So I’ve had this stewing around in my brain since Thanksgiving week and I’m just going to go ahead and get it out.
KIDS MEALS DRIVE ME CRAZY!
Yeah, yeah, yeah I get it. Some kids are insanely picky but seriously, why are their only options chicken nuggets, mac and cheese or grilled cheese most of the time?
At Bug’s preschool Thanksgiving feast, they had a wonderful performance for us and a catered meal with turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans etc. However, all kids had the kids meal already at their place setting – featuring chicken nuggets and mac and cheese.
Really?
I mean, REALLY?
Why not offer up the turkey and other yummy things to the kids? Why just assume that kids won’t eat it?
I am not a foodie nor am I a crazy health food nut. My kid eats his fair share of crap. But it gets on my ever living nerve that there aren’t nice, normal meal options on a lot of these kids meals. How about a regular old grilled chicken breast? Or a side of broccoli and green beans. Hell, maybe my kid is in the extreme minority but you could even offer a small salad.
So…bottom line, when we do take Bug out to eat (which isn’t often) we order off the regular menu for him. It costs us more, but he has such a better (and typically healthier) selection that way.
And yes, he ate his nuggets at the Thanksgiving celebration (there were already on his plate after all) but he then got a nice serving of turkey and green beans too.
Food choices are indeed up to the parent. And I understand schools and churches may have limited budget, choices or catering options, but still. Many kids will eat a variety of foods. If all you give them is nuggets, then that’s all they’ll ever want. *end rant*
There is a restaurant up in the mountains in Big Bear, Captains Anchorage, that has prime rib on the Kid’s Menu! My daughter loved it and the cut was just as big as the Petite Cut for the adults!
That is totally awesome! Someday I will make it to Alaska…it’s on my list.
Oh you don’t have to go to Alaska! You have to come to Southern California!
Info re: Big Bear: http://www.bigbear.com/
Info re: Captains Anchorage Restaurant: http://www.captainsanchorage.com/
This drives me crazy. At home, my kids love trying new foods and eat a huge variety. We go out to eat and unless I want to pay for an adult meal, it is chicken nuggets and french fries. Why can’t they just make a kid’s version of the adult menu, and maybe I could order off that as well.
THANK YOU. What really killed me was how my kids were offered all the same tired kid’s meal choices at EPCOT in Disney World. As my son tearfully asked me, “Why would I want a cheeseburger at a French restaurant?” Isn’t Disney the PERFECT place to encourage (and reward) kids for trying new foods?
That is SO sad. Of course you would want something FRENCH. I know I’m blessed with a good eater but still…
I totally agree. And the thing that kills me w/ the Thanksgiving lunch example is that kids are with other kids, they’re more adventorous. So most likely, they would have eaten turkey, dressing, etc. I think we perpetuate a lot of things with kids. Princesses, monsters and now mac and cheese. I used to make a separate meal for my daughter at dinner. Now, it’s zero tolerance. Eat what I make or go to bed. I am doing my best to curb my picky eater.
This also drives me crazy! Jude eats vegetables when they are given to him and if I order a kids turkey sandwich and ask for cheese and tomato they charge me extra. If you feed kids junk that is what they will eat. I say if a kid is hungry they will eat pretty much anything.
Amen! Lily actually loves salad, too, so we order for her off the grown-up menu all the time. 🙂
One of my biggest pet peeve’s – makes me so mad!!