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Sanity Tips for Eating Out With The
Kids
By Marion Winik
http://www.clubmom.com
Believe me when I tell
you that the young gentlemen of my household, ages 12 and 9, are not
cosmopolitan or gourmands. The best thing you could ever pack in their lunch
boxes is a nice cold package of Lunchables, and they love beef jerky, french
fries, and pizza. But - here's the surprise - they also sometimes get a yen for
sushi, tofu, fried calamari, artichokes, Mexican food, or dim sum. They love to
eat out, and they love to eat well.
 I'm afraid I can't attribute their tastes to any
exceptional quality of their attitudes or palates. I guess it's simply a result
of continued exposure to these foods and environments. According to Isobel
Contento, a professor of nutrition education at Columbia University's Teachers
College in New York City, "Continued exposure to new foods is extremely
important. Research suggests that children sometimes need to be exposed to food
ten to fifteen times before they develop a liking to the food."
Research by Contento and
many of her colleagues supports my hunch: Any kid can learn to dine out and
enjoy a broader range of foods, if given the chance. Unfortunately, resisting
the temptation to feed kids only "kid food" ordered from "kid menus" at
"kid-friendly" restaurants is no piece of Tastycake. But if you don't, you wind
up with kids whose narrow palates and general cluelessness about restaurant
behavior are the self-fulfilling prophecies of Ronald, Wendy, and the
Colonel.
I love going out to eat,
but I don't love anything that comes in a nugget or is served in molded plastic.
My solution is this: While we do consume our share of burgers and pizza, our
family also patronizes real restaurants. If you're ready to try something a
little more civilized and adventurous than another trip to KFC, here are a few
tips to keep in mind.
Tasting Tips for
Kids
The journey of a thousand
meals begins with a single bite - or something like that. Here are some clues to
guiding that first morsel safely into the hangar.
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Don't make a huge deal
out of the new food in question. Start simply - just let your kids see the
grown-ups eating and enjoying it.
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While you don't want to
flat-out lie, remember the old "tastes like chicken" ploy. You might say in your
most casual tone, "Want a bite?" Then, when you're asked what it is, say, "It's
like steak" (in other words, it's venison). Or try, "Taste a bite and see if you
can guess."
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Never eschew bribes: "A
quarter for the first person who can guess what it is." "Taste it and you can
pick the dessert."
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If they absolutely hate
it, do not make them eat it. If they're not sure, you might suggest a second
taste, perhaps with soy sauce, pepper, or lemon to personalize the
flavor.
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Rules for
Restaurants
Want to get your kids
through an eating-out experience without a meltdown? Here are a few guidelines
to make it more fun for everyone.
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Do keep paper and crayons
or pens in your purse at all times. This way, the gimmick of kid-friendly
restaurants is yours anywhere. Older kids can play hangman and "dots."
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Don't make a federal case
about dressing up. Most restaurants these days don't mind casual clothes, and by
choosing one with a relaxed dress code, you'll eliminate one area of
dissent.
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Don't let kids have too
much sugary soda before the food arrives.
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Don't let the waitperson
serve meals to the kids first. If you do, the timing will get screwed up:
They'll lose patience before you've finished your main course.
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Don't bring other kids
who have more limited palates than your own do. You don't want to get an "ew"
thing going.
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Do allow a field trip or
two to the bathroom or the lobby. Accompany your kids the first time to
demonstrate acceptable behavior.
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Don't let your child
order some expensive item she's never had before without having her first try an
appetizer or tasting
portion.
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Marion Winik is a writer
and a commentator on NPR. Her latest book is The Lunch-Box Chronicles
(Vintage) and you can
get it from Amazon.com below.
Copyright © 1999-2001 ClubMom, Inc. All rights reserved.
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