Eating out is usually a great treat for the whole family! It gives you a break from meal planning, cooking and cleaning, and everyone can order what they like! But dining out with toddlers or young children can sometimes be so stressful, it doesn’t feel worth the effort. Eating out with kids can be a challenge, mostly because:
- Many children are picky eaters.
- Kids tend to eat small portions and it can feel like a waste of money.
- Many kids have a hard time sitting still during the course of a restaurant meal with table service.
Before you grab that take-out menu,
consider these tips to make eating out with kids both enjoyable and
healthy.
Select a Restaurant with Fast Service
Select a restaurant with a wide
range of menu options and fast service. Family style restaurants usually
understand the constraints of eating out with kids and may have faster service;
essential for active kids. If you really need to eat in a hurry, review the
menu online before you arrive so you can order as soon as you are seated.
Order Balanced Meals
When ordering, try to balance the
meal with as many food groups as possible; milk + milk products, vegetables,
fruits, grains and meat + beans. Low-fat milk is the preferred beverage and
fruit or yogurt make a great dessert. Many restaurants now offer healthier side
dishes like cooked vegetables, carrots and apple slices.
Sharing and Other Money Saving Tips
Most parents want to minimize food
waste when eating out. Stick with the tried and true preferences and let your
child take a bite off your plate to expand their culinary palate. If you have
more than one child and you can get an agreement to order the same food,
consider ordering one menu item for the kids to share. Side dishes like French
Fries can be shared by the whole family. Another excellent choice for children
is ordering an appetizer as the entrée – and adding a side dish if needed to
balance out the meal.
Keep it Social
Restaurant eating is an excellent
opportunity to teach kids good manners and how to behave in public. So keep the
conversation positive, teach them how to eat like grown- ups and eventually
they will become competent adults that can order (and eat) a wide variety of
foods, put their napkin on their lap, refrain from talking with their mouth
full and enjoy a meal out with family and friends!
Healthy Fast Food Tips
Sometimes a fast food restaurant is
the best or only restaurant option. You can encourage healthier choices by
ordering milk with the meal, sharing one order of French Fries with the family
or ordering a side salad instead of fries. Some restaurants offer fruit and
yogurt that can balance out the meal.
