Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's fine to bring a snack for a one year old, not a meal for a 5 year old. You do know that you can view menus online? Why don't you look at them with your child beforehand. Taking a child with food sensory issues to a restaurant that doesn't even have a kid's menu is completely avoidable.

Well usually it is, but in this case we drove two hours to meet family I haven't seen in years at a restaurant they chose and they wanted to see my kid too.

They couldn't have chosen somewhere with a kids menu? And you didn't think to feed him beforehand after a 2 hour car ride. Again, not bringing in a meal was avoidable.

They chose the BBQ place because they thought BBQ would be kid friendly. Nothing was chosen until we were in the car already on the way, it was all last minute as they weren't sure they would be able to and neither of us knew the area as we cboseya middle ground to cut the driving distance for both of us. And he ate before the car ride and wasn't hungry - it was an early, 4pm dinner. We aren't perfect parents as everyone else here I suppose, so it happened the way it happened, and trying to be good parents we had backup food/snacks with us.

I'm not a perfect parent wither, but I could google a few restaurants during a 2 hour car ride. Hey fam, this place doesn't have a kids menu and our child has sensory issues. How about these places that are near there? Stop being woe is me.

Because even at a restaurant with a kids menu he still might not eat the menu. He eats chicken nuggets but if they are too crunchy or any unexpected seasoning, he eats pizza but not if the crust is too crunchy, he eats Mac and cheese but if it's too soupy or seasoned weird, won't eat it (will try one bite then retch)... So yes, I could have, and still been in the same boat. It's always a crapshoot.

And I never realized there was such vitriol about a five year old eating his own thing at.a restaurant. Now I get it. We didn't want to be the people requesting special accomodations for our kid - either in the choice of restaurant or in asking the restaurant to make something differently or off the menu. But it seems having him eat his own thing is the special accomldation so we'll go a different route then.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's fine to bring a snack for a one year old, not a meal for a 5 year old. You do know that you can view menus online? Why don't you look at them with your child beforehand. Taking a child with food sensory issues to a restaurant that doesn't even have a kid's menu is completely avoidable.

Well usually it is, but in this case we drove two hours to meet family I haven't seen in years at a restaurant they chose and they wanted to see my kid too.

They couldn't have chosen somewhere with a kids menu? And you didn't think to feed him beforehand after a 2 hour car ride. Again, not bringing in a meal was avoidable.

They chose the BBQ place because they thought BBQ would be kid friendly. Nothing was chosen until we were in the car already on the way, it was all last minute as they weren't sure they would be able to and neither of us knew the area as we cboseya middle ground to cut the driving distance for both of us. And he ate before the car ride and wasn't hungry - it was an early, 4pm dinner. We aren't perfect parents as everyone else here I suppose, so it happened the way it happened, and trying to be good parents we had backup food/snacks with us.

I'm not a perfect parent wither, but I could google a few restaurants during a 2 hour car ride. Hey fam, this place doesn't have a kids menu and our child has sensory issues. How about these places that are near there? Stop being woe is me.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1 look at a menu before you go. feed him before you go. do not bring a meal with you. I do wonder how some people make it though daily life when they can't figure simple problems out.

I was raised by a parent who required you to clean your plate so I get this POV. But that doesn't work with a sensory issue kid. You can read up on it if you want or just judge me as I'm sure it's more fun.

I am judging you for not being proactive and making this way harder than it already is. Do a little leg work before you go to a restaurant. Or just sneak in a 5 course meal. Whatever is easier for you.

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.

+1 look at a menu before you go. feed him before you go. do not bring a meal with you. I do wonder how some people make it though daily life when they can't figure simple problems out.

I was raised by a parent who required you to clean your plate so I get this POV. But that doesn't work with a sensory issue kid. You can read up on it if you want or just judge me as I'm sure it's more fun.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's fine to bring a snack for a one year old, not a meal for a 5 year old. You do know that you can view menus online? Why don't you look at them with your child beforehand. Taking a child with food sensory issues to a restaurant that doesn't even have a kid's menu is completely avoidable.

Well usually it is, but in this case we drove two hours to meet family I haven't seen in years at a restaurant they chose and they wanted to see my kid too.

They couldn't have chosen somewhere with a kids menu? And you didn't think to feed him beforehand after a 2 hour car ride. Again, not bringing in a meal was avoidable.

They chose the BBQ place because they thought BBQ would be kid friendly. Nothing was chosen until we were in the car already on the way, it was all last minute as they weren't sure they would be able to and neither of us knew the area as we cboseya middle ground to cut the driving distance for both of us. And he ate before the car ride and wasn't hungry - it was an early, 4pm dinner. We aren't perfect parents as everyone else here I suppose, so it happened the way it happened, and trying to be good parents we had backup food/snacks with us.

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.

+1 look at a menu before you go. feed him before you go. do not bring a meal with you. I do wonder how some people make it though daily life when they can't figure simple problems out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's fine to bring a snack for a one year old, not a meal for a 5 year old. You do know that you can view menus online? Why don't you look at them with your child beforehand. Taking a child with food sensory issues to a restaurant that doesn't even have a kid's menu is completely avoidable.

But why does it matter? If your 5 year old is only nibbling off the menu and eats of what you bring, who cares? It's really no loss to the restaurant and it still exposes your kid to a little bit. You have to start somewhere and I would still take him out.

It matters because you don't bring a meal into a restaurant for a 5 year old. It's a health code violation and most places won't allow it hence this post.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's fine to bring a snack for a one year old, not a meal for a 5 year old. You do know that you can view menus online? Why don't you look at them with your child beforehand. Taking a child with food sensory issues to a restaurant that doesn't even have a kid's menu is completely avoidable.

Well usually it is, but in this case we drove two hours to meet family I haven't seen in years at a restaurant they chose and they wanted to see my kid too.

They couldn't have chosen somewhere with a kids menu? And you didn't think to feed him beforehand after a 2 hour car ride. Again, not bringing in a meal was avoidable.

Anonymous wrote:It's fine to bring a snack for a one year old, not a meal for a 5 year old. You do know that you can view menus online? Why don't you look at them with your child beforehand. Taking a child with food sensory issues to a restaurant that doesn't even have a kid's menu is completely avoidable.

But why does it matter? If your 5 year old is only nibbling off the menu and eats of what you bring, who cares? It's really no loss to the restaurant and it still exposes your kid to a little bit. You have to start somewhere and I would still take him out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's fine to bring a snack for a one year old, not a meal for a 5 year old. You do know that you can view menus online? Why don't you look at them with your child beforehand. Taking a child with food sensory issues to a restaurant that doesn't even have a kid's menu is completely avoidable.

PP here. Why don't you and your H each order different sides so that your child can sample them. If he likes one, order an extra. Explain to your server that your child has food issues and she'll be accommodating. Leave a good tip.

We do! We order extra and take it home with us.

Anonymous wrote:It's fine to bring a snack for a one year old, not a meal for a 5 year old. You do know that you can view menus online? Why don't you look at them with your child beforehand. Taking a child with food sensory issues to a restaurant that doesn't even have a kid's menu is completely avoidable.

PP here. Why don't you and your H each order different sides so that your child can sample them. If he likes one, order an extra. Explain to your server that your child has food issues and she'll be accommodating. Leave a good tip.

Anonymous wrote:It's fine to bring a snack for a one year old, not a meal for a 5 year old. You do know that you can view menus online? Why don't you look at them with your child beforehand. Taking a child with food sensory issues to a restaurant that doesn't even have a kid's menu is completely avoidable.

Well usually it is, but in this case we drove two hours to meet family I haven't seen in years at a restaurant they chose and they wanted to see my kid too.

It's fine to bring a snack for a one year old, not a meal for a 5 year old. You do know that you can view menus online? Why don't you look at them with your child beforehand. Taking a child with food sensory issues to a restaurant that doesn't even have a kid's menu is completely avoidable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thank you. And yes we keep up with exposing him to new foods and will try to order off the menu if remotely think it might work, but have backup in case. It just doesn't always work out that there's something he'll eat.

We'll feed him in the car from now on if we must. We just never had a restaurant bat an eye at a young child having outside food and didn't know it's a health code violation. I get that it would be rude for an older kid or adult to bring outside food, but have seen young kids with outside food at restaurants.

I feel like OP is one of those parents who calls their 5 year old “a toddler”.

Nope I'm a parent of a great five year old kid who happens to have a new food issue and that's it.