Taking food from 1 restaurant to another for your child - okay?

[stinkerbelle]

As far as the movie theater--really this issue is the same thing as bringing candy into the theater that was bought elsewhere. And of course many of us do that. We justify it by the high prices that theaters charge for snacks, but if it's wrong to bring food into another establishment, it's wrong and it doesn't matter what the reasons are.

not 100%...

a movie theater's main "business" is to show movies.

a restaurants main "business" is to serve food.

I'm not bringing a DVD player in for my kid (if i had one) to watch a different movie while I watch the movie I want...

heheheh

(really - no need to flame...was just trying to be funny here...)

 

[tar heel]

Our movie theater does NOT prohibit bringing in food, even though concessions is the major profit area for theaters. I had a Starbucks latte while I watched The Pink Panther this weekend.

 

[goodeats]

Actually a movie theater makes the majority of it's $$$ from the snack bar. Most of the box office take goes back to the movie studios.

And I have taken food from one fast food restaurant into another when my DH and I couldn't agree. But I can't imagine doing it for sit down. Imo this is just another example of the infantizing of children today, and does them a great disservice in the future.

I had one friend in college who was a very picky eater. She survived on turkey meat, fruit, and bagels. Once a bunch of us when to a BBQ restaurant, and she bought a bagel and some turkey from the grocery store next door and brought it inside. I thought it was tacky then and I still think it's tacky today!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

not 100%...

a movie theater's main "business" is to show movies.

a restaurants main "business" is to serve food.

I'm not bringing a DVD player in for my kid (if i had one) to watch a different movie while I watch the movie I want...

heheheh

(really - no need to flame...was just trying to be funny here...)

But I think that movie theaters make most of their money off the snacks that people buy, so bringing it it cuts down on the money the theater makes drastically. Not saying that someone shouldn't bring snacks into the theater, by the way. I don't even go to the theater--haven't been for about a year and it had been a long time before that time. Too expensive and I'd prefer to watch movies at home. Then I can bring my own snacks in.

I bet that people have gone into theaters with a DVD player and let their children watch something else. If we can think it, someone else has already done it!

 

[cardaway]

This is no different than being the dress code argument. In both cases it IS all about what the managment will allow, but if it's OK for people to worry about what others are wearing then it's OK on the outside food subject as well.

FTR, I'm for letting managment deal with it unless it actually impacts my meal. Once that happens I'm speaking to managment. How people dress or what they bring in to eat doesn't me. What noisy toys they bring or if their kids stay seated does bother me.

Also FTR, I think bringing outside stuff in or wearing work clothes to a nice place is tacky.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

That is asuming it is a seafood allgery (pretty rare in young kids, most people wouldn't know about it because how many 3 year olds have actually tried srimp before.) My niece has a seafood allgery, she didn't develope it until she was 10 years old.

I didn't know that seafood allergies often don't develop until older.

I'm speaking of the serious allergies--like the kids with peanut allergies who can't even sit at a special table in the cafeteria because they can't be that close to kids who are eating peanuts. That of course isn't the majority of kids with peanut allergies--most can be around it, just not eat it themselves.

 

[ReneeA]

I have a really severe seafood allergy, but it's not airborne. I can go into the restaurant, just can't eat any seafood or anything cooked in the same oil.

I wouldn't bring food in for my kids. They are 2 & 4, and we eat out at least once a week. I am not a short order cook at home - they eat what DH and I eat. Eat it or go hungry is my motto for the most part. DS4 tried the whole - "I don't like it!" to everything for awhile, but got over it pretty quickly when he didn't get anything else.

They obviously aren't picky and can find something to eat anywhere we go.

 

[figment52]

I am sensative to this becasue my niece has many serious food allergies. Sometimes it is just easier to take something that you know she can safely eat than worry about finding something on the menu and then worry that there is something in the way it is prepared that she is allergic too (soy is a no no for her. look at a label sometimes, there is soy or soy products in a lot more stuff than you may think). Not all restaurants can accomodate food allergies (Disney however is GREAT about it) We always explain the situation to the wait staff and hostess or manager but we don't exlain to the person sitting next to us, unless they start making rude comments and then we explain.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I am sensative to this becasue my niece has many serious food allergies. Sometimes it is just easier to take something that you know she can safely eat than worry about finding something on the menu and then worry that there is something in the way it is prepared that she is allergic too (soy is a no no for her. look at a label sometimes, there is soy or soy products in a lot more stuff than you may think). Not all restaurants can accomodate food allergies (Disney however is GREAT about it) We always explain the situation to the wait staff and hostess or manager but we don't exlain to the person sitting next to us, unless they start making rude comments and then we explain.

That is just what I was talking about!

Soy is a bad one, it is in so much you would not suspect.

I get so sick of questioning every server or wait staff about it. Eating is so much easier when you can just eat whatever it is you feel like, not the only thing that is "safe" on the menu (besides DD being allgerigic I need to not eat any myself because I am still her food source for a little bit longer. )

So if you are questioning what others are doing, just be happy you don't have to worry about it yourself. (if this allergy related, but even if it isn't, why should it mater at all to another person eating in the resturant?)

 

[DizBelle]

Couldn't there be health regulations that would make a restaurant prohibit outside food? Can the restaurant be held liable if the outside food consumed on their premises made the patron sick?

 

[gina2000]

I have two specific examples of times I have brought in food and the result.

Situation #1 - One day, we decided to eat BBQ at a rib place that in its heyday, was packed. It was very early and quiet. My DS would not eat ribs so we bought McDonalds in. We explained the situation to the person at the podium and told them that if it was a problem, we would be very happy to leave. She assured us it was okay. We sat, ordered drinks and food and all of a sudden the owner came out absolutely incensed that we had brought in food. I calmly explained the situation, offered to leave but was told it was okay.....this once. It was an insurance issue according to the owner. He also told us that the waitperson was in big trouble. We apologized to the waitperson who was very gracious about it. The situation didn't sit well with me and we quickly ate and never returned.

Situation #2 - My husband and I love exotic food and we have been going to a storefront Thai restaurant for close to 15 years. When our son was born, we continued to frequent the restaurant and brought in McDonalds with us every week. The restaurant was trying to build a clientale and they never, ever were anything but gracious about the situation. Within a few years, DS was eating Thai with the best of them and we still frequent the restaurant on a regular basis. It has a thriving business and they continue to be gracious and accomodating to everyone that walks through the door.

Oh....and as for the first place......they're out of business. I certainly don't wonder why.

With the proliferation of restaurants in our area and the amount of times we eat out on a regular basis, we can pick and choose restaurants. And we do on an ongoing basis. I'll always remember and patronize a restaurant that helped me enjoy a meal when it was clear that one tiny member of my family was not interested in eating that sort of cuisine. And when that one small member decided to step up to the plate and taste, it was largely due to the fact that he had seen us eat that sort of cuisine for months. His curiousity got the better of him. And the graciousness displayed at that restaurant of choice has made it a favorite with not only my family, but other families who also have children who have developed a taste for the exotic by watching their family dine on unusual dishes.

Initially the situation doesn't always favor the restaurant but if they work with the patron, they are rewarded with loyalty and appreciation. I know that works for me.....and them.

 

[Chicago526]

Hmmm...I was going to say I was 100% against it until the allergy issue popped up.

If allergies is NOT the issue, just the fact that little Johnny only like burgers from McD's and won't eat anything else, then as I said, I'm against it. Leave Johnny with a sitter or have them go over to a friends house whild Mom and Dad have a nice dinner alone, or order take out. Lots of restaurants let you order ahead and just pick up the food, some will even bring it out to you car! On the way home you can stop at McD's (or whatever) for little Johnny and everyone is happy (and you can eat in the comfort of your own home, in front of the tv )

If allergies is an issue, I personally would still attempt to avoid a situation where I brought in outside food. I'd either have the child stay with a sitter or be at a friends house, just order take out and eat at home, or I'd call ahead and inquire about the ingrediants and see if there was something on the menu my child could enjoy and not cause a reaction. This saves the hassle of tieing up the poor server with "does this have X in it?" questions and finding out too late that everything on the menu is off limits. I'd only bring in outside food as a last resort, and even then I'd bring food from home (sandwich and chips or whatever) rather than food from a fast food place. It could cause liability problems for the restaurant, and just looks rude (even though it isn't intended to).

My sympathies for anyone that has a child with food allergies, I'm sure it can't be easy. I've had a few close calls with DH and his allergy to cantalope (which until I met him, I'd never heard of!), and he's an adult! It must be a million times harder with kids!

 

[mommaU4]

Um, whatever they do is cool by me if it keeps the little rugrat happy and quiet so we can enjoy our meal in peace.

 

[Planogirl]

I have brought food from one fast food restaurant into another but I don't flaunt the bag and the name of the restaurant. That seems a bit disrespectful to me.

I'm on the fence about bringing fast food into a "real" restaurant. I prefer that DS learn to eat whatever the restaurant offers but then again I can see that if it's kind of unusual food that it might be hard.

 

[mommytotwo]

I have never brought food from home or from another restaurant into a different restaurant. We always go to a restaurant that has something my daughter would eat. I usually get stuck being the one ordering something on the menu such as shrimp which she likes.
I have heard about parents bringing in outside food and it's not my style and I just stay away from it.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Situation #1 - My DS would not eat ribs so we bought McDonalds in.

I won't go near ribs with a ten foot pole. However, when I go to a BBQ place there are always PLENTY of other options I can chose from. Could your son not have done the same?

 

[hentob]

Situation #2 - My husband and I love exotic food and we have been going to a storefront Thai restaurant for close to 15 years....

Mmmmmmm--Thai

Our kids just eat the Jasmine rice I hope they come around one day like your little one did

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Wouldn't do it...not my style, as mommytotwo said. The worst we did was bring Cheerios, because we brought Cheerios everywhere "just in case", but it was usually to hold them over and keep them happy. There's usually SOMETHING that my kids would eat (and, of 3 kids, I've got one VERY picky eater). If not, they could eat when they got home...something I didn't have to make (ie, cereal).

And there are plenty of other choices...don't go, get takeout, feed the kids beforehand, etc.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Not really the same as a "real" restaurant but we've down this in Downtown Disney. We really love the Earl of Sandwich but the kids don't so we get them McDonalds and then eat over at the Earl. It wouldn't bother me if some did this for their kids elsewhere though.

 

[gina2000]

Nope, ribs, ribs and more ribs. He would have none of it. He was pretty little - about 2 as I recall - and that's the age where he just wouldn't try anything unknown. Heck, he wouldn't try things that he had loved in a previous moment. I knew his limitations. Plain macaroni, canned beans and broccoli. Occasional McNuggets. That's why we stopped and picked up something when we decided to have a spur of the moment dinner and offered to leave when we walked in the door if the situation did not suit the restaurant.

For the record, I have no problem with a restaurant not wanting outside food in its dining room. I knew we were taking a chance. We had been out all day and I didn't feel like cooking. We were in an area we don't often frequent and remembered how much we had enjoyed the restaurant on other occasions. So we took the chance. The reception we got was rude despite my best efforts to be honest and my willingness to depart. I'm not a dolt. I knew I was doing something that was unconventional. We were there off hours, in an empty restaurant and were going to order a full meal, beer and dessert. It was a casual venue. He just wanted it both ways.....he wanted the business (and needed it) but he also wanted to make it perfectly clear how annoyed he was with us and his waitstaff. Well, we never went back. And he's gone. Oh, well......