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Last weekend while heading home from a weekend medical conference in Canada we exited off the interstate to drive through the Skagit Valley on the country roads. The skies were clear and the valley stunning. The land is so spacious in the valley, stuck between the mountains and the sea, it inspires a feeling of brimmed, fertile opportunity. The moment we exited the highway the drive home immediately felt more of an adventure.
Unsurprising to any parent who drives with children in the car, as I ate up the scenery the boys got hungry. We pulled off the road to grab a late, impromptu lunch. For once we weren’t in a hurry so spontaneity governed as we honed in on a spot where we could sit down and eat while looking over the Puget Sound. The plan was nearly thwarted–as we opened the door to the tiny restaurant just off Chuckanut Drive I immediately saw a sign declaring they didn’t serve children under age 9. Instead of being outraged by the ageism, I asked if we could have lunch. The boys were tucked under my arm. They’re 5 and 7 and clearly look nothing like a near 10 year-old. The restaurant was nearly empty as it was close to 2pm. The waitress smiled.
Turns out we looked like better business than no business and we were seated in the back corner.
Of course because of their no kid policy there was no kid menu. Thrilling! We didn’t even mention the lack of kid’s menu to the boys. But a detour from chicken strips, French fries, pizza, hamburgers, mac and cheese and carrots with ranch dressing is like a quick flight over the Atlantic — foreign. What I find most depressing about kid’s menus (outside of the obvious nutritional deficiencies) is how ugly, bland, fattening and uninteresting a kid’s menu typically is. Think how unexciting the eating part of dining out can be for children who get handed the pint-sized menu.
The boys perused the menu. Our 7 year-old chose the seafood chowder.
It arrived in a huge bowl with clams still in their shells, a colorful array of potatoes, locally caught seafood, broth, and spices. The boys are adventurous eaters so it’s not unusual, really, that they would try something new. But this was:
About halfway through the meal he looked up, unprovoked and unprompted he declared,
This is the most delicious meal I’ve ever eaten.
Imagine if children everywhere had the opportunity to find delicious, inventive, local food they’d never once seen or never eaten before. What if this was the norm when dining out with our children — what if we didn’t have to compete with the horrid kid’s menu. When will America just say no to the kid’s menu?
Ruth says
The benefit of children’s menus is that you don’t have to pay full-price for a large meal they won’t finish. I’ve definitely experienced the blandness you’re talking about; but I’ve also been lucky enough to find kids’ menus featuring ‘real’ food like roasted chicken with sautéed vegetables; or grilled salmon, also with vegetables – child-size portions, simple, tasty and nutritious.
A lot of places will also be flexible and give you half portions of meals from the main menu.
Chelsea Mathews says
Hi there Mama Doc! I read your blog often and appreciate your perspective. I agree with you regarding the lack of diversity on the kids menu. My dream kids menu might include good quality food, including the chicken nuggets… Good ones though, because sometimes it’s just one of those days or your kid is in a picky eating season. So, OK. That’s life sometimes. But I love it when I go to restaurants and they have restaurant specials in kid portions on the kid menu! But you know what I would love on the kids menu? A kids sampler plate!
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE says
Great idea, totally agree. One of our sons LOVES to graze. The sampler plate would be awesome!
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE says
Thanks Ruth.
I often ask restaurants to do a kid-sized meal and most comply, just as you said. And you’re right — I don’t want to pay $15-$20 for a meal my child doesn’t eat!
The issue is that the kids menu is devoid of options of fresh fruits and veggies. Mac and cheese comes with nothing else, often, and other choices don’t exist. If we don’t offer children fruits and veggies they won’t learn to eat and love healthy food.
Although there are rare exceptions (there is a local restaurant here in Seattle that has chicken and farrow on the kid’s menu, for example) we could do so much better…
Meagan says
My husband ordered some sort of seafood mixed bake while we were in Florida for Christmas. It came with a huge crock of seafood that he shared with my son (2 and a half years old), but when my husband pulled out the 12″ long crab leg, my son’s eyes got as big as saucers and he pointed, intensely saying, “Need that. NEED SNAIL.” I have no idea what made him decide it was a snail, but he devoured every piece he gave him… I’m not sure if my husband got more than a taste.
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE says
Cute! Feeling like I need some snail, too 🙂
Summer Ostlund says
I totally agree with you. We often order side dishes for our 3 year old to try to find something tasty and heathy, but it usually adds up! I hope restaurants hear you as change in kids menus is much needed. Especially for kids with food allergies such as gluten intolerance there aren’t many options without asking for something special. French fries again, really? Not impressed!
lauramich says
Granted, my little guy is still just 15 months old, so he’s still pretty easy to feed; I understand that the pickiness sets in around age 2. My goal is to keep him as far away from chicken nuggets as possible, for as long as possible. When we go out, I usually order an extra side and then share all of my food with him. When we go out for Mexican, he’ll have grilled chicken and shrimp, plus rice and refried beans. When we go for sushi, he gets an avocado roll wrapped in soy paper, plus all the edamame he can stuff into his gullet. Loves edamame!
Mac and cheese? So far, only at home—a from-scratch recipe made with reduced-fat cheese and milk, and packed with cauliflower florets. He wolfs it down!
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE says
Strong work! I’m not so perfect–our boys have eaten off the kids menu more times than I can count and chicken nuggets, mac and cheese go down easy. They like the menu choices often. But the point is that we always also offer and share the fruits and veggies that come with our meals. And one of our sons always orders a salad with his kids menu. The goal would be that kids menus always did provide fresh fruits and veggies with the other parts of the meal. To create awesome eaters, we have to offer awesome choices and eat with them…
thanks for your comment!
Kacey Haffner-Bruce says
love this article!! being a canadian living in american.. and running restaurants.. one in canada.. a few in america.. the kids menu difference between the two countries is INSANE!!! ( we are franchised and have no say on what goes on them)
canada offers a tiny portion of salmon filet.. vegetables..fruit.. chicken breasts on a stick.. baked chicken fingers etc.
but down here.. we have your basic items.. nuggets (hand made but still fried) mac n cheese.. and of course pizza..
the demand in canada for change was so much higher and therefore.. it was changed.. but not enough people down here are petitioning I guess??
and there are always ways to find different prices at restaurants 🙂 ask for add on portions of pasta.. half filets of salmon etc.. and a lot of the times they will just open food a less amount and give you what you want!! the buttons are there on the computers.. they just dont advertise it on their menu 🙂
thanks for sharing!
SuzanneVining says
I’m a pediatrician that has been stationed in Germany with kids, so I’ve seen kids menus in countries across Europe. It amazed me that they were ALL unhealthy variations of beige/brown foods, but the universal “oh, this is what kids will eat” foods changed from country to country. Steak hache (France, like cube steak patty), Schnitzel and fries (Germany), spaghetti Bolognese (Italy)…. For my stepkids who were still <12, we always ordered an appetizer from the menu as their entrée and shared stuff. My son, now 4, only started eating from the kids menu (more beige food) when he could read the words for himself.
The good places ARE out there. The good staff DOES want kids to want to eat real food. Once kids know and love good food, they will never go back to Beige.
Monica says
I’m shocked about the restaurant that didn’t serve children under age 9. Maybe I don’t get out much, but I’ve never seen such a thing!
When we go out to eat, we also order from the “sides” menu, more often than not, for our daughter (16 mos.). If we end up ordering a full meal she can’t finish, it’s lunch the next day for someone in the family. I’ve also been known to bring along my own side to supplement my daughter’s restaurant meal (cottage cheese, yogurt, fruit slices, etc.).
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE says
No, I agree. It was strange that they typically didn’t have children in the restaurant. Never had happened to us before!