Pass Up the Kids Menu
The first Shirley Temple I drank was at a Mexican restaurant in Lafayette, CA. At 10 years old, I loved the idea of a special a grown-up looking drink reserved for kids. I always dismissed their kids menu, though, in favor of flavor. El Charro was never the most authentic Mexican restaurant, especially in 1983 with its mild watery salsa and huge sombrero hanging in the dimly lit dining room. Nevertheless, I knew that a burger and fries was a disingenuous offering for a Mexican restaurant.
El Charro still has that burger on their kids menu. Kid’s menus are so predictable and the food, having deviated from the mission of the chef, is just as bland and boring as advertised. To serve mac and cheese, fries and pizza no matter the style of restaurant, there is no allowance for adventurous eating. Isn’t the concept of a kids menu disrespectful?
Sure, things have gotten better in the last 30 years. Menus for the 12 and under set are just as likely to offer applesauce instead of the ubiquitous fries, or milk in lieu of soda. But, the reality is that there are still plenty of eateries that offer kids menus meant for the pickiest and the least sophisticated. When we were talking about this on Facebook recently, one fan rightly commented, “We went to a steak house once and they didn’t have a kids steak! Just chicken tenders.”
Kids, for the most part, eat less than adults, so to me, a sensible solution would be to simply offer them a smaller portion, at a smaller price, of the same food the adults get. My husband and I often go out to eat with our toddler, especially on the weekends. One solution for us has been to order two regular entrees and with the portion distortion in most places, there is plenty of food for all of us. (Truth be told, my three year old easily eats more than I do at every meal.) Another idea is that we’ll order an appetizer, like shrimp cocktail or chicken skewers, or a cup of soup and salad. Give my guy a side of ranch and he’ll dip even bitter greens into it, and chow down.
Restaurants should get with the program and not fight against what we parents know is best for our kids; more of them should offer real food to all customers, regardless of age. Our kids deserve it!
