arby’s, but next time I’ll get them one of those juicy roast beef sandwiches.
Mmm…the ones that come with all that sauce.
(Note to self: Get extra napkins next time.)
(Note to my readers: the sandwiches do not actually come with the sauce. You have to add it yourself at the condiment stand.)
Now here’s the giveaway part: Liz was generous enough to send me three $10.00 gift cards. I used two for my family and that means I have…two for you. (One $10.00 gift card does not seem like enough, and so I’m tossing in another one just to thank you for playing.)
Plus Arby’s is offering a 99-cent kid’s meal coupon with the purchase an adult meal. Details are here.
Leave a comment answering the following question: French fries or apple slices? I’ll keep the comments open until 4 p.m. Wednesday (CST), and announce the winner on Wednesday evening.
Love you, Arby’s! Thank you for giving money to kids in need!
I used to think Arby's was gross (having never eaten there at that point), but my husband introduced me and I became fond of their beef and cheddar sandwiches for sure 🙂
As much as I should say apple slices, I'm gonna go with french fries 🙂
Have a great Wednesday!
Kristy B
I love Arby's Ham and Cheese sandwich. I will have to say fries. I can cut my own apples at home:)
Ann
Fries because my kids get plenty of apple slices here…can you say treat?
Fries all the way – especially Arby's curly fries – if you are going to pay for fast food make it count!!
sarahjoheim at hotmail dot com
This was so funny. funny because we always use their dollar menu and go there. We skip the burger joints. That doesn't mean the kiddos don't prefer the burger joints.
I have one daughter who is our picky one, she doesn't order anything at ARby's. She goes home and has pb&J
we also skip the fries.
I know, boring mama, huh? But with 5 kiddos, it's pretty easy to blow $35 bucks on a little lunch outing!
We do roast beef sandwiches for the kiddos, a buck each, can't beat it!
Nicholas does get a chicken something, and I always get the Turkey and Swiss Market Fresh Sandwich–with no onions.
We get it to go and go home and add our own fruit.
My girls like apple slices from fast food places…not sure about Arby's though…
I guess if I win the gift cards, I could splurge and let the kiddos get fries, huh?
Oh, I love me some Arby's! I'd say fries over apple slices because, well, if we are at Arby's it is a treat anyway, so we as might as well go all the way. 🙂
catholicmumma @ gmail. com
We're saying french fries for our family! We limit eating out, or only do it on special occasions. At the house we always keep fruits and veggies, and maybe some healthy bread options for snacks, so the kids are pretty much free to get whatever they want on our treat days. And how can you say NO to Arby's curly fries?!?! Those plus the arby's sauce are the only reason for going there! And oh I love Arby's, so I really hope I win, lol!
Well, I'm not so big on French Fries myself, so skipping them is not a sacrifice (give me chocolate any time!), but my older daughter especially LOVES fries. And anything else that is fried and/or salty.
French fries!!!! (But Arby's Potato Patty is even better than that…and the jamocha shake…mmm…)
Usually we buy a large french fries for the whole family to split, but if I order kids meals for them then I choose apple slices.
Apples are great, really, but unless they're honeycrisps, give me the fries. 🙂
Apple slices. My kids won't eat fries. It's their concession to healthy eating so they can indulge in all the sugar-laden treats they want, I guess. 😉
I love Arby's Onion petals too; who does not love onions?! My husband and I have a weakness for their mozzarella sticks.
I always give my kids the choice between fries or apple slices but when we are at Arby's, it is ALWAYS curly fries!
The draw to Arby's for us is the juicy roast beef sandwiches covered in arby's sauce and those delicious curly fries. The kids always compare their curls. It's a classic hit. Wish they'd up their meal toy to something worth keeping.
If the kids are in the mood for apples and regular fries, McD's now gives both in those happy meals. And their toys last forever, as long as Mommy doesn't step on it.
No matter where we dine, they never give you the WHOLE apple, so we stick with those salty grease sticks for our occasional outing.
French fries all the way.
I mean, who can resist a deep-fried, fattening, utterly unhealthy potato?
And if I really want an apple, I can get one from the 'fridge. I'm not going to drive all the way to Arby's. 🙂
Another vote for fries — especially Arby's curly fries! Apple slices are an every day occurrence around here. If I'm going for fast food, I want the good (-tasting, bad-for-you) stuff!
We love Arby's…and the french fries are the best. We eat apples all the time at home.
French fries! My hubby and I like Arby's, the kids, not so much!
At our house, it is two kids for apples and one for fries.Thank you so much!
Go with the fries. When we buy fries, we get one large and split them. Usually after you eat a big roast beef with the cheese, you can't/shouldn't eat all the fries. 🙂
But, get the fries. (I want so badly to call them what I call them but . . . they are CHIPS!!!!) 🙂
We love Arby's at my house. It is nice to have a place were I do not mind picking something up for myself as well as I am not a fan of McDonalds (which I think all kids adore).
Any how as for apple slices or french fries….no question french fries….I can cut up an apple at home to give the kids. 🙂
I hope you have a wonderful day!
Katie C
Stopped by Arby's on the way home from the doctors (I live at the doctors office)….got apple slices for Bridget to try them, everyone loved the strawberry yogurt dipping sauce!
To be honest, we haven't been to an Arby's in years and were (at that time) turned off by the processed "roast beef" that just wasn't appealing. But the newer commercials seem as though they've improved the quality, and I'm tempted by the other commenters' favorites!
Like others on here, fast food is a huge treat for the kids. (Even when we weren't in a financial crisis, fast food was rare.) But now, ALL eating out is a very special treat.
So, as a treat, fries it is! The kids get plenty of apples, carrots, etc. at home. So we don't limit their treats when we're out.
I support the restaurants adding these choices though, since far too many kids eat fast food several times a week (or more). At that point, fries would NOT be an option for every visit!
How kind of you to share the giveaway and to be honest about your family's opinions!
Well don't enter me in the giveaway because we don't have Arby's in my country! But I wanted to pop in and thank you for your honesty. I've read many web-based reviews over the years and yours was the first genuinely honest one I've encountered.
Margaret,
I like Arby's, except when I'm pregnant. Which I'm not, right now. So yes to the curly fries!
Janet
French Fries, apples can be eaten any time!
French fries. If we're eating out it's a treat so gotta have the fries! 🙂
~jessica~
Super idea! thanks 🙂 We go for those curly fries…most of the time! We do like the apple slices w/carmel at 'that other place' so the fries are a winner here. They do have the best roast beef sandwhiches, though! God bless, Mary @CHeerios
Fries, especially when they're curly. We eat healthy at home 98% of the time so when we eat fast food while traveling I don't feel bad about making it a treat. We like Arby's for variety from the Mcplace but I admit I never have ordered my kids the kid's meals. We order the jr. roast beefs off the value menu and split a large curly fry between the kids.
Mags, I love those pictures! But George has just gotten all too big-boy. Wah! Too fast.
Curly fries, curly fries, curly fries! We can do apples at home! 🙂
p.s. So fun that you're listening to Trumpet of the Swan!
If you do a tea party, I know you will take excellent pictures. I, on the other hand, forgot my camera ….
Fries for me! But, four of my kids don't even like fries and would choose apples. Odd. We'll see if the baby goes my way. 🙂 I did have Arby's cravings with him…
French fries, of course. Particularily when they are Arby's curly fries. Yummy!
oh gosh, fries are my weakness. i do like apples with caramel though every now and then.
lauren51990 at aol dot com
french fries!
Growing up, there were never enough fries. And yet, my kids might actually choose the apple slices. I don't get it.
Um … no contest! Of course, the fact that I'm allergic to raw applies sort of seals the deal!
When we run to a fast food place, its a real treat — so splurging we will go, and nab the curly fries!!!
We eat apples here every single day anyway, so that's not really a treat.
Thanks for your generosity with the give-away, Maggie!
fries. What's the point of eating out otherwise? 🙂
roast beef all the way too. Yummy!
Margaret, this is realy thoughtful of you. We eat tons of apples at home and eating out is a rare treat so it is fries all the way!
Blessings,
Kelly F.
Fries of course with lots of ketchup!! Thanks for the chance!
Jackie from Buffalo
Uh…this is no contest at all – especially from Arby's!
The answer is french fries. Curly ones. DELISH!
Ooh, I haven't tried Arby's in years, but all this talk of curly fries makes me think we should go there sometime. But, I do think it's great that there is a choice of apple slices, and if my kids want them over fries, I'd be pleased. They can choose for themselves.
Like many of the other comments you received, we can eat apples at home (and we do … A LOT). So, when we splurge for fast food, we go for fries!
Hope all is well =)
Hmmm…the mom in me wants to say apples, but in reality it is fries all the way! It's a treat, after all. We don't actually have an Arby's here in Sitka, but if I should happen to win, I have a few college-age kids who would surely benefit from an Arby's sandwich or two!
For myself, I skip fries. The thought of eating something so fatty grosses me out. (Though I have no problem eating cheeseburgers, which i know, that makes no sense!) My kids love apples AND fries, so I'm not sure which they would choose!
(except for my 6 year old, she will always choose fries!)
I love Arby's too! IT's such a nice break from "that other place".
Hands down…my answer is fries, esp. if they're Arby's curly fries!
Being 5 months pregnant, my craving is Arby's curly fries!!