I’m regularly called a “foodie”. It’s a badge I wear proudly at times, and shamefully at others. Growing up in a military family, I spent several years in Europe, and the culture of eating and enjoying followed me back to the States. My in-laws have been in the restaurant industry for over 30 years, and I love to cook.

Photo by Catherine Boley.

Therefore, it’s only natural that our family is a bit refined about our food, right? Wrong…The hubs can demolish a pepperoni pizza for breakfast, lunch and dinner, I grew up on my fair share of mayonnaise and mid-west style jello aspics, and our kid’s favorite food is Mac and Cheese from a box.

Despite our abilities to eat atrociously, we do try to eat healthy and head off the beaten path away from large chain restaurants and fast-food joints. We tend to favor locally run businesses and unique eating experiences. After thousands of miles on the road and hundreds of meals-out, here’s a quick guide to dining out with kids.

Step 1: Finding a Kid-friendly Restaurant

Finding a good kid-friendly restaurant is often challenging. Here are some options to consider when out and about:

-    Brew-pubs – While it doesn’t seem like beer and children should combine well, for many brew-pubs this is often the case! Brew-pubs are known for being family friendly (all the ones we’ve ever been to have crayons, and a fair few of them have had toys!). The food is usually very affordable and tasty, there is often a moderate level of noise so no one cares if the kids are loud and cranky, and well…Hubs are never disappointed with a freshly pulled micro-lager, right?

The revolving sushi bar at Yoko's Sushi, Bend, Oregon. Photo by Catherine Boley.

-    Sushi – I like sushi spots since often times they have a menu of with kid-friendly items (chicken teriyaki, rice, and tempura). Plus, if the place has a revolving sushi bar, even better!

-    Pizza/Pasta Joints – Well, can’t really go wrong with pizza or spaghetti, right? Especially if they’ve got a nice wine menu and a good salad starter, too!

Breakfast at LAMILL Coffee, Los Angeles. Photo by Catherine Boley.

-    Breakfast Cafes – Sometimes going out for breakfast in lieu of dinner is preferable when you have small kids. The kids are fresh, and not likely to be cranky from lack of food AND sleep. Breakfast places often have lots of kid friendly favorites like pancakes, French toast, and (if you’re lucky) freshly made doughnuts dusted in powder sugar!
-    Two great resources for finding kid-friendly restaurants are Yelp and Trekaroo. I’m a huge fan of Yelp and Trekaroo because they are both a great jumping off point for any local restaurant seeker with kids. We’ve found many a pleasurable dining experience by referencing it while away from home.

Step 2: Pre-meal Prepping

-    Call ahead and check on wait times. Nothing’s worse than waiting around, and the kids are burnt out before you even sit down.
-    Check on seat requirements. Do you need a high chair, booster, etc? If you have a stroller that’s table height ask if you can wheel him up. It’s better to keep Jr. strapped in for as long as possible, as opposed to him wandering around the restaurant.
-    Bring a sippy cup since sometimes those lids and straws don’t stay on tight.

Pizza Antica in San Jose, CA. Photo by Catherine Boley.

-    If the weather’s nice, ask to eat outside. There’s usually more to watch and observe outside, the noise dissipates, and food on the floor doesn’t seem to matter as much.
-    Ask the waiter to bring your kids some bread or crackers while they wait for their food to come. I’m not a huge fan of bringing out kid food before adult food because then the kids are done and parents sometimes feel pressure to hurry up and don’t enjoy their own meal.
-    Straws are magic! If you’ve got a wiggly toddler ask the waiter for a bunch of straws. They’re great to chew on, play drums with, or make caterpillars (squish the paper down, then add a drop of water and watch them crawl!).
-    Bring along a portable DVD player, iPod, or hand-held gaming device for after dinner. Share some family time before, but be ready in case a meltdown ensues. I like to bring these out as a last resort.
-    Have a pen or a few crayons handy incase you find yourself with paper tablecloths.

Step 3: The damage

-    Tip your waiter to cover the extra mess you’ve left.