Tips for Eating Out with Children

1. First and foremost, pick a child friendly restaurant. I like the ones that have coloring pages and crayons or menus that the children turn into 1950’s paper cars. It also helps if there is background noise or other children at the restaurant so if one of your little ones decides to use his outdoor voice, it won’t echo through the restaurant.

2. Keep a restaurant activity bag in the car at all times. I have a small, child sized backpack that stays in the car for those times we are out and about before going to eat. Also, if it stays in the car, you can’t forget to bring it. In our restaurant bag I keep wet wipes, an extra Ziploc bag of crayons, a couple small coloring/activity books, lacing animals, printable activity books from Enchantedlearning.com (I like the number and letter mini-books), and for the baby, disposible bibs, plastic table covers, teething toys, and snacks. For snacks I prefer to keep a bunch of granola bars and fruit strips as they last for a while so I don’t have to worry about spoiled food sitting in the car. Archer Farms at Target makes a great organic fruit leather. You can add any type of favorite toy to the restaurant bag, just make sure that it is interesting and “new”.

3. Order quickly, but make sure the children’s meals come with the adult’s so you can all eat in peace together. If the children get done first, it can be hard to keep them busy so you can enjoy a pleasant meal. Avoid ordering appetizers, or ask they be delivered with the meal, so your children are not tempted to fill up on those instead of their dinner.

4. Replace the fries or dessert in your child’s meal with steamed or raw vegetables. Most restaurants will allow these substitutions for no charge if you ask. Also, avoid giving your child sugary drinks with your meal to discourage the possible sugar rush/melt down during dinner. Opt for water instead with a slice of lemon to make it more fun. Our children enjoy squeezing the lemon juice out and adding the peel to their water (don’t forget hold onto their cup and make sure the lid is secure when you are done).

5. Ask for extra straws and napkins before they are needed to avoid terrible messes.

6. Shorten the straw on the child’s cup so they don’t have to tip the glass so far when they drink. To do this, measure it next to the cup adding an inch to the top and then cut it with a steak or butter knife. Tuck the cut edge, which could be sharp, into the cup leaving the original end to suck. If you measure wrong, use one of the extra straws and try again. This trick also eliminates the need for as many extra napkins.

5. Don’t let your children leave the table until you are ready to exit the restaurant. If you let them wander around they will, almost certainly, get into trouble or cause you to have to chase them around. Stay in charge and make sure they stay sitting until everyone is ready to leave.

6. Have consistent rules at restaurants so you will be able to enjoy your time out.

7. Leave a tad nicer tip if the busboys have a large amount of cleaning up or your server made more than a normal amount of trips to your table.