For as much as I insist on healthy eating, my children enjoyed going to restaurants and eating fast food as well. More often than not I used it as a tool for my parenting advantage. One of the building blocks for strong minds and strong bodies is teaching through opportunity.
The struggle is real when it comes to going to a restaurant with little kids opposed to just getting takeout. Going to a restaurant can help instill “proper” social skills, and table manners. Since practice makes perfect, pretending to be at a restaurant at home to teach etiquette can be an important tool, the reward being children who are better prepared for the actual event. Behaviors being modified through play can ease the pressure. Once at an actual restaurant, it helps to be patiently firm, using gentle correction, and above all avoid creating a scene. A lot of restaurants can and will put a rush on children’s food, giving them more time to eat. Children will make mistakes, so being prepared with fidgets,(i.e.: coloring), and conversation that includes your children sets a peaceful scene.
Being patient through this process is key. If you need to leave mid meal in order to keep it as a positive experience than do so, don’t hesitate. Watch your children for cues that they are just done, since their patience levels do not always match our own.
Takeout at home can be a great tool for teaching balance. “Treats” are not the enemy if done in moderation. Children imitate us, so when we show control, allowing for the odd indulgence, we bring in balance. Most, if not all, fast food places will have healthier alternatives too, such as apple slices instead of french fries. Keep it fun, since “all work and no play”, gets old fast.