Taking outside food into a restaurant - your opinion?

[lecach]

For some reason, this always really bugs me. I can see if maybe it's some type of restaurant like maybe sushi and your child doesnt eat that. But to take a Happy Meal into a restaurant that has a huge menu including burgers and fried? I just dont think it's right. A Mom on my Mommies board stated that she and her DH had dinner at a new italian restaurant and took a happy meal for her DD becasue "that's what she wanted". I just dont get that.

Just wondering how everyone else feels?

 

[tr-ray]

I personally don't think that's appropriate. I suppose it depends on the type of restaurant, but I still wouldn't do it.

My DD is still young, but I would make sure we went somewhere where there were menu choices that everyone in the family liked. If that was not possible, I would just order take out, and pick up something else for that child.

 

[DisMomme]

My DMIL has a very specific diet due to allergies. Not all restaurants can or will accommodate. She has taken food from home into a restaurant when we go out as a group. We always check ahead of schedule of course and we have never had a restaurant forbid it. Especially those that won't accommodate her diet.

 

[lecach]

We always check ahead of schedule of course and we have never had a restaurant forbid it. Especially those that won't accommodate her diet.

I think this is totally okay. What bugs me is the happy meals or other fast food meals taken into a restaurant because that's what your child wants. Sure - my DS would LOVE to eat a fast food meal all the time. But for us it's a special treat and not something for him to eat at a sit-down restaurant.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

For some reason, this always really bugs me. I can see if maybe it's some type of restaurant like maybe sushi and your child doesnt eat that. But to take a Happy Meal into a restaurant that has a huge menu including burgers and fried? I just dont think it's right. A Mom on my Mommies board stated that she and her DH had dinner at a new italian restaurant and took a happy meal for her DD becasue "that's what she wanted". I just dont get that.

Just wondering how everyone else feels?

Get your coat and hat on because that is just the begininning of the snowflake blizzard. I think it is wrong and lazy of the parents. Simply say NO! If we are going out to dinner- yes, even for sushi- my kids eat off the menu. They will also have to try the new food. Of course if they don't like it they don't have to eat a plate of it but they do have to try it. There is always something on a menu that they like. It's not like restaurants serve live animals that you have to beat and kill for dinner with a side of brussel sprouts. The Mom and Dad you talk about are lazy parents who will indulge snowflake no matter what because they simply either can't be bothered to parent and teach their kids something or they think their child is a snowflake.
YMMV.

 

[left210]

Our DS has multiple food allergies and if they cannot accomodate then we take food in for him. Once we took Burger King to McDonalds as he can have their fries and chicken fingers but not McDonalds. We only did this because other DS had a field trip to McDonalds and therefore we could not just go to Burger King.

 

[mom2meiko]

absolutely not. the only exception is baby food (obviously), severe food allergies that cannot be accomodated or maybe, in desperate times, some crackers or something to tide over a hungry child while they wait for their order to arrive. other than that, no no no.

 

[lecach]

Our DS has multiple food allergies and if they cannot accomodate then we take food in for him. Once we took Burger King to McDonalds as he can have their fries and chicken fingers but not McDonalds. We only did this because other DS had a field trip to McDonalds and therefore we could not just go to Burger King.

Food allergies are different. I do think it's a good idea to call the restaurant first and explain the situation to them and make sure they dont have a problem. At fast food restaurants I dont think it's as bad.

 

[Leajess99]

My kids have NEVER had the option of eating something from a place other than a restaurant we are going to. I think it is quite rude to go to a restaurant with a child that brings in fastfood. My kids love doing Japanese Hibachi and we have seen many times when adults bring in McDonald's Happy meals for their kids. If the child does not want to eat there than they need to make other arrangements in my opinion.

My kids have always tried new foods and I try to give them a choice in where we eat.

 

[dallastxcpa]

When I was in college and waited tables there was nothing more anyoing than parents who brought happy meals in for their kids. If your kid can't sit still or won't eat the food then get a babysitter for the evening.

 

[VacationNeeded]

I also don't think it's appropriate to bring fast food to a sit-down restaurant. I think it's disrespectful to the restaurant owners (talking of local, non-chain restaurants). I personally think if the parents can't find an item on the menu that their child will eat, then they should make alternate plans for their child when they go out to eat. For example, feed the child beforehand, get a babysitter, etc.

 

[tartemis]

I guess, I don't see what the big deal is --- assuming the child is on the younger side (e.g. not 14). Everyone seems to be in agreement that you can take baby food for a baby. I have taken toddler food for my toddler (e.g., grapes, etc.), to restaurants before. Personally, I abhor McDonalds, but really, what's the difference? It's not like the restaurant would be making a lot of money if that child did eat their food. Considering that there is a good chance the parents (where the money lies) would not have gone out had they not brought along the child, I would think it would be in the best interest of the restaurant not to care.

 

[StepInTime]

Unless it's for a baby or an allergy don't do it. Family owned restaurants need all the help they can get in this economy and you're advertising for someone else while you eat there. That is not helping. Most restaurants have something for everyone, just because the child wants it is not a good reason. If you don't see something your child will eat ask, most places will work with you. I manage a restaurant and I'm a mom...I just wouldn't do it. JMHO

 

[burgundybooks]

A Mom on my Mommies board stated that she and her DH had dinner at a new italian restaurant and took a happy meal for her DD becasue "that's what she wanted". I just dont get that.

Just wondering how everyone else feels?

Just based on the above, I would say if they felt DD would absolutely not find anything she liked to eat at the Italian restaurant, she should have the Happy Meal before going to the restaurant. It should not be taken into the restaurant.

Italian just seems like someplace almost anyone could find something to eat.... just plain pasta even...?

Just my 2 cents!

 

[C&G'sMama]

No, it's not appropriate. Don't go or leave the kid home with a sitter. Or be the parent. No, we're not getting you a Happy Meal. We are going to Luigi's. You must order from there. Order a child's meal at the restaurant, if the kid doesn't eat at the restaurant, Oh well.

And my kids LOVE brussel sprouts.(really)

 

[Mrs D]

I so agree with most of the PP's that it not right to bring in fast food to a restaurant.
Over the summer we had a family get together with my Bro, SIL, adult nephew in from out of town with his GF and her daughter. I have my 2 kiddos (4 and 2) with - Bro makes a great dinner, grilled sausages, minestrone soup from scratch, ravioli and pasta salad. I dish a little of everything for my 2 kids, in walks nephew's GF with her DD6 and a happy meal. "She will only eat this", plops it directly in front of my kids!
The good news, although my kids love happy meals, it didn't faze them. They eat what is put in front of them. But it really showed me something about the way some people parent!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I've done it in two different circumstances. One is I have a good friend who used to do it all the time -- her kid, her choice, I say. Once we went out with them and I went ahead and let my son get the happy meal too. Usually we get take out, and if the kids want different take out we might order 2 things.

The other time is we generally stop for fast food on the way home from late night ski trips. I'm not really a burger fan, but that's what the kids all want, so we drive through KFC for me, and then all go sit in McD's and eat. Of course we're not really trading up or down in terms of nutrition.

So, I guess I'm guilty too.

 

[C&G'sMama]

I've done it in two different circumstances. One is I have a good friend who used to do it all the time -- her kid, her choice, I say. Once we went out with them and I went ahead and let my son get the happy meal too. Usually we get take out, and if the kids want different take out we might order 2 things.

The other time is we generally stop for fast food on the way home from late night ski trips. I'm not really a burger fan, but that's what the kids all want, so we drive through KFC for me, and then all go sit in McD's and eat. Of course we're not really trading up or down in terms of nutrition.

So, I guess I'm guilty too.

Drive thru and take out are different. But IMHO in the case of someone making a nice meal or going to a sit down restaurant and bringing in fast food, it's just plain rude.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

I had to resort to this once, a long time ago. My oldest ds has Asperger's Syndrome. We go to a fancy restaurant with several other families over the holidays once a year. My ds wouldn't eat a thing in that restaurant, as he has very limited food tolerances. I did bring along nuggets and fries just because the alternative, in our case, would have been that our family didn't attend he we would have had to deal with a melt down in the restaurant. So, I can see times when this might be necessary. The restaurant made out much better with what we chose to do than if we had not attended. My ds was three or four at the time, and luckily we've worked on variety with him and can now eat at most places (he's 12).

I was a bit miffed several weeks ago. I had taken our kids to a pizza shop in the mall...had to really work to get us a table, due to the crowds, etc. Behind us was a teen/college age kid who had brought his McD's to eat inside this restaurant. I thought maybe he was joining someone who was eating at the pizza shop, but that didn't happen. My kids thought that was quite strange, but it opened up a conversation about appropriate behavior.

 

[Disneyadore]

Look at this from anther angle. If YOU owned a restaurant and people would come in,take up a seat,use the plates and silverware just to eat there own home cooked food would you be thrilled?

Ever seat that is taken by some one that brings his own food is a financial lost for the restaurant.
It's the same as make your own dough at home ,go to your bakery and ask if the baker puts your dough in his oven and bake your bread for free.