Traveling (Part 2 of 3): Kids Meals

Why is it that when you visit a restaurant, every kids meal seems to come with a side of fries and ice cream for dessert? For some reason in our culture, it is just assumed that children will not eat vegetables and so we don't even try. On top of that, the meal options are pretty standard no matter where you go and sound something like this: chicken fingers, pizza, cheeseburger, cheese quesadilla, or grilled cheese. Is there any wonder with such a menu that children are developing what used to be adult diseases (i.e.--Type 2 diabetes) at earlier ages? Forget it if your child is a vegetarian or, heaven forbid, vegan! My son's options at a restaurant usually end up being pizza or grilled cheese. This does not have to be, however. You can ask for items not necessarily on the children's menu. For example, at Cheesecake Factory, I asked the waitress to substitute asparagus for fries and Christopher gobbled it up. At P.F. Chang's we substituted tofu for fried chicken and he enjoyed that as well. It is truly frustrating though that children's meals have to come with such (excuse me) crap. We went to Houlihan's for lunch while we were in Baltimore and the kids meal came with ice cream (which I asked her not to bring out) and applesauce. You may be thinking "Well, applesauce is healthy." Not when it is the color of pink playdough and the second ingredient is high fructose corn syrup! It is also rare that you can find a place that serves soy or almond milk too. If we go out to eat when we are at home in Kansas, I try to find a vegetarian restaurant (not always easy in the land of BBQ) or order something relatively healthy off the regular menu. It is crazy for us to assume that kids won't eat vegetables! (!!!) As role models, we must set the example that vegetables are delicious, healthy, and enjoyable. Our children will do as we do, so let's do it!