Tips for Dining Out
I’ve heard many people say that they never get to eat out.
Cherylyn Feierabend
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Tips for Dining Out
Hey there! You’re listening to the Mighty Mommy with some Quick and Dirty Tips for Practical Parenting. Today’s Topic is Dining Out: Tips for Restaurant Dining With the Kids.
I’ve heard many people say that they never get to eat out anymore because of their children. Expectant parents are saying that they plan to stop going out so frequently once the baby arrives. I think that with a little bit of planning ahead, a good dose of patience, and plenty of common sense, dining out doesn’t need to be a lost luxury just because you have kids.
Dining out can be expensive. Cutting back on restaurant dining can definitely save you some money in the long run. Children do cut into those luxury finances so it is understandable that you might be eating at home more often once you have kids. The tips I’d like to share are for those times when you do want to get out as a family and have a pleasant dining experience.
First, you’ll want to think about the places you go to eat. You may want to save the fancier restaurants for nights when you have a babysitter. That doesn’t mean that you can’t take a baby or toddler to those places. I’m just suggesting that reserving some places for grown-up nights out can be a nice change of pace when you need it.
Most people frequent the same restaurants fairly often. You probably know if they are equipped with high chairs and other such necessities. If you are uncertain or are visiting a new or out-of-town restaurant, a quick call ahead can help you prepare. Find out if they have high chairs if you need one. Also find out what type of children’s menu they offer. If they have a smoking section, you might want to be seated in a completely separate area. Knowing ahead can ease some anxiety or let you know if you should choose a different restaurant. Some restaurants offer free or discounted kids meals on certain nights of the week. Checking with child-friendly restaurants in advance might even save you some money.
An important factor to keep in mind when planning to dine out with child is your child’s schedule. You don’t want to take your child out when they are tired or crabby. It is a good idea if they are hungry but not starving. You will want to bring along some quiet toys for the child to play with while waiting for your food. Once your child is old enough to start coloring, make sure you always carry some paper and crayons with you. Most restaurants provide these, but not all of them do.
I recommend also that you bring some small snack items in case the food takes longer than expected and your child begins to get hungry. You can also ask your server for crackers or cheese or something to help appease the child’s hunger during the wait. (My daughter’s favorite appetizer is pickles.) Most servers are more than willing to assist in keeping the child calm. It makes their job easier and will probably earn them a better tip. Don’t hesitate to ask for what you want. You may be surprised at how much someone is willing to help.
I have found that if I frequent the same restaurant with my children, the servers begin to recognize us and we get better service. If eating out is something you enjoy doing, you might want to pick one or two favorite inexpensive places to go regularly. Try to avoid their busy times and you may get better service. Another thing to remember is that the more you take your children, the more accustomed they will become to eating out. They will soon learn what is expected of them in this situation and it will help you in cases where you are taking them to somewhere a little bit fancier.
My next tip involves placing your order. When the server initially comes to the table to take the drink order, I recommend getting any toddler or older child her own beverage. Even if you simply order a water for her, your child will feel more included. Be sure to go over the menu together and let the child feel as though she is picking out her own meal just like a big kid or grown-up. Restaurants with pictures of food are the best, in my opinion, for letting kids pick out what they want. My daughter loves to point at the pictures of the food she wants. I find that when she has chosen her own meal, she’s much more likely to eat it.
Another way to include the children is to make sure they are part of any conversation. Eating out as a family doesn’t mean that the grown-ups order, eat, and hope the kids behave. By including your children you are making them feel like part of the experience instead of just being along for the ride. Once in a while it might be nice to go out for a meal just one-on-one with your child. It will feel like a special occasion for both of you.
Now that we’ve covered a few of the simple things to think about before leaving for the restaurant, lets talk about what happens when your child doesn’t behave. You’ve got the right chairs, you’ve ordered the food she wants and she has her own drink, but no matter what you’ve done so far, your child just doesn’t want to cooperate. Obviously, you don’t want to create a scene. If your child is being noisy or disruptive, you’ll want to take her out of the restaurant. Suggest that you go for a walk and calmly take your child outside and away from other people if possible. You’ll want to remind her that she is in a public place and she needs to be considerate of others. Give her time to cool down before taking her back inside. If your child is inconsolable, you may need to get your food to go. Be sure to let your child know that in order for everyone to enjoy the meal, we all need to behave. If you tell her that it will be time to leave if she doesn’t follow the rules, be sure to follow through on the promise. If you are able to calm her down and bring her back inside, try to engage her in a conversation or activity until the food is delivered.
One last tip I would like to share is about tips. When dining out with children, please thoughtful and give an extra tip whenever there’s a little extra mess left behind.
That’s it for now. Hope you enjoyed listening. Remember to eat together as a family as often as possible!
The Mighty Mommy’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Practical Parenting is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips network, so be sure to check out other great shows like Legal Lad, and Grammar Girl, at QuickAndDirtyTips.com.
This is your friend, the Mighty Mommy wishing you happy and fun parenting!
Music – “Golly Gee” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons “Attribution 2.0” https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Pizza image courtesy of Shutterstock