It’s that time again. Time for another Evolving Mommy Question of the Week.
There is a dark side to eating out for the Evolving Family and I’d wager a guess that you battle this evil at times too. What is this so called evil I speak of? The kid’s Menu of course. Evil lurks in the coloring pages between mazes and word searches of both national chains and local eateries, upscale and relaxed restaurants, and everything in between it seems.
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What are your thoughts? Is the kid’s Menu a thing to battle or not? And how much fight are you putting up when it comes to the kid’s menus in your life?
14 comments
So, you and I have talked about this – and you have seen our practices with this. But since we were with you, I have been thinking about some things – this being one. (And I have bought a reusable water bottle for me, so thank you for your eco-friendly model that got me in gear – but that is off topic) ANYWAY, eating.
Following suit with what I am discovering are my parenting ways across the board, we don’t have a standard approach – there are way too many changing factors for us to have one plan. Things we consider: if she has eaten well that day, if she is needing something specific nutritionally (calories or veggies or protein or fiber) to complete her day, if we want peace and relaxation, if we are seeking a dinner where Caleb and I can really talk about stuff and she is entertained, if we are having a new family experience together, if she is out of her element, prices of food compared to how much/what we think she will eat, and more. We’ve definitely ordered more off of a kids menu that I previously thought I would – but I pick battles that make my life easier (which I am aware may backfire at any point!). We have also ordered sides, or shared our meals with her.
I think food is such a complicated issue. And I don’t have many answers in this department. We just try to find some sort of balance or middle line. I have definitely had a few moments of “THIS ISN’T RIGHT!” when Caleb and I are eating wonderful, well prepared, good quality dishes and Annika is eating all beige and fried food from a freezer – there really is something wrong with that picture, in my opinion!
It’s those “THIS ISN’T RIGHT!” moments that are getting to me. I agree that is it important to weigh each individual meal separately. At times we go for whatever will keep Maddy happy the longest so we can finish a meal and have a nice leisurely time. I often wonder if at those times I am valuing atmosphere over my child’s health and eating habits.
Not sure where this will post – but it is in response to your last sentence in the reply to me.
I don’t think valuing atmosphere over the specifics of one of my child’s many meals is necessarily a negative thing. Its that pesky balance thing…And actually, I am more scared of restriction and making certain foods off limits (or teaching her they are “bad”), that letting her eat crap sometimes. I hope that giving my daughter control and providing balanced models will help her make good choices in the future about her body, food, and her health. But hell, I have no idea if this is actually going to work or not! HA!
I hate kids menus. I am kinda with Shea on this one and chose my battles carefully though. We really eat out seldom compared to the average family so I try not to make too big a deal of it. I refuse to even let Boo know of some menu items like Kraft mac n cheese and hot dogs. At Wholefoods last week Boo and i got a sandwich she already had a good idea in her head of what she wanted choosing from all the open bins of sandwich goodies. That is until the woman told her she could have a PBJ which instantly had Boo changing her mind. Nooooooooo! I shouted no PBJ I can make that at home with home made bread and jam/jelly and natural peanut butter that contains JUST peanuts so I switched her mind around to her turkey, cheese, sprouts sandwich again.
I like to order sides or starters or a cup of soup and stay away from the kids menu as much as possible.
I could write a whole separate post about how much I loathe people making “kid friendly” suggestions to Maddy in restaurants and grocery stores. No, Starbucks cashier she does not want juice she wants milk. No, restaurant server she not not want chocolate milk or dessert. No, grocery store clerk she does not need a cookie because she has been such a good girl. Ugh. See, I told you I could write a whole post about it.
See at home, my kids eat the ‘good stuff’ so when we go out to eat they are allowed to eat the ‘kid’s food’. Its like a treat for them because they never get to eat that stuff.
I totally get that. And I guess it is easier to stomach some kids menu items when you know your child(ren) are getting great food at home.
We enjoy eating out too! My kids all read so this is different ballgame for us. We do different things at different times. I also approach this from a financial standpoint, sometimes kids meals are way over priced for what my kids will eat and the crap they are serving. Our general rules are: no complete crap, no box mac and cheese marked up to $5, no corn dogs, no junk, sometimes we bend on this depending upon the option. Nate and I also encourage (not force but strongly encourage) our kids to order the restaurants specialty, so if we are at a Mexican restaurant we encourage the kids to order a taco, burrito, or Mexican dish. If we are at an Italian restaurant we encourage them to order an Italian dish. If there is a salad and soup or salad bar option Phoenix is just thrilled to death because that is her favorite anyways. As parents we always have veto power and often invoke it and always try to make sure we know what the kids have decided on before the waitress comes around. Another thing we do is make the kids order a glass of water unless the kids meal includes a drink in the price. At non sit down restaurants we almost always share, Panera, Chipotle, etc. Usually 3 main courses feeds all 5 of us and saves a ton of money. Eating out with 5 people is not a cheap affair and rarely do my kids finish a meal if they get their own.
I know how expensive it is to feed the three of us so I can imagine what feed five would look like. I like sharing food as a family. I like the opportunity to try a bunch of different things and make a meal an experience for everyone. The fact that generally kid’s menus offer so many foods that are totally in left field compared to the restaurants specialties drives me bonkers. I can stomach the kids menu a little more when, if at a mexican restaurant, they offer tacos and other mexican food over hamburgers and mac and cheese.
If all else fails get Maddy a bucket of croutons with some dressing on top and life is good.
I know she would be happy with that, but I can’t say I wouldn’t be. I’m more worried about what kid’s menus offer over what my child will eat. She is a great eater but will always default towards blah “kids” food if given the choice.
This is a tough one.
I agree all the kid food is not great for kids.
Usually the kids don’t eat all the leftovers. You take the food home and you don’t want to eat it and it gose to waste.
All you can do is try your best for your children and hope that good habits take hold.
I don’t feel like most kid’s menus do teach good habits and that is the problem. Or one of the problems I should say.
I don’t worry about the kids menus. We go out to eat to enjoy eating out and fussing over one meal is just not worth it for us. With that said, we do have two kids who often prefer “adult” foods, so we will let those two kids share a yummy adult meal! Have you tried sharing your healther, adult “dining out food” with Maddy or ordering a couple of vegetable side dishes with something else as a treat (applesauce, carrots with ranch dressing, etc.). All of my kids can read, so this does not work so well for us anymore, but it did when they were younger.
Maybe if parents stop ordering from the kids menus because of the “that’s crap food” factor, they will step it up. I agree, kids menu foods are not good every day foods!