Why We Should Consider (Usually) Ditching the Kids’ Menu

If someone asked you to guess what choices are on a kids’ menu, at any given restaurant, chances are you’d score better than most tests you took in high school.  Almost invariably on offer are pasta, pizza, chicken tenders, mac and cheese, burgers, and quesadillas.  Sound about right?  Of course there is the occasional, more health-conscious restaurant that may offer an almond butter and banana sandwich and a side of carrot sticks (thank you True Food Kitchen!).  But it seems that the vast majority of time, there is not a healthy kids’ menu option. 

Why is this? When did people start believing that kids are incapable of eating healthy food? Or maybe the thought is “we want to make sure kids aren’t complaining or giving parents a hard time while trying to have a nice dinner out, so let’s pacify them.”  Or perhaps, “it’s a special meal out, so let’s make it ‘special’ with treat food.” 

The problem with all of these modes of thinking is they all completely, and unfairly, underestimate our kids!  Do kids like sugar?  Sure.  But do kids also get excited to know they’re eating healthy food that will help them grow big and strong?  Yes!  And while not all kiddos will dive into a plate of broccolini, most of them will be able to find something healthy they like on any menu. 

I keep joking with my husband that I want to become a kids’ menu consultant to advise restaurants on some healthy choices to satisfy the parents out there like me.  But I’m not a nutritionist, just a concerned mom.  So, absent kids’ menu reform, we can instead try to make healthier choices for (and with) our kids that are not tethered to the kids’ menu.  In fact, I’m a big proponent of doing this for ourselves!  As crazy as it drives my husband, I almost never order a meal as-is (no cream please! easy on the oil!), and often, if I can’t find a meal I’m into, I make a meal out of healthy sides (bring on the side of steamed veggies and lentil soup!).  Do some people find this annoying?  I’m sure.  Do I care too much about that?  Not really.  My feeling is, if I’m paying for food, I may as well pay for something I not only enjoy the taste of, but enjoy the feel of. 

So. What can we do for our kids?

1.  Consider not showing kids the kids’ menu! 

Before our kids can read, this isn’t an issue, but with readers, it could become like a shark-feeding session.  “Ooooh, what’s a root beer float mommy?!” “Can I have the milkshake too?”  I’m not saying family meals out are never meant for indulgent fun (they totally can and should be!!), but for more normal nights out, consider not presenting the kids’ options at all, and list out some options from the adult menu, like the side of mashed potatoes and green beans with a side of salmon, or a veggie pizza.  And consult with them like they’re adults! Chances are they’ll be stoked to be considering the options on the adult menu with you! 

And this doesn’t have to be super pricey, either.  A couple of sides usually isn’t too much more than a kids’ meal, and if it is a bit more, you (and your kiddo) will have the satisfaction of feeling better about their meal.  Also, if you have more than one child, they can easily share the adult sides, which often can be less expensive (or highly equivalent) to two kids’ meals.

2.  Don’t fully rely on the kids’ menu for activities

I love kids’ menus that have all the awesome puzzles and coloring.  But if you take a look at the kids’ menu and think it’s not worth presenting those options, just be prepared with some activities of your own.  You can bring your own activity sheets and crayons, and problem solved.  I always carry crayons in this little pouch (which I LOVE for so many other uses as well), and either blank paper (great for drawing or family games of tic-tac-toe) or an activity pad like this one, which has tear out pages with activities like dots-and-boxes or hangman. 

We also take an obscene amount of books to every meal.  This is not to quell lovely family dinner conversations, but to be prepared for those (inevitable) times when it seems to take 40 minutes for food to arrive.  I am quite fervently opposed to putting any sort of device in front of our kids, so I like to be ready with some better options—options that can involve the whole family and be educational.  And you can even bring books about the human body, gardening, or nutrition, to get kiddos amped on ordering something healthy!

Here are some other ideas for activities that can be thrown into a purse, and fun for the whole fam:

1.  Make an animal face sticker sheets;

2.  Flip-to-win travel memory;

3.  Paper and pencil game book;

4.  Mad Libs! (So many amazing memories of fun with mad libs! Also a great way to teach word classes!!)

5.  Word search book (or crosswords! Fun to involve the whole family!);

6.  For the little ones, water drawing alphabet cards (using water pens, so no real mess!)

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Ultimately, I’m not at all suggesting we be super strict and rob our kids of amazing french fry experiences (who doesn’t love french fries?!) or the occasional scoop of ice cream.  But I do think it’s important that we start educating our kids, at a young age, about how to make healthy choices, regardless of their circumstances.  So while ordering from the kids’ menu is fine, especially in moderation, I think we should have more confidence in our children—confidence that they want to make healthy choices, and confidence that they aren’t going to throw a fit if they don’t always get the milkshake.  Because the more confidence we have in them, the more confidence they will have in themselves—in all areas of life.