Kid-friendly restaurant choices
April 13, 2012
Balancing the demands of parenthood and pursuing a college education leaves many moms struggling to find time to cook for their families every night. An easy way to deal with this dilemma is to let someone else do the cooking every once in a while. Luckily, there are many great restaurant options, no matter what your tastes are and where you live.
Parents magazine lists 10 family-friendly chain restaurants on its website. They include Claim Jumper, Denny's, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, The Old Spaghetti Factory, Red Robin, Chili's, Uno's Chicago Grill, Mimi's Café, Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes and Legal Sea Foods.
The publication's May 2012 issue also highlighted a few restaurants that let kids make their own food - a sure hit with even the pickiest eaters! Pizza-loving kids can make their own pizza at Uno Chicago Grill. The server brings them a prepared thin-crust pizza dough and all of the toppings before taking it back to the kitchen to bake. Those who like Mexican food may want to try bringing the kids to a Chipotle Mexican Grill and letting them assemble their own tacos at the table. And, the Melting Pot lets patrons thread their food onto skewers and cook them in a pot right at the table.
Chain restaurants aren't the only ones to offer great options for families eating out either. Local places are often ideal as well. Pizzerias, cafes and other restaurants can be a great bet, especially when both parents and kids like what's being served and enjoy the atmosphere.
Looking for a great place to bring the kids out to eat? Ask local friends for recommendations or search online for kid-friendly restaurants in your area. As a parent, you'll know what type of place is appropriate for your child.
In addition to giving mom and dad a night off from cooking, going out to eat can teach kids some important lessons. Among other things, they'll learn what's expected of them when they're eating someplace other than home, like how to order correctly and politely, staying seated and waiting patiently while they wait for their food and using proper manners when digging in.
Going out to eat doesn't have to be too expensive either. Kids' menu items are often inexpensive and many restaurants even offer nights in which little one's eat free when their parents order a meal. Since portions are usually larger than normal in most restaurants, you can also save money by sharing a meal with your child or ordering one dinner for your kids to share.
Luckily, going out to eat every once in a while doesn't have to affect your ability to pay for your college education. Utilizing grants for parents, scholarships for mothers, single mother scholarships and other financial aid can help make achieving your dream of getting a college degree a reality!
