“I’m getting tired of chicken tenders,” my daughter told me last time we went out to eat. Maybe your kids have similar complaints?
I’ve already bemoaned the lack of good kid’s meals at restaurants. We don’t eat out a lot, but when we do, I’m always surprised at the bland, mostly high in fat food on the children’s menu. While some eateries are wising up, others are still stuck on chicken tenders or hamburgers for children.
The Solution
Sometimes, you just have to brazenly ask if the chef can give your child a smaller portion of a (healthy) adult meal. For instance, one local restaurant we dined at recently offers a more varied children’s menu than most, but the offerings did not appeal to our 7-year-old. Though the waitress didn’t think it was possible, she asked the chef at my request if he could do a child’s size portion of the Boeuf Bourgignon (a delicious French stew). The answer: yes!
Healthy Eating
Just ask–the chef will either say no or yes to such a request. I’m hoping as more parents embrace the idea of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, they’ll ask for a child’s portion of a healthy adult entree when they eat out. Maybe then restaurants will catch on…there’s no need to baby our children’s tastebuds forever.
How many chicken tenders and hamburgers can kids eat without getting tired of them?
Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons
The choices on kids meal are so limited. My kids are older now but I used to bemoan the kids meal when we eat out. I absolutely agree with you that they should offer smaller portions from the adults menu for kids.
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@Roti n Rice,
Isn’t it amazing how little has changed with regards to kids’ meals at restaurants? I’m sure it’s (mostly) because it’s much cheaper to serve hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken nuggets or tenders than it is to serve a small size adult meal that is nutritionally balanced.
This is a really good point. When I was younger I used to ask for what my parents were having but in a smaller portion. The restauarnt I used to work in offered similar food to the adults but with or without a particular sauce and things like that. It makes it easier for them surely to minimise the ingredients they need to buy in if all dishes adult or children irrespective are based around the same ingredients?
All children are neophobic to some degree so exposure to all foods in restaurants rather than the guaranteed fall back of a burger will surely be beneficial.
@All That I’m Eating,
Thanks~it’s good to know other people wonder the same thing about kids’ meals. Some restaurants are amenable to serving small portions of an adult meal, for kids. But it’s sad that most restaurants do not. You would think it would be cheaper to be able to serve up the same menu for kids as adults–just a smaller plate for children. It would be interesting to see what the cost of chicken nuggets and burgers are compared to just serving a smaller plate of an adult entree to a child.
I like the idea of asking the chef for smaller sizes…nice way to also check the customer service at a restaurant! I think all to often we just presume things can’t be done, but it’s amazing what happens just by asking.
On a side, I think one of the cool things about most restaurants in Japan is that they usually have a kids menu. It’s often the same choices wherever you go (hamburg, curry and rice or ramen noodles) but having the option is nice.
@Greg,
Smaller plates of an adult entree for kids seems like an easy request to fulfill.
You’re right about the quality of customer service being closely aligned to how willing restaurant management is willing to accommodate a customer’s request.