We have never let having kids hold as back for getting out and doing things. In fact, at some times it seems like we do more now than we did when we had no children. One of things that we do on a fairly regular basis with our kids is eat out. And sometimes, it’s honestly easier than eating at home. I alluded to it a bit in my post about getting to church on time, but now I am going to share some tips about how we make that happen. I will add that we are typically not eating out at a fancy restaurant with our kids, we reserve that for date night. But these tips will help you have a successful meal at a family friendly restaurant or quick eatery.
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Location is Everything
Know your restaurants. Obviously there are going to be times with you want to try something new, but even then you can do your research. A quick Google search of most restaurants will tell you if the place is family friendly or not. I also like to read the reviews on the company’s website, Facebook page, or google. This will tell me important things, like if it routinely takes a long time to receive our food. Most young children (and many adults) don’t want to wait 30 minutes for their meal to come after ordering. That might not be the place you want to go with your kids.
You’ll also want to check the menu to see if there is something on there for everyone to eat. I do not consider myself to be a picky eater, however I am a simple eater. I have opted against some restaurants simply because it was too fancy for my taste. Know your audience and choose your location wisely.
Plan Ahead
When I am looking at a menu online I will often decide then what it is I want to eat. There is nothing more frustrating than being ready to order and having to wait for someone in your family who can’t decide. I am not the most patient person and neither are kids. The quicker we can get our order in means the sooner it will be prepared and brought to us.
Better yet, the ultimate trick is to order online. If you are eating at a quick eat restaurant this is especially helpful. We are known to file into a place, pickup our food, and be eating within 3 minutes. Before church one night we made a stop at Noodles and Company for dinner. A former coworker happened to be in there and commented on the efficiency of this system. It’s really helpful to plan ahead and use the technology to your benefit. Especially since you can often earn rewards from the company for doing so.
Be Prepared
You can’t see it, but I am holding up three fingers in the Girl Scout salute. My husband hates when I do it, but he will be the first one to acknowledge that my preparation has saved us many times. When it comes to eating out there are a few items that I try not to leave home without.
1. Silicone Place Mats
We use this brand, but there are many options out there. I randomly bought my first place mat when M was little at Burlington. Then a few months ago I was smacking my head like “duh why haven’t I thought to buy some for the twins.” So I did. The only downside is that my girls are silly and have a tendency to pull them up when they have food on them. But it is worth the risk because at least it keeps the food off the table for some portion of time.
2. Child Silverware
If you have a toddler or small child that knows how to use silverware it is very helpful to have silverware that they are comfortable with. I happened to find this set of forks and spoons that included a carrying case at a discount store and it is awesome. The silverware is the perfect size for M to use herself, but they are also large enough that an adult can comfortably hold them to feed a smaller child. They are also inexpensive so if they get left behind at a restaurant it’s no big deal. They’re also dishwasher safe, including the case. So if you aren’t able to wipe the silverware down you can put them back in the case so it doesn’t ruin anything in your bag, and throw everything in the dishwasher later.
3. BYOB – Bring Your Own Bibs
The twins seem like the messiest eaters in the world. Also, since there is two of them it would take us twice as long to eat if we insisted on feeding them every bite. So we opt to let them feed themselves. Having a set of lightweight bibs to throw in your bag when your going out is great. We have two sets of cheap ones from IKEA (shown in two of the pictures). It appears that they are no longer available, but it’s possible that they could still be in store. I love them because they are machine washable so even after they’ve been left in our lunch bag for days I can just throw them in the wash and they come out as good as new.
4. Have Snacks
I think this is a given for most parents, but it can be especially helpful when going out to eat. Sometimes there’s a delay and you just need your kids to stay occupied, so you give them a snack. Or if they decide they don’t like what your ordered them, they have a snack. I feel like I don’t need to say much more here because nobody likes a “hangry” toddler!
Be Flexible
My alternate title for this section was “lower your expectations,” but I figured “be flexible” was more positive. But seriously, as most things go with kids, recognize that not everything is going to be smooth sailing. They may scream their heads off until you have to leave. They might decide to dump their plate of food on the floor. You might get to a restaurant and they be sold out of the one thing that your child eats. In all these instances the best course of action is to stay calm, be flexible, and go with the flow. Be willing and/or prepared to apologize if need be and just do whatever’s necessary to take care of your family.
As a family with twins we are accustomed to people watching us when we are out. My main goal is always to just take care of my family and see to their needs even if I feel like whoever’s watching might be judging me. We’ve had times where our kids were the loudest in a restaurant and the messiest. We just do our best to discipline them as much as we can within reason. But as long as they are not being outright rude or disrespectful, I think they are fine. That is why we choose family friendly places to eat. Generally, the places we eat are loud enough and busy enough that no one notices if your kid is having a bad day.
Focus on Eating
Ultimately, the goal of going out to eat for us is to enjoy a good meal that we don’t have to cook or clean up. I would assume this is the same for most families. As I said in a previous post it is sometimes easier to go out. That is because it does eliminate the cooking and cleaning part of the meal. I generally spend about an hour cooking for a meal that takes 15-30 minutes to eat. Then my husband or I will spend another 30 minutes cleaning later. By the time we’ve done all of that and gotten our kids settled, we’re barely able to enjoy our meal or each other’s company.
So I want to encourage you that if it’s within your budget, don’t let having kids keep you from eating out. Use these tips to help you be prepared. Have an open mind so you can be flexible. Then enjoy being able to just eat.
Martina
Bonus Tip
Want to save money while eating out? Check out this list of restaurants where kids eat free. It is organized by day of the week. I check this whenever we decide to spontaneously eat out. Always check with your local restaurant to be sure that they follow this listing.