Dining out with Kids: Create a Restaurant Kit for Children

My husband and I are what people call ‘foodies’ -- We love to eat at new restaurants and go on adventures JUST to try new foods. 

We are always on the lookout for new restaurants to try, and we love to share our favorites with our friends. We have found some great places to eat in some unlikely places, and we are always excited to share our discoveries.

In fact, we have driven out of our way for hours just to get donuts or a craft beer that is hard to get. 

One of the best things about trying new foods is that it can be an adventure. You never know what you’re going to get, and sometimes you find something totally unexpected that you absolutely love. It’s great to be able to broaden your horizons and try something new, even if it’s just a different take on a familiar dish.

Our six-year-old does not share our love for food.

Because of his cystic fibrosis diagnosis, we have had to be extra attentive to his eating habits since he was a baby. At only two-weeks old he had to start taking enzymes every time he would have a bottle of pumped breastmilk. At two years old he got a feeding tube to help get some additional calories in him because people with CF burn additional calories and it takes up to 3x more food just to stay consistent.

I’m not sure if this was the cause of his picky eating habits - or his ADHD, or simply because he is a picky kid. But our routine dining in with him is pretty straightforward.

Our routine of dining out with him is daily challenging. 

But.

By planning ahead, and bringing foods he will eat, along with his medication, and our custom restaurant kit the experience of dining out has become much more enjoyable for everyone involved. 

A restaurant kit for children should include items that will keep your child occupied and happy during the meal. Some good options are coloring books, small toys, and portable games. You might also want to bring along some snacks in case the food is taking too long to come out.

We always make sure to bring Ryeson's sensory restaurant kit with us whenever we go out to eat. It's a tackle box filled with legos, fidget toys, drawing supplies, and a few other things that he never gets to play with at home. This way, the experience is unique and even fun for him. AND it makes dining out much more enjoyable for everyone involved.

This idea was inspired by Mary’s Pizza Shack’s sensory restaurant kit they have for kids who get nervous. We had Ryeson’s second birthday there and they loaned us one of their kits when he started getting restless.

Tips for creating a restaurant kit for Children: 

1. Have your kid(s) help pick out the box or bag along with the toys to go inside the kit. This way they can get involved in the process, which often means that they'll actually play with it again.

2. Fill the kit with a variety of items including (but not limited to): -small toys -drawing supplies -fidget toys -portable games. Books and coloring books are great additions also (of course, I would recommend any of the Randall the Blue Spider books, which are all easy reads and help kids cope with things like nervousness and picky eating).

3.. Bring along snacks and drinks in case the food is taking too long to come out (or if your kids are like Ryeson, they won't want anything on the menu, so make sure to bring an entire lunchbox filled with food). 

4. If your child has specific sensitivities, make sure to include items that will help them feel comfortable in new environments, such as noise-canceling headphones or a weighted blanket. Something that will make them feel safe. 

5. If you have multiple kids, you may want to create multiple versions of a restaurant kit for your kids. (though, you probably already realized that before I had to say this). 

Some parents might feel anxious about bringing their child with autism or ADHD to a restaurant. However, if you're prepared with a restaurant kit for children, dining out with kids can actually be a fun and delicious experience for the whole family! Let us know if you have created one for your children - and if so, what’s in your restaurant kit!?!