Chicago's Best Chain Restaurant Kid Menus
Panera Bread Company
Locations: city and suburb wide
www.panerabread.com
Squeezable organic yogurt, organic grilled cheese sandwiches and fresh fruit cups make Panera Bread Company a top-pick among small people with a wide array of tastes. Mom and dad will like that the kids' menu offers healthy options like organic dairy and breads made from whole grains for reasonable prices. Even the pickiest of eaters can find something to munch on at Panera. While mom or dad enjoys a bowl of soup or salad, peanut butter and jelly on whole grain bread tops the kids menu. Though not featured on the kids' menu, a cup of low-fat chicken noodle soup and small apple satisfy youngsters with more mature tastes who can't eat large portions.
Corner Bakery Café
Locations: city and suburb wide
www.cornerbakerycafe.com
Tiny tummies and bigger ones alike enjoy the wide variety of food fare at Corner Bakery Café. Youngsters can choose a sandwich, pasta dish or protein-packed egg scrambler for the main meal. They then have a side option of either a cookie or fresh fruit accompanying the pastas and scramblers, and carrot sticks versus chips as a side to any sandwich. During lag time between ordering and eating, busy hands and brains can doodle or engage in games found in the Kids' Activity Book. Parents will appreciate the healthy menu options, reasonable price point, as well as prominently displayed information about gluten or dairy free, and vegetarian options.
Jason's Deli
Locations: city and suburb wide
www.jasonsdeli.com
Jason's Deli is a favorite among young diners and their adult counterparts because the kids' menu items are flavorful and fresh. When ordering a kids' meal, parents can rest assured that the food from Jason's Deli is free of dyes, preservatives and nitrites. Options abound for accompanying sides to a sandwich, hot dog or chicken wrap: little diners can choose between organic apples, organic carrots, fresh fruit or chips with a pickle spear. They also pick their choice of beverage – either organic apple juice or organic white or chocolate milk. Equally impressive about this dining establishment is the kids' salad bar as well as the company's recent ban of high fructose corn syrup in menu items, sans the fountain sodas, which is next on the company's to-do list.
Sweet Tomatoes
Locations: various Chicago suburbs
www.souplantation.com
It's hard to go wrong while taking kids out to eat when the chosen restaurant destination features the speed and healthy food choices found at a salad and soup buffet. Our kids enjoy grazing on their choice of vegetables found along the salad buffet line. Kids also indulge in one of the many featured soups. Even if your kids don't enjoy salad and vegetables, Sweet Tomatoes buffet has menu items that will appease even picky eaters. Macaroni and cheese as well as focaccia pizzas are featured on another buffet line. And after the meal, youngsters can choose from baked goods or even soft-serve frozen yogurt.
Noodles and Co.
Locations: city and suburb wide
www.noodles.com
Fight it as we may, even kids who love broccoli and carrots have a special place in their taste palettes for anything pasta. Though Noodles and Co. doesn't offer a separate menu specifically for kids, all dishes are offered in size small perfect for little diners, which essentially makes the entire menu a kids' menu. (A duo of preschoolers or two toddlers could even split a small meal.) Several noodle entrees of different ethnic flavors, including Asian, Mediterranean and American, are offered. Our family particularly appreciates the feature of adding a protein or veggie to any dish to boast the nutritional value for only 75 cents a pop and the ability to add organic white or chocolate milk to any meal.
Hyacynth Worth writes about raising boys, healthy parenting, faith and everything else included in arena of motherhood at Undercover Mother.
