something to ponder!

[salsababy]

This has come across my mind recently but I was reminded of it today as I stopped by a raw vegan cafe and got my lunch before taking the girls (ages 2 and 4) to McDonald's for a happy meal.

The youngest will eat healthy food if I offer it to her. The oldest won't except for certain fruits. At their house, they eat a lot of processed stuff. I think the youngest likes some of the healthy stuff I share with her because I have watched her since she was 3 months old and she started off with trying good food whenever it was my days to care for her.

So, the pondering comes in- I have seen some very good vegan and raw food places to eat around but yet I wonder why noone has taken the plunge to make a place for kids. I know disney and stuff supports those little toys kids get in happy meals but I wonder what small little thing they can get in healthy kids meals. And a playground to play in. Seriously, the girls would have eaten a much healthier meal IF they had a place that was fun and appealing to them. They really care more about the toys and gym than anything else (sometimes I can't even get them to eat).

Are there hidden costs in this idea or will it not fly to the general public? I know many people don't eat well but they want their children to- somehow they want better for their children than themselves.

[Ginger]

That is my plan actually. Raw vegan fast food chain with kids place & educational stuff that's fun for the kids.

[Conscious Midwife]

I think it's just as feasible as any start up restaurant. Just gotta have liability insurance for the playground.

The catch is serving live food that's fast enough for consumers to in a hurry to enjoy a healthy meal. but lately "fast food" restaurants have been pretty slow let alone crappy service.

Hubby and I were talking about a Vegetarian restaurant just tonight. He's a former restaurant owner/ manager. His only concern was shelf life of all the raw goods. I told him we could blend wilted veggies and fruit into mystery smoothies, so long as they werre still goo, just maybe not pretty.

Alissa's opening a RAw restaurant so I'm sure she's thought through the process, plus her guy/ hubby has been in the biz for years. They may have some insight to offer once they finish their current project. Take her 5 day class and pick her brain for both of us when you get there! :D

[salsababy]

It's funny because it doesn't necessarily have to be all raw. It can include vegan items as well. I don't think children eat enough fruits and vegies every day. In fact, I grew up poor and processed food was always cheapest. As an adult I sometimes forget that I haven't had a fruit or vegie in DAYS!!!

I know the McDonald's that I take the girls to has a habit of making sure they serve your food in 30 seconds or less of ordering. Some may find that exceptional service. I, on the other hand, kind of find that scary!!! :eek:

[MarciRoundtheWorld]

I LOVE that idea!!! Now, if someone would open one in No. VA, I would go there every time I'm in the States.

[juliebove]

We don't go to McDonalds any more after we discovered they lied to us one again by putting milk and wheat in their fries and not disclosing this fact until the new labeling laws went into effect. But prior to that, when we went, my daughter always shared a salad with me and had the apple slices or in some areas whatever other fruit they were serving. We've made some cross country moves so I know there are different things like fruit cups available some places. People would always look at us strangely like...why are you coming here to eat THAT? And you are right it was mainly the toy we went for. Sometimes we'd just go in and buy the toy. They will sell that by itself.

My daughter is older now and understands with her food allergies that they were serving foods that were harming her. She's allergic to dairy and wheat among other things. So now when she sees one she squints her eyes at it and says, "evil"!

My daughter is probably different from most kids though in that for the first two years of her life she never had any fast food at all. I just never liked the stuff. We resorted to going to fast food places on occasion when she had friends over because it was all they'd eat aside from raw veggies. I've only met one kid yet who would not eat the raw veggies I put out for snacks and with meals. And then on cross country moves, my husband got to where he refused to stop anywhere BUT fast food so we went there and made the best of it. After that I relaxed on the issue for a while and allowed her to eat there once a week provided she have both fruit and vegetables with her meal. But now with our food allergies (we didn't know of them until the past couple of years), fast food is not an option.

My daughter's favorite restaurant was Macaroni Grill because their tables are covered with white paper and they give you crayons to color with. Alas we can't eat there any more either. Most of the menu is pasta and/or cheese.

One thing I don't understand though is the need for children to play while eating. Perhaps it's my age. But when I was a kid, the few fast food places we had did not have kid's meals let alone play areas or toys. Most regular restaurants didn't even have crayons available although a few did have a special placemat for kids with puzzles and things on it.

My mom hated to cook. So we dined out a lot when I was a kid. We learned how to behave in a restaurant and that the table was not the place for playing. Although I do recall occasions where we used a napkin or paper placemat and a pen to play word games and such when service was very slow. And when we were very little we were allowed to bring in a small toy to keep us occupied.

[salsababy]

We don't go to McDonalds any more after we discovered they lied to us one again by putting milk and wheat in their fries and not disclosing this fact until the new labeling laws went into effect. But prior to that, when we went, my daughter always shared a salad with me and had the apple slices or in some areas whatever other fruit they were serving. We've made some cross country moves so I know there are different things like fruit cups available some places. People would always look at us strangely like...why are you coming here to eat THAT? And you are right it was mainly the toy we went for. Sometimes we'd just go in and buy the toy. They will sell that by itself.

My daughter is older now and understands with her food allergies that they were serving foods that were harming her. She's allergic to dairy and wheat among other things. So now when she sees one she squints her eyes at it and says, "evil"!

My daughter is probably different from most kids though in that for the first two years of her life she never had any fast food at all. I just never liked the stuff. We resorted to going to fast food places on occasion when she had friends over because it was all they'd eat aside from raw veggies. I've only met one kid yet who would not eat the raw veggies I put out for snacks and with meals. And then on cross country moves, my husband got to where he refused to stop anywhere BUT fast food so we went there and made the best of it. After that I relaxed on the issue for a while and allowed her to eat there once a week provided she have both fruit and vegetables with her meal. But now with our food allergies (we didn't know of them until the past couple of years), fast food is not an option.

My daughter's favorite restaurant was Macaroni Grill because their tables are covered with white paper and they give you crayons to color with. Alas we can't eat there any more either. Most of the menu is pasta and/or cheese.

One thing I don't understand though is the need for children to play while eating. Perhaps it's my age. But when I was a kid, the few fast food places we had did not have kid's meals let alone play areas or toys. Most regular restaurants didn't even have crayons available although a few did have a special placemat for kids with puzzles and things on it.

My mom hated to cook. So we dined out a lot when I was a kid. We learned how to behave in a restaurant and that the table was not the place for playing. Although I do recall occasions where we used a napkin or paper placemat and a pen to play word games and such when service was very slow. And when we were very little we were allowed to bring in a small toy to keep us occupied.

I find cooking food needs to be fun- either at home making food together or having a conversation over a meal or eating out. The one good thing is that kids' entertainment makes eating out fun. It gives the parents a break from making a meal AND entertaining them. I don't know about you guys, but I'm always busy at meal times talking with the kids or making up stories with them so they eat their food and not live on snacks later (they "hide" their food in their tummy from the big bear- it gets kind of lively and it is way cute).

Juliebove, I always love reading your posts about your family situation because I was severly sick when I was in highschool. I was always at the dcotors, hospital etc. getting tested. They couldn't figure out what was wrong with me so they diagnoised me with irrital bowel syndrome. A lady at church talked about celiac disease with me and it sounded like me! I knew I could not handle dairy products even though I loved them. I ate a gluten-dairy free diet for a year in college (which was rough) and had to eat regular food to be tested for celiac disease to confirm that what it was. Well, there was a mix up at the doctors and I never got tested but I felt fine and ate normally after that. No more stomach pains, digestive problemes, feeling like I was going to die stages. But I also was reading Fit for Life and really liked what he said. For the last few years, I rarely eat meat, don't do dairy (except the occasional icecream cone),I drink juice or eat fruit in the mornings, and I do have grains and I feel absoultely fine! It's been about 6 years now. Barely remember all the years I was sick until I have to sit and think about it. Anyways, long story to let you know I feel for you!