The New York Times is yet again doing its part for the gastrokid movement with an excellent piece by David Kamp in the dining section on the downside of the restaurant kids menu phenomenon. In the story Kamp writes: "Far from being an advance, I’ve concluded, the standard children’s menu is regressive, encouraging children (and their misguided parents) to believe that there is a rigidly delineated “kids’ cuisine” that exists entirely apart from grown-up cuisine." Of course you’ve all already concluded that yourselves, dear readers, but it is nice to hear it coming from other folks too. Kamp continues: "It pains me that many children now grow up eating little besides golden-brown logs of kid food, especially in a time when the quality, variety and availability of good ingredients is better than ever." We feel your pain.
This might be of interest. I mentioned it to Hugh in Toulouse the other week. Whenever I remember I take a snap of my son’s pre-school lunch menu in Toulouse, France.
http://flickr.com/photos/noodlepie/tags/schooldinners/
This is non-fee paying, state pre-school, nothing fancy. But, the menus are not at all bad.
I agree. I am all for the concept of kids menus at restaurants — smaller portions at lower prices (or free). However, there is no reason the choices should be limited to chicken nuggets, hot dogs and hamburgers. A few restaurants around here offer healthy and flavorful alternatives on their kids menus, but not very many.
Terri
Smaller portions, yes please. Limited selection, no thank you. There is far more to a life of taste than hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken nuggets. My little ones don’t always like what they (or I choose) but experimentation is part of developing taste. When you get lucky with a selection, it’s reason for celebration. Let’s not assume that kids don’t have palates.
This is one reason we hardly ever eat out. I don’t make chicken nuggets at home. Ergo, the kids don’t get to eat them!
However, I do capitulate and buy organic chicken dogs or frozen soy sausages to have on hand when we happen to be eating lamb’s tongues for dinner.
For those times we are dining out, and I do feel it’s important that my kids learn how to behave in a restaurant, we can usually find something on the menu that they’ll try, and if that doesn’t work, there’s always buttered pasta or SOME kind of noodle to be ordered.