Tips and Tricks for Eating Out With Kids

It's easy to see why lots of parents with young children steer clear of restaurants and prefer to eat at home. It’s a safe zone where thrown food will generally only hit pets and members of the immediate family. But you can’t avoid family functions or that craving for Pad Thai from your local forever!

Just because you have the kids in tow, doesn’t mean you have to relegate yourself to “family-friendly” chains with can often have lacklustre service and even worse food. If you like to eat out and appreciate food, take the opportunity to teach your child to do the same from an early age!

 Here are some great tips to help make dining out with young children an enjoyable experience all-round!

Just because there is a kids menu, doesn’t mean you have to order from it! Some restaurants put great thought and consideration into creating a kids menu that provides an introduction to quality restaurant food that kids will love. Sadly, lots don’t and the kid’s dishes often have no relationship to the good food on the adults menu. Increase your options by asking have the waiter halve one of the adult meals or try ordering your child one or two small entrees. The change will begin to open your child’s eyes to new flavours and food combinations. The meal will be more satisfying and, potentially, less pricey.

Treat eating out as a reward. This helps to motivate your child to behave well in public and make eating out a special even. You can create the air of a special event by dressing up nicely and picking out something special for the little one to wear too. You never want to ruin a special party frock with food spillages so pack your ISOKI Smockette Set. This gorgeous set can be used as an alternative to a bib and will protect your child from getting messy while still looking adorable for a special night out. You can also try to save certain “special” foods or drinks for restaurants. Consider allowing your child to have something that's rare or forbidden at home — dessert, a caffeine-free soda or a milkshake are great examples. The treat will not only occupy their attention but will reinforce the idea that going out is a special privilege.

Pack a bag of tricks. Bring a variety of reliable amusements, including favourite books, games, and some quiet toys. If you know you'll need to fill an hour, overestimate and bring two hours' worth of goodies!

When you eat at a restaurant, the timing of the food is totally out of your hands. It's also a good idea to throw in a few favourite snacks, in case the food is slow to arrive. Pack them all up in your ISOKI Munch Bag and you will have a stylish life saver to protect from any hunger tantrums.

Set some ground rules, and enforce them at home. Young kids are creatures of habit! If you can establish some realistic guidelines when kids eat everyday meals at home, you're more likely to see your child following the rules when dining out. 

However you must have realistic expectations, eating out with a young child is not like eating out with adults. It's not realistic to expect a 2-year-old to sit still, conversing quietly, for an hour. Instead, there will be games, talking, reading, and, most likely, at least a little walking around. However tantrums and tears are all things that go hand in hand with having children. Don’t be embarrassed if things don’t go perfectly when eating out. Wait staff are generally understanding and won’t make you feel unwelcome even if your little one is unhappy with their meal! Just try to enjoy the night and try to learn from every experience!