We know your little ones could eat chicken fingers and mac ‘n cheese for breakfast lunch and dinner, and most restaurant children’s menus will gladly cater to their simple, yet unhealthy tastes. Fortunately, there are many restaurants out there that are recognizing the need for healthier kids’ menu options that go beyond simply substituting the fries for fruit.
Fishy feeling
Ted’s Montana Grill recognizes that your little ones need a seafood option healthier than fish sticks. Stop in here for some fresh favorites of your own and a children’s menu that includes grilled salmon.
Three locations in Kansas City, visit www.tedsmontanagrill.com
Ooh la la
Even picky eaters won’t complain about the simplicity of a healthy cheese and fruit platter at Aixois French Bistro.
251 E 55 Street in Kansas City
Back to basics
At Atlanta Bread Company, your little on can choose from a healthy variety of lunch meats for a sandwich. Opt out on chips and go for mandarian oranges instead. Not only will your children eat well, but Mondays they’ll also eat for free.
1686 NW Chipman Road in Lee’s Summit
On a roll
Don’t be embarrassed if your kids are better at using chopsticks than you are. At Kona Grill you can order them a sushi sampler with a California roll and choice of a crab or shrimp piece of sushi.
44 Ward Parkway in the Country Club Plaza
Vegging out
If your child’s more of a vegetable lover than anything else you should thank your lucky starts and take him or her to P.F. Chang’s China Bistro where they serve a Baby Buddha Feast of steamed or stir-fried snap peas, broccoli and carrots.
102 W 47th Street in Kansas City
The early bird
If you’re looking for a healthy breakfast option, search no further than First Watch. They serve a fresh fruit crepe made with low-fat yogurt and a side of granola.
Several locations in the Metro area www.firstwatch.com
That’s amore
Uno Chicago Grill not only offers healthy pasta with marinara sauce option on the children’s menu, but you can opt to make it even better with multi-grain penne.
9050 N.E. Barry Road in Liberty
8420 W. 135th Street in Overland Park
Birds of a feather
Make healthy food fun with Red Robin’s grilled chicken on a stick. Kids will enjoy dipping their dinner into their favorite sauce.
Several locations in the Metro area visit www.redrobin.com
State of play
For the most variety in healthy foods, take your kids to California Pizza Kitchen. Among various non-traditional pizzas such as honey chicken and Hawaiian you will also find several types of pasta, grilled chicken with broccoli and a salad topped with Goldfish crackers on the kids’ menu. Sign them up for a CPKids pizza making class when the meal is done.
11655 Ash Street in Leawood
4743 Pennsylvania Avenue in Kansas City
-Taylor Engler is a lifelong babysitter and magazine journalism graduate of Syracuse University. Her favorite kids’ food is mac ‘n cheese in cartoon character shapes.