Dining out with children

Last year, Primary Times conducted a comprehensive reader survey which revealed some very insightful results about how families prefer to spend their time.  Notably, on the subject of dining, 74% of families highlighted that they enjoy eating out regularly, leading us to delve a little deeper to discover how ‘hungry for custom’ dining establishments are currently catering for the family market. We‘ve also looked at different ways to educate young palates by adding variety to a child’s diet and have added some useful tips to help reinforce those all important table manners to avoid any humiliation in a public restaurant.

Feast at a family-welcoming venue

Taking cherished yet unpredictable children to any eating establishment can be a daunting prospect and even puts many people off.  So be prepared for the unexpected! Regular exposure to the restaurant environment will contribute towards a child’s good eating habits, so if it’s financially possible and if you have time, just leave the pots and pans behind and treat the family to the luxury of a feast at a family friendly restaurant. 

It will help to find out in advance how a restaurant is likely to cater for your family’s needs.  It’s not always practical to jump from one restaurant to the next in search of a venue that openly welcomes youngsters. To save time, you may fancy heading for a renowned family-welcoming restaurant or one that serves a buffet allowing wider choice and reduced waiting times. Check if there is a children’s menu and if possible, make a booking for when the restaurant is likely to be quieter to avoid any complaints from impatient and hungry children.

Some young children are particularly restless and it can be difficult to get them to sit still, so give them the chance to burn off some of that liveliness in a park or playground beforehand. Many child-welcoming restaurants provide soft play areas or ball pools that are magnets for little ones, although the strong appeal of dazzling, bright colours and heightened activity in that area may be a distraction for any child, drawing them away from the dining table.

To lure in the lucrative family dining market, on occasional days, many restaurants offer children’s entertainment such as face painting and balloon modelling to distract restless children.  Other tempting teasers include special offers in the shape of ‘children eat free with each full paying adult’ and half portion sizes of food from the main menu, giving children the chance to sample grown up food as a refreshing alternative to traditional kids meals such as pizza, chicken nuggets and chips. Some inventive and eager chefs also offer children’s cookery sessions to help educate youngsters who are hungry to learn more about preparing and eating good food.

At the restaurant

When you arrive at the restaurant, ask for a table in the corner or in a booth. That way, if your children play up you are less likely to be centre of attention. 

Whilst you wait for your food...

A five minute wait for a young child can feel like a lifetime, so if you don’t want to be faced with a child that, perhaps lies or stands or hangs upside down on the seats, making loud monkey type noises, distraction is a must on the menu! Some good dining establishments supply engaging children’s activity packs, but it’s always best to take your own in case they have run out. Activity books full of simple puzzles, pictures to colour in and spot the difference should provide enough of a distraction and are easy to carry. Basic magnetic games are also good to take along as the pieces are less likely to get lost. Pack a small bag of healthy snacks such as carrot or cucumber sticks in case the meal is late.

Eating with etiquette!

Ideally, children should possess a basic etiquette when dining out so it’s wise to reinforce good dining manners at a young age. Here are some simple guidelines that may help:

• Explain to your children how you expect them to behave before arriving at the restaurant.
• Although some food is designed to be eaten with fingers, encourage children to use cutlery in the correct way where possible. 
• Encourage your child to wipe their face and fingers with a napkin and not lick fingers
• Remind your child to eat with their mouth closed and take their elbows off the table.
• Explain to them that it’s not acceptable to jump on the seats or throw food, however funny they may find it.
• If you are dining in a group try to include your children in the conversation.
• Make your child conscious of other diners who will not want to hear loud screechy sounds.
• Finally, try to remain calm. Remember that the parents with the well-behaved children on the next-door table will at some point have endured good dining habits and all its challenges too!

Tips to encourage children to try different food:

It can be frustrating being faced with a child who refuses to eat properly and grunts at the thought of trying a variety of food. Yet this can be alleviated with a bit of patience and perseverance.  Celebrity chef Lesley Waters agrees with this principle and said to Primary Times; “It is vital that from an early age, children educate their palates so that they have an interest in food. It’s best not to introduce too many new foods to your child at once.  Instead, combine a new food item on the plate with something they already like. If the new food item is rejected don’t press your child too hard to eat it.  Simply leave it and try again a week later”. She continued “Keep persevering at a gentle pace and keep experimenting with different flavours – but not all at once!  Taste buds are continually changing so what a child doesn’t enjoy at age 4 might change as they get a bit older”.

Another useful tactic suggested by Lesley is not to pile too much food on the plate as this can be off-putting to any child. Instead, serve up smaller potions and if your child likes the food then they can always return for second servings.

It will also help to attempt to make dinners special at home (as well as in a restaurant) by sitting around the table with all the family.  This not only promotes good communication between family members but it also allows everyone to appreciate the food more and perhaps, even discuss what they think of it! 

Feast for less:

1. If you have two or more children you can save your pennies by getting them to share one meal. Besides, some children are usually too distracted by all the sights, smells and sounds of a restaurant to eat much.

2. Instead of ordering from the main menu, choose a side dish for your children.

3. Keep an eye out for ‘Children Eat Free’ offers and ‘Buy-One-Get-One-Free’ vouchers.

More information:

Find out about family-friendly eating establishments near to you at: www.primarytimes.net

Find some family mealtime ideas and healthy eating advice at www.nhs.uk/change4life

The NHS website, www.nhs.uk/Livewell, gives information on how to provide the family with a healthy balanced diet.

Kirsty Woodgate