https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:57:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo/page/2#post-2223135 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 16:07:11 +0000 jhd 2223135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>the only time LO has had his own kids meal is when it was free with purchase of adult meals! he still just eats from our plates and is happy with that. I don't feel obligated at all to buy him his own meal at this age (14 mos also) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo/page/2#post-2223119 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:53:46 +0000 rattles 2223119@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We brought our own purées when she was tiny and would bring Cheerios for while she waits, but other than that, we fed her from our plates or ordered something else appropriate for her. Now that she's an older toddler (2.5), we often order from the kids menu. When she was younger though, we ordered a side veggie/fruit or appetizer. At 16 months, I remember her having her own scrambled egg and fruit when we went out for brunch. And I definitely remember her eating edamame and dumplings at our fave sushi place at 18 months! I guess I'm in the minority, but I think it's rude to bring your own food once they're regularly eating real food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo/page/2#post-2223099 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:41:32 +0000 jmarionsmith 2223099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At around 12 months we would order mac &amp; cheese for him or something kid friendly but now he's so picky (he'll be 3 in August) that it's just a waste of money if we order anything besides french fries. So we usually pack him a meal now. It is SO much cheaper, he can eat as soon as he sits down, and if he's still hungry then we can order him fries. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo/page/2#post-2223091 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:37:28 +0000 MoonMoon 2223091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our LO is 25 months and still not eating enough to order something separate for him! He'll share with us, sometimes a little sometimes a lot. Recently we've been experimenting with ordering him his own thing, and it's been hit and miss. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo/page/2#post-2223079 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:28:29 +0000 MamaG 2223079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't feel bad about bringing in your own food. But we did often order an extra side for our LO at that age. Sweet potato at one of our steak joints was always a hit for her. </p> <p>We still do carry in food and she's almost 4. She doesn't care for Asian food, so we will carry in other food for her to eat. I figure if they have a huge problem with it, they will let us know and it's probably better for them to have us paying for a meal for us than not having us as a customer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo/page/2#post-2223066 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:17:10 +0000 Foodnerd81 2223066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is making me realize that I'm probably making things a lot harder on myself always packing her dinner! I think next time I'm going to try ordering something for her (but still bringing a few pouches as back up!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo/page/2#post-2222954 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 14:03:42 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2222954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO will be 3 in September, and I haven't ordered much more than just fruit from a menu for him mainly because he's allergic to eggs. Chicken nuggets/chicken strips are actually one of those things that could go either way if they have egg in the breading. Same with bread for grilled cheese, and pasta. So we've been sticking to original ingredient things that I know wouldn't have been contaminated with egg. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo/page/2#post-2222811 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 12:45:19 +0000 Ginabean3 2222811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably around 18 months? We do a combo of ordering food for her, letting her share with us, and bringing our own food. It really depends on the situation and what type of restaurant we are going to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo/page/2#post-2222809 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 12:44:56 +0000 Tanjowen 2222809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 18 months. We don't order a meal for him yet, BUT we don't eat out much, and the only restaurant he regularly goes to with us is a local Mexican restaurant. We give him a veggie pouch and order a sliced avocado and let him eat that with tortilla chips, and then give him bits of whatever I order. </p> <p>I've only ordered a meal separately for him one time, at a steak house, because I knew we were going to be waiting awhile for our food - he got a grilled cheese and fruit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222799 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 12:40:18 +0000 Bubbles 2222799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: that's a really good idea - a bowl of broccoli is something my kid would actually eat! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222792 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 12:30:36 +0000 Mae 2222792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think you HAVE to at this age. I don't and I don't feel badly at all. I do always tip extra for the mess. And we're always out of there fast so at least they can turn the table over. </p> <p>That being said I only don't order food for her because of her allergies and it is too hard to figure out what is made with/on dairy and soy. If she was fine with those I'd always order for her because it is easier for me! I don't really worry that much about what she likes and what she doesn't like because she is good about trying everything and even though there is a lot she doesn't like, a lot of times if I keep giving it to her she eventually likes it. (But if she doesn't eat anything then I do give her some tried and true stuff at the end of the meal to make sure she doesn't go hungry). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222785 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 12:26:37 +0000 gilmoregirl 2222785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is a pretty big eater, so we frequently order a kid's meal for him. We probably started around one. Sometimes we just order an extra side or appetizer or share our food, because he won't eat chicken nuggets and I hate the idea of paying for plain pasta at a restaurant. He's easy to feed though. I'd probably decide based on whether your kids will eat the menu options and/or are likely to eat enough to need a meal. I don't think it's rude to bring food for them to eat, especially when they are so young. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222741 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 12:07:41 +0000 HabesBabe 2222741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We share meals with our older LO (Char is almost 3) but we actually order a kids meal for our son (just turned 1)-- he eats like a tank! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222739 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 12:06:49 +0000 iluvboba637 2222739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i dont think its rude if you don't order anythign for them. i always pack fruit for my son because thats they only thing i can always rely on him eating for sure. if there is something on the menu that my husband or i want to eat that my son will eat too then we get that and share with him. if there is nothign on the adult menu that he will eat then i might get him something off the kids menu, but even from the kids menu, its not a guarantee that my son will eat it. usually if i could just get a side of mashed potatoes, fries, rice, or plain pasta then we're good to go. i find that at some places its cheaper to just add a side of one of those items then to get a kids meal which my 2 y/o wouldn't finish anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222718 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 11:58:30 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2222718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow our daughter is 4 and there are still frequent times that we do not order her her own meal. She doesn't eat a lot for dinner, so we usually just say that she will be eating off of our plates. She eats like a few bites of protein and some veggies usually. Not worth paying the $5 for a meal! Now that we have two kids, we have started getting a kids meal and letting them split it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222713 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 11:57:06 +0000 nana87 2222713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 15 months...I'm not sure exactly when we started ordering for her rahter than just having her eat of our plates, maybe 13 months? Usually it's something that we will also eat since she absolutely will not finish it--like, usually when we eat out it's brunch, so we will order a kid's order of pancakes or french toast. she'll eat a few bites of that, plus some of our food, and we either eat the rest or take it home. And we still give her snacks from the diaper bag until the food comes to keep her from losing her cool while she waits </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222702 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 11:52:59 +0000 Corduroy 2222702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started ordering food for LO around 18 months. I almost always regret ordering from the kids' menu. I've switched to ordering an adult entrée (expecting leftovers) or side dish for her. </p> <p>If LO wasn't likely to eat much I would not order out of guilt/etiquette. I only order out of self defense since I'm a hungry mama. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222687 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 11:46:36 +0000 PurplePeony 2222687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is 19 months and we've only ordered off the children's menu a handful of times. She doesn't eat much so as long as we're getting good she likes, we just give her some of ours. I do often get her a side of fruit or roasted veggies though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222677 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 11:43:08 +0000 mrsjyw 2222677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always get a menu for him to draw on etc, but even at 2.5 he usually just eats whatever we order! We've ordered off kids' menus a few times, but it's never really worth it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222674 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 11:41:51 +0000 MsMini 2222674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started letting S order for himself when he was 2 1/2. Before that I would just order a side I knew he would eat and give him that. I wouldn't bring my own food to feed them at a restaurant. </p> <p>One of the restaurants we go to in town here keeps plain cheerios and puffs and stuff on hand to give little guys as "kid appetizers" another includes a "baby side" with each meal if requested (it is mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, or plain rotini noodles). That one gets a LOT of extra business from mommies in my mommy group! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222670 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 11:39:08 +0000 clover 2222670@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started ordering his own meal around a year I think. He has a pretty good appetite especially if it is not something he frequently gets at home so he usually does a good job eating it then the rest goes home for lunch the next day. I definitely wouldn't feel obligated to order his own meal though, its just our preference so we can order what we like without worrying if he'll eat it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222635 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 11:06:21 +0000 daniellemybelle 2222635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it is rude at all to bring your own food. That being said, I'm lazy and started ordering off the kids menu - or ordering a side for her - when she was about 11 or 12 months old. At that age, I could order a side of broccoli or a sweet potato and that was plenty for her in addition to bites from my plate. Now, I usually do a true kids meal like grilled cheese with apples or broccoli. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222619 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 10:57:26 +0000 My Only Sunshine 2222619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twodoghouse: I definitely don't feel obligated to order her something, and I don't think it's rude to bring food for a toddler to a restaurant. But I usually take into account the extra hassle for the waiter and the extra room we're taking up and leave a big tip - like 20% plus some extra "sorry about the Cheerios on the floor" dollars. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222614 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 10:53:49 +0000 MOMTOLITTLEB 2222614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ordered my son a meal when he was about your LOs' age. He shocked me by gobbling up his whole burger and finishing it off with ice cream, I felt bad not taking him out sooner! However he's still at that touchy age and last week he threw his food on the floor. So it probably depends on the kid and their mood. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222612 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 10:53:13 +0000 Bluebonnet 2222612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both my LOs are great eaters (variety and quantity). Starting around 1, we would order off the menu (either kids menu or get a side dish for them and supplement from our meals). </p> <p>Whatever wasn't eaten, would come home for leftovers. I'm pretty picky about where we eat, and most places we'd go with the kids have items like grilled chicken and fruit/veggies on the kids menu. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222607 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 10:46:37 +0000 ShootingStar 2222607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've ordered off the menu for him practically from the beginning (of him fully eating solids). I guess there was a short time when he shared our food, but either he'd end up eating all of my food or want nothing to do with it entirely. And usually we go out to eat because we're out running around or so we get a break from cooking. So it just doesn't really occur to me to bring or make food for him to take with us.</p> <p>I don't really like a lot of kids menus, but we can usually find him some grilled chicken and fruit. He also loves fish, so I'll order that for him when I can. I don't like his side being french fries, but a lot of places I've been able to order an adult side, like a sweet potato or corn, and give him that instead. I also once was completely dissatisfied with kids menu (Uno's Pizza) and the manager came over and offered to bake him some fish, which DS LOVED. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222605 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 10:44:40 +0000 catlady 2222605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do about half of the time now at 20 months. It really depends on what's on the kids menu vs what's on the adult menu and what the portion sizes of the adult meals are. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222603 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 10:43:23 +0000 coopsmama 2222603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It has only been recently (the past few months) that we've started buying for C off of the kid's menu. He turned 2 this month. I still bring my own food for M who is about a year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222602 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 10:43:14 +0000 littlebug 2222602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twodoghouse: Ha! Fruitarian always makes me think of Notting Hill. No, I feel you. If D ate absolutely nothing off the kids' menu, that'd be another story. So in your case, yeah, I'd probably be packing food. And to answer your original question, I think it's perfectly acceptable to bring along food no matter how old. You never know if someone has allergies, texture/sensory issues, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-what-age-did-you-start-ordering-from-a-menu-for-lo#post-2222595 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 10:34:34 +0000 sunny 2222595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is so picky and won't eat a lot of the stuff on kids menus, so we try to order something off the main menu we can share with her. We recently went to a brunch place and she hates eggs so I ordered a pasta for her... She ate 3 bites. :bummed: </p>