Taking Food for a Toddler to a Restaurant?

[amma_mama]

Contrary to many of the negative responses, from our experience, I really don't think that most restaurants mind so much if you bring food for little ones, though we stick to "kid-friendly" places. While we no longer do this - our daughter is 3.5 yo is a pretty good eater - we used to bring her "snacks" or some "back up" food. If she were a picky eater, I imagine that I would continue to do so. Frankly, sometimes a snack is really needed when waiting 20 to 30 minutes for the meal (or even appetizers) to arrive. While I never really thought about it too much, we hardly ever order her a separate meal and typically just share our own meals with her and order an extra side dish or two of veggies if we think that it will not be enough for all of us. We base at least one of own choices on what we think our daughter will eat. We share, not because we are cheap, but because so many restaurants assume that kids will only eat fried foods (which our daughter does not like) or ones buried in gooey cheese - both OK for an occasional meal out but if there are other choices on the menu, I would go with those - sometimes the only choice is to share an adult meal. Maybe if there were a choice of more healthy options (e.g. just smaller portions of the food on the adult menu or more sides), along with the typical "kids fare", they would find more parents actually purchasing meals for their kids. That said, I do think that any food that is brought in should be done discretely - no need to hide, but also no need to do a whole "spread" for the kid. Whether brought in or not, I also think that parents should make a good effrot to clean up after their kids, i.e. no more mess left than that of a typical adult. At the same time, I think a restaurant has the right to refuse - they may not get my business as a result, but I suppose it is their right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's the original poster. She's used language like that throughout this forum.

I'm not the OP. And I'd rather be honest and non-judgmental than classy. You attack her parenting skills based on an issue that has nothing to do with parenting. Not so classy.

I'm not the person who did that. But I AM among several people here criticizing you and your cursing and insults. Do you speak that way to your neighbors and colleagues? In front of your kids?

No, none of them are assholes. And, not that it's any of your business, but I don't curse in front of children.

[Anonymous]

Nice. What a lovely end to this forum!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nice. What a lovely end to this forum!

I think it's actually just a thread, not a forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:9:36 poster: If you think the food is so unhealthy -- too much so for your toddler -- then why are YOU going and eating? Just pick somewhere else or stay home! (And I agree it is usually not very healthy, but I think it is okay to do on occasion -- for me and my 3 year old.)

Good grief, can't you understand wanting better for your children? I really have no opinion whatsoever on your eating habits. My post was not intended to address the issue of whether to eat out with your children. That's not the topic of this thread. Most of the posters who criticized us for taking food for our children did so assuming that we were somehow harming our "picky" eaters by not exposing them to the breadth of food available in the restaurants. My only point was that that's not the case. It's not that dc doesn't eat variety or can't eat off the menu. It's that I choose for him not too. And there aren't a lot of healthy options. And I think if you were to ask the restaurants that we frequent if they would prefer we stay at home so we could feed our child healthier, I think they would not choose that. So if they don't care and I don't care, why should I stay home because you do for some inexplicable reason?

Seems like it would be more effective to teach your child by example, but that's just my opinion.

[Anonymous]

I just read through the thread, so i'm a little late the fight!

As a suggestion to those who don't like the kids menu choices, you can usually ask for a seperate dish that they price at or close to the kids menu. My DD's fav is grilled chicken and broccoli. I usually ask if I can make a kids meal from one grilled chicken breast and a side of broccoli. I've never been turned down yet.

[Anonymous]

I always bring snacks for DS...and sometimes milk. Especially if we're going to a chinese / asian restaurant....they don't have milk.

I've never been given a hard time....even at a nice restaurant. I think they see you are keeping your child peaceful...and appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Thanks for clearing up what's "okay" and when!

The toddler stage is generally considered to be 12-36 months of age. But, whatever, not even the point.

No, I'm not going to "stay home" if my toddler won't eat off the menu at a particular restaurant. Get real. As someone pointed out, they are not making their money off the kids menu. Would they rather me stay home and not spend the $20, or $30, or $40 in their restaurant--UNLESS I order a $4 kids menu item? Doubtful.

And, actually, we DO always order something for our generally well-behaved 22 month old. But I always have a backup in case he doesn't want it. Yes, as a toddler, he is sometimes surprisingly finicky! I guess some people's children will predictably eat everything from Thai to Ethiopian, but, unfortunately, my kid is sometimes picky.


HEY, oh my god, you're so rude. I'M THE PERSON WHO POSTED THAT MY KIDS EAT A LOT OF TAKEOUT FOOD INCLUDING THOSE TYPES OF FOODS - I POSTED ON ANOTHER THREAD. I just happened to see this.

I posted it to show that I order too much take out food! Not to show off or anything like that. Quite the opposite in fact.

Are you the OP here? What a jerk!!! NO wonder you started this whole fight here.




I posted this first post days ago about *my* kid and restaurants. I am not the OP, I am not rude, and I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about regarding another thread having anything to do with takeout. I was responding to the one poster who was delineating what was "okay" and what wasn't with regard to bringing "toddlers" to reasturants. I happen to take my kid out to Thai and Ethiopian and other kinds of food fairly regularly, so I was indeed referring to myself and not some random, phantom post on another thread. But thanks for calling me a "jerk" with two exclamation points--that was very nice. Have a great day.

[Anonymous]

I wonder how many people that posted on this thread actually ever worked in a restaurant.......

I did for many years, and at some of the "better"/very nice ones. Most waiters don't care if you bring some food for your kid (I would say up to age 5 actually). Really, what difference does it make if you order a $7 kids meal or share with the parents? Like that will greatly enhance my tip? As others have said, the parents being able to relax and maybe order another drink or two is more valuable than the side or kids dish. Most parents I waited on shared with their kids anyway by ordering appetizers AND meals. Those that brought their kids food were nice and polite and I don't see a difference between sharing from their plate or bringing in their own food - whatever keeps everyone happy. Honestly, the only people I have ever seen riled up about this has been on this thread. Besides, money-wise, two parents with two kids taking up four seats is usually no worse than three or four non-alcohol drinking adults. Or worse, two water drinking, salad picking women!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how many people that posted on this thread actually ever worked in a restaurant.......

I did for many years, and at some of the "better"/very nice ones. Most waiters don't care if you bring some food for your kid (I would say up to age 5 actually). Really, what difference does it make if you order a $7 kids meal or share with the parents? Like that will greatly enhance my tip? As others have said, the parents being able to relax and maybe order another drink or two is more valuable than the side or kids dish. Most parents I waited on shared with their kids anyway by ordering appetizers AND meals. Those that brought their kids food were nice and polite and I don't see a difference between sharing from their plate or bringing in their own food - whatever keeps everyone happy. Honestly, the only people I have ever seen riled up about this has been on this thread. Besides, money-wise, two parents with two kids taking up four seats is usually no worse than three or four non-alcohol drinking adults. Or worse, two water drinking, salad picking women!

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JamaicaMama]

I am the Original Poster. I have logged in so that it can be clear who is who. Anyway, when I came on the site this afternoon I certainly did not expect to see this topic on the first page. 69 replies - incredible!!!!

I am not going to waste my time addressing the various attacks on my parenting skills, whether we are "cheap" or whether we give families in restaurants a bad name, but will say that our family had a great dinner out on Friday. We showed up at 6:45 (we had a 7pm reservation). The staff was really nice and my 34 month old was in good spirits. She settled into her chair, stuck her napkin in her sweater (I helped). Before we even ordered drinks, I chatted with the waiter about the menu and order a half order (the waiter suggested this) of a meal that I thought our daughter would eat. While she waited for her meal she had a little bread and drank some water. Her meal arrived just as we got our appitizers and she ate most of it and a bit of my main course. At a bit past 8 she started to get a little restless and we took that as our cue to leave. I would say that we have a very succesful night out - my child never left her chair and the only things that hit the floor as a napkin (mine) and a fork (also mine).

BTW, since she ate most of her meal, I never had to resort to my backup plan and so the tupperware of leftovers never left my handbag. For future restaurants outings where she accompanies us (given Friday's behavior we might just take every week), I plan to stick to my back-up plan and will feel no shame in pulling out my tupperware if I feel that it is necessary to have an enjoyable dinner for the entire family.

Have a great week everyone!!!

[Anonymous]

Congrats! Glad that you got some feedback here, OP, but even more glad to hear that you were able to follow your own gut and do what you thought best for your family!

[Anonymous]

I'm glad you had a nice dinner, OP!

[Anonymous]

Bravo! OP's plan is almost identical to what we do when we go out with our 3 y/o. I always have a jar of Gerber chicken noodle or spaghetti Stage 3 in my purse in case DS won't eat what we order him. I seldom need it, but if he's hungry, who is any one else to say I can't feed him something to tide him over that I know he'll eat?

[Anonymous]

WOW! Anyways I came on to post what we do. We have a 21 month old son who has multiple food allergies. I ALWAYS take a backup! Some restaurants just use butter for many items.. one of the things my son can't have is anything diary... anyways. I try to order off the menu (plain rice and a chicken breast it is), but sometimes it isn't doable. No one has ever said anything to me, and I think the restaurant would rather have me bring my own tofu then stick my little guy with an EpiPen... we can all imagine how much fun that would be. Congrats on your nice dinner... what a lucky little girl to have parents like you!