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Eating out with a one year old

21 replies

missg00se · 21/07/2017 23:11

Not sure I've posted this in the right place but I'd be really interested to hear what other people do with regards to going out to eat with a child who is around one year old

In my daughter's case she is eating well and needs a decent meal but struggles to chew a lot of things still (she's only recently got her first teeth through).

She has a milk allergy, which doesn't help! I find a lot of kids menus aren't suitable for her as she just can't chew the food, or it's milky/cheesy. A lot of the time she's limited to just fish fingers and chips, which seems a shame.

Taste-wise she's not fussy at all, she rarely knocks anything back because she doesn't like it. However now that she's refusing to be spoon fed and insisting on feeding herself her options are a bit more limited as she still struggles to chew more chunky/dry food.

She really loves her food and I try to take her out for lunch once a week to get her used to eating out and behaving in restaurants. So far, we've found a few places that work well for us. But I'd like to expand our horizons beyond Wagamama!

We tried Thaikhun the other day but the kids meal we ordered was really dry and unappetising so she ate most of my lunch and I got stuck with overcooked chicken Hmm

What do other people do with children this age? I'm beginning to think I'd be better off just ordering a couple of starters / side dishes that I think she might like and sharing with her. I always let her try some of what I'm having anyway.

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 21/07/2017 23:15

Sides are the way to go. Especially peas. A bowl of peas used to keep DS happy for hours in a restaurant highchair.

missg00se · 21/07/2017 23:18

@BikeRunSki ah, peas! She'd live on them if I let her Grin

OP posts:
AtleastitsnotMonday · 22/07/2017 14:16

Pizza express are really good with allergies. Their children's menu is good (all their food is pretty soft) and they will swap the cheese on pizzas with a vegan mozzarella which is obviously dairy free.
Otherwise I think ordering a combo of sides and starters or asking for an extra plate and sharing yours is the way to go.

fizzytonicplease · 22/07/2017 14:59

I have always either let DS have some of mine, or I ask for another dish normally pasta and just ask if I can have a smaller portion it's never been a problem. I think most places have a standard kids menu but are happy to make other dishes smaller if you ask.

Sirzy · 22/07/2017 15:06

I used to get jacket potatoes for DS around that age.

missg00se · 22/07/2017 17:54

Thanks for the ideas! Will give pizza express a go and hope it's more successful than Zizzi. To be fair, she was in a rotten mood that day... Wink

OP posts:
Emboo19 · 22/07/2017 18:05

My DD, is only 9 months so a bit younger, we do baby led weaning though and she hates me trying to feed her with a spoon. We just ask for a extra plate and give her what ever we're having, will usually order a side or two as well and I usually have a few snacks with us, cucumber/carrot sticks or some fruit in a tub kind of thing.

ScoobyDoosTinklyLaugh · 22/07/2017 18:40

We just bring a plastic plate and give 20 month DD a bit of what we're having. If we don't want to share much of our food we'll get her a side dish.

PixieMiss · 23/07/2017 11:54

My DS is 16 months and has a milk allergy too!

Jacket potatoes with beans are a hit here. Nandos too! He has the sweet potato wedges and corn on the cob sides. Carluccios is pretty good - the chicken milanese is suitable.

Tbf we never seem to have much of an issue! Kids menus have come a long way from the nuggets and chips of my youth I've found Smile

missg00se · 23/07/2017 14:21

@PixieMiss we have both a Carluccio's and a Nando's in our local shopping centre so I will give them a go. Thanks!

She polished off a (my) Pret crayfish and avocado salad yesterday. Seems there's really no telling what she'll take a fancy to!

OP posts:
Rainatnight · 23/07/2017 15:48

My DD is 13 months and from what I understand on here, we have a very small window left when they'll still try new things before the nuggets phase hits!

When we're eating out, she'll always be happy with pasta, but to be honest, we can make up a little meal for her from what's on our plate. So at our local gastropub, we have a roast and give her a little plate plate of some veg, potatoes and meat.

And bread. Endless, endless bread.

NannyRed · 23/07/2017 16:04

I remember buying my daughter a prawn cocktail starter because she liked all seafood and tomatoes at that age. We also used to order for the adults and add an extra side of veggies and share the meat or fish from our plate whilst giving our toddler a bit of broccoli and carrots etc.

Rainatnight · 23/07/2017 19:13

I'm going to try tapas soon, because it's all bits and pieces anyway.

missg00se · 23/07/2017 20:05

@Rainatnight we're just back from Spain and tapas worked really well - apart from the fact that DD shunned most of the cheaper dishes and decided she would only have grilled prawns and cod most of the time. 9 Euros for six prawns, ordered as a treat for me and my mum and DD ate four of them for lunch Shock Wouldn't touch tortilla, annoyingly enough, as that would have been a really easy lunch option!

Actually I tell a lie. Tomato bread also went down exceptionally well, as did steamed clams - but I was a bit wary of giving her too many of the clams in case she got a dodgy tummy. No idea why I thought she would as I was eating them quite happily and had no reason to think there was anything wrong with them. I've been on a plane with a baby with explosive diarrhoea before though. It's not something I want to repeat!

OP posts:
Rainatnight · 24/07/2017 11:52

Ha, your DD has expensive taste! Yes, I was assuming she'd be into the tortilla and the tomato bread. Looking forward to it now!

missg00se · 24/07/2017 19:24

@Rainatnight ah I'm jealous! Seems like a distant memory now. Enjoy!

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Ellypoo · 24/07/2017 20:49

When DD was 1, I'd just give her bits from my meal (and her Dad's if he thought about it before piling the salt & pepper on Angry)
She wouldn't eat a full meal, but sides are a good option too!

Rainatnight · 24/07/2017 22:50

miss we're not going to Spain, sadly! Just lunch out with some friends.

missg00se · 24/07/2017 23:22

@Rainatnight ah well, order a sangria and pretend! Wink

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missg00se · 24/07/2017 23:26

@Ellypoo I have the same issue with DH. A plate drowning in vinegar before I've managed to nab some food for the wee one. It's almost like he doesn't want to share... Hmm

OP posts:
tissuesosoft · 24/07/2017 23:29

In pizza express they don't advertise it but they'll do a kid's pesto pasta

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