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The first time some people think about eating healthily is after they have children. Even if they have survived up until that point on takeout pizza and frozen dinners, they start to consider the effects of their food. They learn what GMO stands for and start to question every morsel of food that crosses their little one’s mouth.
Even though we live in the time of helicopter parenting and baby led weaning, it is interesting to see that one thing that has not changed much is the children’s menu at many restaurants. From chicken fingers to mac n’ cheese, it is like stepping into a time warp. It is the one time when the kids of today completely understand where their parents have come from. Now, just try explaining how you got by without the Internet.
Restaurants are normally known for more than chicken fingers. Introducing a wide range of gastronomic delights is not just a way to reduce your food bill. It also benefits those kiddos, as studies show that the first 3 years of eating influence children’s long-term eating. Truffle oil, anyone?
There are ways to encourage the palates of the young while appealing to their finicky sides. And – dare we say it – it is all as easy as child’s play.
Let children enjoy the grill as much as the fryer.
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Children like fried food. That is hardly surprising. Mario Batali says the adjective that sells food more than any other is the word “crispy.” We know very well that frying is not the only way to stimulate the senses. Try grilling a child friendly favorite, like chicken. Kids are attracted to fast food because it is recognizable. French fries can be “fried” in the oven for a similarly crisp exterior and pillowy interior.
Sides can be more than potatoes.
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Americans consume more than 4.5 billion pounds of French fries every single year. By getting the kids addicted early, that number is only increasing. There are over 400 vegetables that could work as enticing alternatives. Cook them simply to let their delicious flavors peak. If worse comes to worse, supply a toy on the side to put a positive reinforcement spin on eating healthy.
Fruit can be fun.
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The amount of whole fruit that kids ate from 2003 to 2010 increased by 67%. That being said, the total number still remained low, but not nearly as low as vegetable consumption. Placing fruit on the menu might be a good way to make the menu – and the kids – healthier. Slice the berries or fruit and arrange them in a pleasing pattern. After all, kids do like to play with their food. This might not be such a bad thing. A study says that messy kids that play with their food may be faster learners. Go make a face with your banana slices, Junior.
Salads aren’t just for grown-ups.
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Parents who make themselves into virtuous examples say they’re being “good” when they eat a salad. Kids will notice that when their parents are being “bad” (like on ice cream Sundae day) they have wicked smiles on their faces. You can’t do anything about the parents, but you can do something about the salads. As you well know, salads can be composed of much more than lettuce. Surprisingly, broccoli is most kids’ favorite vegetable. Serving a dip with a salad is much more kid-friendly than pouring the dressing on top. You can also serve the salad as a skewer so the picky kids can have control over how and what they eat.
Consider the drinks you offer the young ones.
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Adults get a wine list. Kids get milk and soda. There are a lot more options for kids, including mocktails that will make them feel mature. Consider adding smoothies to your menu for a vitamin boost, even if the kids’ diet has been mostly white bread for the week. If you do serve fruit juices, consider diluting them to keep their sweet tooths from taking over.
Change up your grains.
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Many grains that are exposed to children are highly processed. They act as cheap fuel, explaining why kids have such extreme highs and lows (and tantrums). Whole grains are a great habit to introduce to kids and are delicious, especially when coated in the sauces that kids know and love (such as tomato sauce). Fresh whole grain bread is usually a hit with any age group.
Explore your pasta-bilities.
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Most kids will eat pasta anytime and anywhere. They act like they are carbo-loading for a big marathon (Maybe running at recess works out to a mini-marathon!). Since pasta is an easy win, consider offering more than one type. There is whole grain pasta, kamut pasta, oat bran pasta and many others that can be mixed in with their traditional semolina standby. Puree some vegetables straight into the sauce and it will feel like a treat for the kids while slowly developing their affinity for flavor.
Take a familiar shape but change the ingredients.
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When kids have a birthday party to attend, they are normally fed one of the following: hot dogs, hamburgers, or Pizza. Repeat exposure creates a food familiarity for children, which explains why they often choose the same things again and again. According to Dr. Jennifer Orlet Fisher, “Children do not naturally like healthy foods. They need to learn to like those healthy foods. They like what they know.” Make the burger healthier by adding lots of chopped veggies into the mixture. Make the hot dog in house or even make a veggie lentil dog and smother it with toppings. The taste will be different, but the familiar package may warrant a second (and third and fourth) bite.
Let them assemble it themselves.
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Kids love to do it themselves. Even when doing it themselves results in disaster. They like the self-sufficiency that comes with a product like Lunchables. Make any meal into a Lunchables-like experience and your mini clients will be ecstatic. Allow them to assemble their own sandwiches. Let them choose the toppings for their pizza. Provide a pasta dish with veggies and cheese separately. Encouraging kids to get creative may make them into sous-chefs in no time.
Introduce children to local foods.
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Describing on the kids menu or coloring page where their food comes from can help develop informed consumers. Teach kids why it’s important to seek out local foods. They are sponges, and they can learn from the senses, from language, logic and reasoning. Who knows, they may get the connection faster than their parents.
Taking the kids out to eat can drive both the parents and the restaurant crazy at times. With all of the factors colliding to try to get picky kids to enjoy their food, it can make parents consider a life of meals at home. Show them that “home cooking” can be had at your restaurant and you might have a niche market on your hands. Kids have a whole world of adventurous eating in front of them. Take them on the journey…without a French fry or a breadcrumb in sight.