toddlers (between 1 to 2 years) what go out to lunch

[Icklemariposa01]

I have a tad bit off a fussy eater of a 15month old DD, most of time she eats everything else, and we are talking veggies here, green ones too but when it comes to nice ol carbs shes not really into it! She'll devour meatballs but when it comes to the pasta/potatoes/rice its hit or miss that she will eat that. But this is a another post to be done.

so however, regardless of this info that i have given you, I am interested to know what you mumsnetters do when you go out for the day and lunch is involved. What do you feed your little cherubs?

what goes down well in a child friendly restaurant or not so child friendly one. Or do you just bring out the lunch for them and if so what is easily transportable?

thank you for your help
IM

We've always asked for a small plate and given them stuff from our plate at that age. Picnics are easier as you can pack the things they love.

I just order something I know she will like. In our case, pasta, sandwiches etc always get eaten. If there's nothing suitable on the menu I offer here what I'm having (within reason). If all else fails - bread and fruit!

I let them have the nuggets/fishfingers/chips option, we eat out as a treat so occasional crap doesn't hurt.

I also offer some of my food which ds generally prefers.

We generally just give a bit of whatever we've got or order a small portion of pasta, but we don't have a picky eater as yet. If we need a picnic then I just do a sandwich and fruit.

It depends on their mood. Lunch in a cafe is more of a snack. Mostly toasted sandwiches or a toasted teacake. Occasionally I let then have chips. They drink water, fruit juice or smoothies.

I really really try hard to go to places that do kid sized portions of adult food rather than the usual crap we are supposed to pick off a kids menu. usually works better because its the same as mummy really. If I cant they all usually end up wanting to eat mine and I might as well be anorexic

I ask for a spare plate, and DS has some of mine. I order something we both like, and that's it really!

Dd2 is 21 months and would live on pasta if I let her, most places serve pasta so that's easy

She's also fussy about veg but she's really keen on fruit, I generally have a dried fruit bar on me for pudding if I haven't managed to get any veg into her.

Pack a lunch of Crackers, cheese, raisins, cherry tomatoes. Then I'll give her a hot meal later at home.

So pasta appears to be the most popular.

Typical. Trust me to have the only toddler that doesn't devour pasta

Went to pizza express a few times and she loved the polenta chips. So that was good!

Would she eat a ploughman's? Something like that? Let her have a burger or sausages? If it's a once in a while thing I don't see the harm.

My twins eat a lot better in restaurants than they do at home, so we eat out quite a lot. I usually order another adult meal for them to share, as ironically the children's meals are usually salty crap like nuggets and chips.

When you go to a cafe with your LO, try ordering something they don't normally eat at home - they might well surprise you.

I order something we can share, my son is 3 and we still share

Yep, your answers have very interesting to me because I was beginning to feel I was doing something wrong.
But you all seem to be doing what I do to, when out for lunch.
With DD there is just no guarantee that she will eat what we have, cases in point
Wagamamas
Once Mum and I went. We got DD the Katsu chicken with rice and veggies. She loves chicken dippers, so I thought she would be up for that. She ate the enadame, she ate the sweetcorn, she ate a bit of the rice, and only a bit of the chicken.
South bank Spanish food festival.
we all sat by the river in her buggy – she wolfed down two GIANT meatballs with a very tasty tomato sauce with chorizo and wolfed down the rice and coudnt eat the giant green olives fast enough and everything else I brought out with me.
Westfield Stratford food court
did not want to touch any of her chicken. Mozzarella and avocado wrap.
I wont give up giving DD the food again and again just in case she might feel like it on that day. But it seems for now I to take out stuff with me just in case.
Getting a bit concerned now as July we are off on a two week holiday in Majorca. We are self catering but I absolutely want to be out to eat too.

Pasta,cheese balls and potatoes are good to pack.Go for that.