Bring outside food to restaurant for child

[Anonymous]

We’ve only had issues with it in cheap places, but technically, it’s a health code thing.

We’ve eaten out through one child’s severe food allergies, my gastroparesis, and DH’s cancer. Only two places raised a stink —generally because they saw it as a lost meal. Problem solved. I ordered a meal that was not consumed, but had it boxed to go home so those who could eat it took it for lunch the next day. Like I said, cheap places. A restaurant with $40 entrees might be concerned with health code violations, though.

[Anonymous]

I believe that most sensory issues come because parents are not good cooks when kids are young. Rare is a true feeding issue in kids. The reason this post is so loaded is that we all believe you contributed to your child sensory issue and don't believe you that it is a medical issue.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t do it. Kids need to learn to eat what is served. Period.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the general sentiment of the post - but also, I assume your child is being treated for this? What does the doctor say about how to handle? You must be getting some professional guidance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe that most sensory issues come because parents are not good cooks when kids are young. Rare is a true feeding issue in kids. The reason this post is so loaded is that we all believe you contributed to your child sensory issue and don't believe you that it is a medical issue.

Ffs

[Anonymous]

A 5 year old retching? How does he manage eating in kindergarten or first grade?

It seems like a Dr. appmt should be made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a PP, but this whole thing is completely ridiculous. The kid will eat if it's hungry. If not, eat anyway. It will adapt.

Except kids with real food issues don’t!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a PP, but this whole thing is completely ridiculous. The kid will eat if it's hungry. If not, eat anyway. It will adapt.

Except kids with real food issues don’t!

Okay so the kid misses a meal. Natural consequences. The kid isn’t going to starve from missing a meal.

I know all the sensory moms are going to chime in with “my kid will starve!” but no, one meal missed will not cause irreparable damage to your child. Really. The kid will live. He might even be motivated to eat at the next restaurant. (Maybe! No guarantees )

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP sounds like the restaurant management was being a jerk.

Sounds like OPs family were being jerks.

Sometimes when you’re super rude, you will get called out! (Not every time, but sometimes it’ll happen.)

[Anonymous]

I have a super picky eater - but he eats milkshakes and most smoothies, so that’s what he eats at a restaurant.

If they serve tacos, they will bring him plain tortillas and a side of shredded cheese.

I often bring fresh fruit for my kids to eat before / with their meal so they don’t just have pizza/nuggets/pasta/quesadilla. I’ve never had a restaurant object to a container of berries or a banana.

[Anonymous]

My DD with Celiac disease is much older than 5 and we will still, on occasion, bring outside food into a restaurant. This typically happens when we are out of town or when attending special events. Not one place has ever asked us to leave or said anything about it. We will ask the server if she can verify a safe meal option for her and when they can’t we tell them that we have brought food. They have always been fine with it. It is certainly not a health code violation unless you request they prepare it for them. I think the key is explaining the situation first as opposed to just pulling out food. The truth is they usually 2ont fret over the 7 dollars for a kids meal when they are making so much more for the adult entrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD with Celiac disease is much older than 5 and we will still, on occasion, bring outside food into a restaurant. This typically happens when we are out of town or when attending special events. Not one place has ever asked us to leave or said anything about it. We will ask the server if she can verify a safe meal option for her and when they can’t we tell them that we have brought food. They have always been fine with it. It is certainly not a health code violation unless you request they prepare it for them. I think the key is explaining the situation first as opposed to just pulling out food. The truth is they usually 2ont fret over the 7 dollars for a kids meal when they are making so much more for the adult entrees.

I think restaurants might say "health code violation" when they mean "potential liability". If you bring in your own food and then get sick from it, some people would still try to find a way to blame the restaurant. They can say that their kid ate a few bites of bread, or whatever, and no one can definitively trace the item that made the kid sick. Then it's bad PR and dealing with the health department, etc. It's essentially just a PITA for the restaurant in a variety of ways.

[Anonymous]

I believe that most sensory issues come because parents are not good cooks when kids are young. Rare is a true feeding issue in kids. The reason this post is so loaded is that we all believe you contributed to your child sensory issue and don't believe you that it is a medical issue.

Totally agree. You rarely (meaning almost never) heard about “sensory disorders” when my kids were little. They are young adults now. Yes, there are rare medical conditions that make feeding difficult. But 99.9% of the time it’s poor parenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a super picky eater - but he eats milkshakes and most smoothies, so that’s what he eats at a restaurant.

If they serve tacos, they will bring him plain tortillas and a side of shredded cheese.

I often bring fresh fruit for my kids to eat before / with their meal so they don’t just have pizza/nuggets/pasta/quesadilla. I’ve never had a restaurant object to a container of berries or a banana.

You bring fruit because your kids can’t have ONE meal without it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I believe that most sensory issues come because parents are not good cooks when kids are young. Rare is a true feeding issue in kids. The reason this post is so loaded is that we all believe you contributed to your child sensory issue and don't believe you that it is a medical issue.

Totally agree. You rarely (meaning almost never) heard about “sensory disorders” when my kids were little. They are young adults now. Yes, there are rare medical conditions that make feeding difficult. But 99.9% of the time it’s poor parenting.

Eh I have plenty of family in their 60s who talk about how picky their kids were. My nephew, now in his late 30s, wouldn't eat much other than pbj growing up and I can assure you it wasn't from poor cooking or lack of stern parenting. My MIL talks about how picky her kids were until adulthood, she struggled with it. My FIL near 70 barely eats more than white bread, eggs, meat and potatoes and a completely plain salad and has visible angst at going to a restaurant. Just because it wasn't talked about or given a name back then doesn't mean it didn't exist.