CAVA Kids Meal Nutrition Guide: Complete Breakdown for Parents (2026)

CAVA kids meals have a wider nutritional range than most parents realize. The healthiest build — Kids Grilled Steak + Kids Black Lentils + Kids Roasted Vegetables — comes in at 270 calories, 22g protein, and 10g fiber. But if you add Falafel and order a Classic Lemonade, that same meal structure jumps to 540+ calories with 50g of sugar from the drink alone. The choices matter.

This guide covers the full nutrition facts for every kids meal item, breaks down the protein options, explains the drink sugar problem, and gives you two specific meal builds to order right now. Use our CAVA Kids Meal Calculator to build your child's exact meal and see the precise calories, protein, and sugar before you order.

The full CAVA kids menu — nutrition facts for every item

All 12 kids meal items, sorted by protein content from highest to lowest. The range is broader than you might expect — Kids Grilled Steak delivers 11g of protein at just 90 calories, while Kids Falafel has 170 calories and only 3g of protein.

Kids Grilled Steak (90 cal, 11g protein) is the lightest and leanest option on the entire menu — 0g carbs, 0g sugar, and the lowest calorie count of any kids item. Kids Falafel (170 cal, only 3g protein) is the most calorie-dense with the least protein — worth knowing if protein or leanness is a priority for your child. It's listed as a protein on the menu, but nutritionally it functions more as a carb and fat item.

Best protein choices for kids — ranked

Protein supports growth, keeps kids full, and stabilizes energy levels. Here's how the kids meal protein options stack up:

• Kids Chicken — 120 cal, 14g protein. The top protein option on the kids menu. Lean, straightforward, and familiar to most kids. The best choice if maximizing protein is your goal.
• Kids Harissa Honey Chicken — 130 cal, 13g protein. Mild sweet-spicy flavor that works well for adventurous eaters. Nearly identical protein to plain chicken at only 10 more calories. A great option for kids who like more interesting flavors.
• Kids Braised Lamb — 110 cal, 12g protein. Excellent calorie-to-protein ratio and the lowest sodium of any kids protein at 230mg. Richer flavor that many kids actually enjoy more than chicken.
• Kids Spicy Lamb Meatballs — 150 cal, 12g protein. Higher in fat (11g), which means more calories but also more satiety. Good for active kids who need sustained energy. Note the "spicy" designation — milder than adult spicy, but worth checking with your child first.
• Kids Grilled Steak — 90 cal, 11g protein. The lowest-calorie option with a solid protein count. Zero carbs, zero sugar, and the lowest sodium of all proteins at 140mg. An excellent lean choice.

Kids Falafel deserves a note: it's listed as protein on the CAVA menu but delivers only 3g of protein at 170 calories. Nutritionally, it functions more as a carb/fat item than a protein source. If your child prefers it, it's fine as an addition — but pair it with a protein-forward item like Kids Chicken if hitting a protein target matters. For a broader look at how protein, carbs, and fat interact across a full CAVA meal, see our CAVA macros guide.

Drinks and the sugar problem

This is the section most parents miss. The drink you choose can completely transform the nutritional profile of an otherwise healthy kids meal. The Classic Lemonade (kids size) contains 50g of sugar — more than most candy bars, and more added sugar than the entire food portion of the meal combined.

The hierarchy is clear. Water or unsweetened tea keeps sugar at 0g — the ideal choice. Honest Apple Juice at 8g of sugar is the lowest-sugar flavored option. Spindrift sparkling water (3 cal, 0g sugar) is another excellent low-sugar choice. If your child wants something sweet, Pineapple Apple Mint Juice (80 cal, 17g sugar) is a much better option than Classic Lemonade. Sweet Tea (28g sugar) and Classic Lemonade (50g sugar) are worth treating as genuine treats rather than everyday drinks — the sugar load rivals or exceeds a large fountain soda.

For a broader view of sodium and other nutritional factors that apply to kids meals, see our sodium guide, which covers how to build lower-sodium meals across the full CAVA menu.

Two balanced meal builds to order right now

These two builds use the data above to create genuinely nutritious kids meals — one lean and complete, one higher-energy for more active kids.

The Lean & Complete Build is nutritionally exceptional for a kids meal: 300 calories, 25g protein, 10g fiber, and 0g of added sugar. It works for kids of nearly any age. The Higher-Energy Build is better suited to older or more active kids who need more calories and carbohydrates — the 1% Milk adds calcium alongside its natural sugar content.

Questions parents ask

How many calories are in a CAVA kids meal?

The calorie range is wide: 90 calories for a single item (Kids Grilled Steak) up to a full meal of 300–550+ calories depending on choices. A balanced kids meal with chicken, black lentils, roasted vegetables, and water or unsweetened tea typically lands around 280–320 calories. Adding the Classic Lemonade adds 200 calories and 50g of sugar, so the drink choice matters enormously. For the exact count of your child's specific build, use our CAVA Kids Meal Calculator.

What is the healthiest CAVA kids meal option?

Kids Chicken (120 cal, 14g protein) paired with Kids Black Lentils (130 cal, 9g protein, 7g fiber) and Kids Roasted Vegetables (50 cal) creates an exceptionally balanced meal by any nutritional standard: ~300 calories, 25g protein, 10g fiber, and very low sugar. Add unsweetened green tea or water for the drink. This build delivers more protein and fiber than many adult meals at other fast-casual restaurants.

Is CAVA kids menu good for picky eaters?

Yes — because meals are built from individual components, you can choose exactly what your child likes without mixed ingredients they'll pick out. Kids Chicken with plain Brown Rice and a side of Hummus (from the regular dip section) is a familiar, mild combination most picky eaters accept. The build-your-own format means you never have to compromise on ingredients.

How much sugar is in CAVA kids meals?

Sugar in the food items is very low — most proteins have 0–2g of sugar. The drinks are where sugar adds up dramatically. Classic Lemonade has 50g of sugar, Sweet Tea has 28g, and Cucumber Mint Lime has 31g. Water, unsweetened tea, or Honest Apple Juice (8g) are the lowest-sugar drink options. For a complete look at how sodium and other nutrients factor into kids meal decisions, our CAVA calories guide covers the full picture of how individual choices stack up in a meal.