Look for new signs at your local Subway restaurants today. The chain that brought you the highly successful Jared campaign (which I always thought was a little strange...who could eat only plain sandwiches for two out of three meals each day?) is taking menu fitness a step farther.

Today Subway introduces its new "Subway Fresh Fit" menu nationwide, a full line of better-for-you adult and kid menu items. The company says it's the first in the quick-serve industry to introduce a healthier menu on such a large scale—and specifically to kids.

But while I applaud Subway's stated intentions, I'm not sure this approach sits right with me. What's wrong with healthier choices just being part of the regular menu? Why a whole separate menu? "Because then you can't build a PR campaign around it," the cynic in me answers.

Here's the thing: I'm not looking for low-fat options for my daughter, who turns three this summer. Maybe that changes with older kids. Parents with older kids, please set me straight here. Baby A still needs significantly nutrition-dense, filling foods, the kinds that grow a healthy brain and body. And once kids get old enough to read the menu, and know that you're ordering off of the special, "more permissible" menu, wouldn't that get awkward? Here's what I fear:

Older version of Baby A: "Mom, I'd like the six-inch turkey and swiss."

Me: "How about the Fresh Fit version instead?"

Preadolescent Baby A: "What, do you think I'm not fit?" [ensuing negative body thoughts...]

Sure, many kids wouldn't think twice about the reference—it would slide right off of their backs. But I was one of those kids who did think into it. This is one of those cases where I really wish the company would consult more with parents.

Saying the company "has long been committed to promoting 'better for you' eating among children and adults," Subway says the meals "have been developed to satisfy the communities' [sic] desire to lead a better and more active lifestyle. The new menu also reflects SUBWAY® Restaurants' commitment to help in the fight against childhood obesity." The new menu options are aimed at providing adults and kids with better, on-the-go meals that complement living a busy and active lifestyle, the company says. And those are all good intentions.

But by creating a new, separate menu, is the company sending the wrong message, or an unintended one?

Here are more details. The Subway Fresh Fit For Kids(TM) meal consists of a low-fat, 4-inch sandwich and "fit" sides and beverages. New "fit" products being introduced include sliced apples, raisins, and 1-percent white milk. Subway says the meals are based on sensible serving sizes, are low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol, and are a good source of essential nutrients such as vitamin C, calcium, and iron.

See, I don't give Baby A 1-percent milk. She still gets whole milk, or 2 percent if we're out of whole or I just grab the wrong jug. I feel her brain and nervous system are still developing rapidly and need that nutrition. Granted, that might change when she's eight or nine or ten. Again, parents, please fill me in on what you do for older kids. And apples, raisins, things like that are just normal, everday noshes. They aren't part of some special, other group of foods—with "diet" written on it.

That's a word I don't want her to ever feel any affinity to.

What do you think? Am I reading too much into this? (Granted, I'm bringing a lot of baggage.) Comment and let me know.