Triangle area Chick-fil-As discontinue free kids meals

Triangle area Chick-fil-As no longer offer free kids meals once a week.

The change was effective Dec. 28. According to a flier at the North Hills Chick-fil-A, "Triangle area operators" collectively decided to end the free kids meal promotion, which were offered during weekly kids nights, usually on Tuesdays. Some restaurants will replace the kids night with monthly family nights. Others will continue to have weekly events. In either case, there will no longer be the free kids meal.

"Our desire is to empower family relationships, reflect the season with the activity or craft, model positive values, foster learning, growth, creativity and an evening full of fun," the flier at the North Hills restaurant says.

The first one will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Jan. 17. The theme is sports mania. The Little Gym of North Raleigh/Wake Forest will be there, along with samples of new kids meal options - grilled nuggets and applesauce. Family nights will always be the third Tuesday of every month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the North Hills location (where I happened to see the flier last week).

The restaurant also will hold special date nights throughout 2012. They include a daddy-daughter date night on Feb. 6; a mother-daughter date night on May 6 and a father-son night on Aug. 20.