1-year-old eating restaurant food?

[rouge]

We spontaneously stopped off at a restaurant with DD (just over 11 months) yesterday at her tea-time and I had no food for her with me. Scanned the menu and ordered some bread and a side dish of cabbage, peas and leeks for her. Asked about salt - they said they couldnt cook it salt-free as it was already mixed, but that it wasn't salty anyway. When it arrived I could see the coating of salt on it! I gave her some bits of chicken from my salad and DH gave her some bits of his sandwich but nothing else we were eating was really suitable. I'd love DD to start sampling restaurant food but am now wondering how realistic I'm being ....

What do/did you do?

[hunkermunker]

I have been giving DS adult food since he started being weaned. His absolute favourite is chicken and red onion (from my pizza) and doughballs in Pizza Express!

I don't think I'd eat in a restaurant that didn't offer anything suitable for him, but it's hard when you're on the road. You can usually find a Pizza Express though And I always carry a banana with me!

[rouge]

So I should just relax and let her pick at our food I guess ..... with a banana as back-up to make me feel better if she doesnt end up eating a 'proper' meal? Sounds sensible actually

I just worry about salt ... Less of a concern after 12 months though I think??

[Blackduck]

Ds is nearly 20 months and goes to our local Indian with us regularly...I never order anything specifically for him, but make sure that something is suitable...he pigs out on poppodoms, nan, the salad with the starter - toms, fruit etc - and usually finishes with rice and dahl......always take his biscuit box (bread sticks etc.)with us just in case...

[tortoiseshell]

Dd loves indian too! She happily chomps her way through kormas, and other milder dishes. Was very funny the other day - she hit a chilli and the speed she grabbed the water at was approaching the speed of light! Didn't put her off though - returned happily to chomping! (She's 17 months btw). I don't worry too much about salt when we go out - as long as we're careful at home, I don't mind her having a bit when we occasionally go out.

[hunkermunker]

Yes, I think that as long as you're careful about salt at home, in a restaurant it's a bit different. They're unlikely to ingest enough salt in a single sitting at a restaurant every now and then to do any harm, and as you say, once they're a year it's less of an issue.

[handlemecarefully]

I'm with hunkermunker - the odd salt added meal at a restaurant isn't a deal breaker, as long as you are careful at home.

I know what you mean though, I worry about salt. Have guilt pangs when I give my 8 month old a few mini cheddars to eat! (he likes them!)

[rouge]

OK thanks everyone, I like the idea of DD eating out properly so will loosen up a bit!

[Hulababy]

I am with the hunkermunker too. DD has eaten out with us since...well, since birth really.. but eating from our plates since weaning. We don't cook with salt at all at home anyway, so I figure a bit in a restaurant isn't going to hurt. When she was younger we just ordered wisely for ourselves and asked for a little plate to give her some of ours. Now she is older (2.5yo) she has her own choices. She loves eating out, and we do it at least once or twice a week - so has plenty of practise!

[rouge]

That's what I'm aiming for Hulababy - it's quite exciting really!

[Rarrie]

With my DD (13 months) I tend not to worry too much. At home she eats very healthily - organic / vegetarian and I keep a close eye on her diet, but I don't want food to become an issue so when we're out, she picks off our plates, just like she does at home. I keep lots of snacks on me though - just in case! Apart from that she'll try a bit of anything - indian, italian etc. The only thing we don't let her have is Chinese (cause of the MSG) but we don't eat it in front of her, so its never an issue!

[PlainFlum]

I give my DD anything and everything. She eats all sorts of family food which of course has salt in such as beef bourgigogne, lasagne, curry or it would have little flavour.

She eats restaurant food alot.

Don't really get the no salt thing. She gets salt in food. I don't add salt to her food at the table though. But I do add pepper she likes it and it makes food less bland.

[PlainFlum]

She's 11 months now.

[morningpaper]

I would give her the banana on the way there - then she won't be too hungry and will have something good in her tum to start with!

[rouge]

Thanks all. Rarrie - hadnt thought about the MSG thing What a shame, we love Chinese - are there restaurants that dont use it?