According to a report from USA Today, “the battered restaurant industry is about to go wide on a risky tactic to nudge cash-strapped parents to take the family out for grub: Kids eat free.”

“Today, IHOP will unveil plans to offer free kids meals seven nights a week for the next month. IHOP’s move, unprecedented by a national restaurant chain, is another signal of just how tough times are in the $566 billion restaurant industry. Restaurant operators have reported customer traffic declines for a staggering 22 consecutive months, the National Restaurant Association reports. Families are staying home: Visits from families with kids were down 5% for the year ended in June, NPD Group says.”

“Other chains have recently hopped onto the kids-eat-free bus, including Fazoli’s, El Torito and even Ikea. One McDonald’s in Louisville is handing out free Happy Meals to kids on Tuesday nights with each adult large Value Meal purchase.”