MCLEAN, Va. – USA Today writes that some of America's popular fast-food restaurants began promising healthier drinks and sides for kids about four years ago. So, how are they doing?

Researchers at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut examined six QSR chains in 2016—McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Subway, Dairy Queen and KFC—and found that none of the chains’ websites listed sugar-sweetened drinks on the kids menu. And online, they had all added at least one healthier drink to their kids menus, such as juice, water or low-fat milk, and at least one healthier side dish, such as fresh fruit or yogurt.

"At least now there is an option to get something that’s lower in sugar and calories for your child than you could before," Jennifer Harris, lead author of the study and director of Marketing Initiatives at the Rudd Center, told USA Today. "A lot of parents go to fast-food restaurants because it’s convenient, so if you’re going to do that, at least you can get something healthier for the [children]."

However, Harris said the chains could do more to help parents make healthier choices for their kids:

“Our evaluation found that restaurants have increased the number of healthier side and drink options available with kids’ meals, but customers often received sugary soda and other soft drinks and/or French fries automatically when they ordered a kid’s meal. When restaurant personnel suggested the healthier options, they typically offered them as one of several choices, often together with unhealthy options,” Harris said.

Rebecca Seguin, an associate professor in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology, told USA Today that there are convenient and affordable options available for families that are not fast food. For example, she said that convenience stores are doing a great job of carrying healthy grab-and-go options now, adding that many retailers stock bananas, apples, oranges and cut fruit, along with cut vegetables, nuts, cheese sticks, yogurt and whole grain sandwiches.

Seguin also commented that it’s important for parents to encourage healthy eating early on: "From an early age, [children] are developing what they like to eat and what they’re used to eating,” she said. “If we want to get them used to eating foods that are not very sugary, highly salty and processed, we need to start early."