The server leads us to our table as I feel my boys’ eyes on me. “No, thank you, we don’t need any children’s menus,” I say. My boys are great eaters. They know what they like and what they don’t. They have tried all kinds of food, and as a family, we enjoy going out to dinner.
And unless we are away on vacation, where, occasionally, a children’s lobster or a nice piece of fish is available, they stick to the regular menu.
Who decided that the only things kids like are fried food, mac and cheese, or cheeseburgers?
Nothing against those foods at all. I love a good cheeseburger now and then, and my older son loves the chicken fingers from our favorite pizza place when we order in.
But when there’s a beet and burrata salad, crispy Brussels sprouts, and Chilean sea bass on the menu, why would I try to push them towards a grilled cheese?
I love that they get excited about sharing my salad or ordering their own, and my older son can polish off a filet mignon or a whole lobster no problem. Plus, we often find ourselves in restaurants lately where children’s menus don’t even exist, and that’s just fine with me.
I want them to develop their taste, learn how to enjoy a variety of foods, and appreciate seasonal vegetables and fresh herbs.
They have been helping me in the kitchen since they were little, and they are the ones who take care of our garden or run outside to gather herbs for me while I am cooking.
Don’t get me wrong, my little one loves snacks and won’t turn down a pack of Goldfish, especially if it’s the rainbow colored kind that I refuse to buy for him. But that kid sure loves a nice piece of salmon and crispy asparagus.
My parents always gave me the freedom to order what I wanted from the menu, and I’m happy to continue the tradition with my own kids. Food is something we bond over, enjoy together, and happily share; I hope to be dining with my little foodies long after they have outgrown the children’s menu.
