Comments on: The assault (and insult) of children’s menus

By: Michele Hays

Michele Hays — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 01:34:10 +0000

We have left the world of the kids’ menu behind us…unless they hand one to my son and he eats it! However, when he was younger, I did discover that ordering off the appetizer menu was frequently a good way to go.

One of my favorite “kid” menu items at a local pan-Asian eatery: sides of steamed broccoli. I love them for doing that (especially since their broccoli is perfect.) Ever notice that vegetables – even plain, steamed ones – are almost never an option on the kid’s menu? Sometimes you’ll get lucky and have an option for applesauce or baked beans but usually it’s some form of pasta or potato, even if the adults are eating Asparagus souffle or Braised leeks.

By: Christina

Christina — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 03:22:38 +0000

“But they’re only $1.99!” — behold the rationale that drives fast-food “value menus” everywhere. It’s cheap, so you must eat it! Sigh.

By: Ange

Ange — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 03:01:52 +0000

I love it! I love all the ideas of making the kids try the foods of the ethnicity of the restaurant. We are a half Asian family so we normally eat at local Asian restaurants (I’m the white half and have yet to learn to cook my husbands favorite foods) and our kids love the rice noodles, curries, etc. We also eat our fair share of Indian and they love that as well. Now we are dealing with soy, wheat and dairy allergies with our 2 year old so that virtually eliminates the kids menu. We happened into Applebees one day because my mom was taking us out and the waiter was appalled that we weren’t getting our kids food off the kid’s menu because it was half price kid day. We told him our son had allergies and our daughter has taken to soup anytime we go out lately and he was still going “But, they’re only 1.99.”

By: Real food on the road | Spoonfed

Real food on the road | Spoonfed — Thu, 31 May 2012 04:28:02 +0000

[...] we started traveling with a little one, though, I needed to think bigger (and beyond the dreaded children’s menu). Which is why I now spend more time packing food than [...]

By: (No) Judgment Day. Pass it on. | Spoonfed

(No) Judgment Day. Pass it on. | Spoonfed — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:17:27 +0000

[...] every other parent ask: “Where’s your kids’ menu?” Which of course had the usual substandard fare. Call me melodramatic, but I wanted to [...]

By: Kiwi article: Have food, will travel | Spoonfed

Kiwi article: Have food, will travel | Spoonfed — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 04:35:50 +0000

[...] will be familiar to those who’ve read my Spoonfed posts about real food on the road and avoiding children’s menus, the article has new stuff as well. Good stuff. Tips, resources, all that. Kiwi magazine [...]

By: Christina

Christina — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 06:30:30 +0000

Sara, no stirring detected (though stirring is always welcome). Sounds like you’ve handled things beautifully.

By: Marie

Marie — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:32:19 +0000

ha ha ha – I agree!

By: Sara

Sara — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:27:09 +0000

Marie – Thanks for the encouragement. Sometimes, with the portion sizes at restaurants, I wish I could order my favorite foods in a kids’ size portion!

By: Marie

Marie — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 23:57:35 +0000

Sara,
What a great and awe-inspiring job you are doing with your son! I cannot imagine the patience that it takes (our challenges are in other areas). The only thing more trying might be trying to expand the limited palette of an adult. ha ha.
I can totally appreciate wanting to make the occasional dinner out be fun and special for all of you. The good news is, I suspect that there are plenty of restaurants that offer fries, nuggets, pasta, etc. And when he is interested / ready / has a new favorite food, hopefully there will also be restaurants that will serve that in a kids’ portion as well.
Happy eating!