I love places that have great kids meals! This is from Moe’s Southwest Grill. Burrito, chips, drink, and a cookie! Will get 2-3 meals out of this. Free refills on the drink and chips too!

What are some of your favorite kids meals?

That is huge! omg I wish we had Moe's in my town. I've only heard great things about them.

I've only tried a kids meal from Chick-fil-a and it lasted me a few days. It was grilled nuggets, fruit cup, diet lemonade, and an ice cream cup that I gave to my actual kid. Hit the spot, at the time. Still learning how much I can eat.

I did this with Tijuana flats (ordered a chicken quesadilla) and still had leftovers for days!

15 hours ago, Lisa XO said:

That is huge! omg I wish we had Moe's in my town. I've only heard great things about them.

I've only tried a kids meal from Chick-fil-a and it lasted me a few days. It was grilled nuggets, fruit cup, diet lemonade, and an ice cream cup that I gave to my actual kid. Hit the spot, at the time. Still learning how much I can eat.

I haven't tried the fruit cup before, great idea. I usually do the nuggets w/ the mac n cheese and give the mac n cheese (and ice cream cone) to my daughter.

12 hours ago, JustJovi said:

I did this with Tijuana flats (ordered a chicken quesadilla) and still had leftovers for days!

I have a Tijuana Flats nearby, but have never been there! I will have to check it out, esp b/c I've been on a Mexican kick lately!

I like chipotle! It’s $5 for either a quesadilla or taco and you get a mini bag of chips with it and a drink! Great bang for your buck.

Yess the Chipotle kid's meal is also great! Q protein, 2 toppings/fillers & tortilla or taco shells. It's more than enough!

Edited March 25, 20233 yr by qtdoll

My plan doesn't include chips. Most child's menus are not anything I would touch, nor are they designed with adult pallets in mind.

I do, however, love Mexican food. How can you go wrong with protein and cheese? Flour tortillas are problematic, so I avoid those like the plague.

When ordering out I'd rather just purchase a protein based menu item and go from there. I'd drop the bun or flour tortilla for two reasons. First, such bread items tend to cause problems for me. Second, they are generally not on my plan.

When it comes to left-overs, I've learned not to bother, again for multiple reasons. First, chicken tends not to work in leftover form for me, though I can often manage the right meat in the right style. Second, my spouse generally eats her complete meal rarely with leftovers, so each meal is it's on it's own. Why would I do left-overs when fresh food is the order of the day? Most left-overs get discarded eventually.

As with everyone and everything, if it works for you and your plan it's what matters.

Good luck,

Tek

Hard agree - I know most of us will eat home-cooked proper food the vast majority of the time. It's nice to see what's out there for times when you need to grab something on the go though. I also focus on protein and tend to completely ignore the carb part of fast food!

Thanks for sharing all. Storing some of these up in my memory banks!

On 3/25/2023 at 8:10 PM, The Greater Fool said:

My plan doesn't include chips. Most child's menus are not anything I would touch, nor are they designed with adult pallets in mind.

I do, however, love Mexican food. How can you go wrong with Protein and cheese? Flour tortillas are problematic, so I avoid those like the plague.

When ordering out I'd rather just purchase a protein based menu item and go from there. I'd drop the bun or flour tortilla for two reasons. First, such bread items tend to cause problems for me. Second, they are generally not on my plan.

When it comes to left-overs, I've learned not to bother, again for multiple reasons. First, chicken tends not to work in leftover form for me, though I can often manage the right meat in the right style. Second, my spouse generally eats her complete meal rarely with leftovers, so each meal is it's on it's own. Why would I do left-overs when fresh food is the order of the day? Most left-overs get discarded eventually.

As with everyone and everything, if it works for you and your plan it's what matters.

Good luck,

Tek

Just because it comes with it doesn't mean you have to eat it. Sometimes it isnt practical to eat out in a restaurant and take leftovers home; if this is a way for OP to get the portion of the meal they want in the most cost-effective way, then that's what they should do.

Red Robin has a kids meal with grilled chicken "dippers" and a side of veggies.

I also like the "vegetable plate" kids meal from Cracker Barrel. It's just 3 sides of your choosing which can be side salads, etc.

2 hours ago, pintsizedmallrat said:

Just because it comes with it doesn't mean you have to eat it. Sometimes it isnt practical to eat out in a restaurant and take leftovers home; if this is a way for OP to get the portion of the meal they want in the most cost-effective way, then that's what they should do.

And I, in contrast, expressed what I do. Or am I not allowed an opinion?

I never said folks should not do what they choose, I only expressed the reasons for my choices. To the contrary, as I said in my post: "As with everyone and everything, if it works for you and your plan is what matters."

I don't see my post as the least bit controversial.

Good luck,

Tek

Edited April 4, 20233 yr by The Greater Fool

14 hours ago, The Greater Fool said:

And I, in contrast, expressed what I do. Or am I not allowed an opinion?

I never said folks should not do what they choose, I only expressed the reasons for my choices. To the contrary, as I said in my post: "As with everyone and everything, if it works for you and your plan is what matters."

I don't see my post as the least bit controversial.

Good luck,

Tek

You're absolutely allowed an opinion. If you don't feel that you can avoid eating chips when they're in front of you, it's very wise to avoid having them there. My point only is that most American restaurants' dishes, even ones intended for children, often are accompanied by a carb-forward "side item" like chips, rice, potatoes, etc. This is often in the misguided intention of adding "value" with the appearance of a larger meal for a cheaper price. However, it's always your choice whether to consume it.

I think it felt to me at the time you were unfairly criticizing her plate, and I understand now that was not your intention. Things are tough out there and if someone orders a "combo" or kids meal because it ends up being cheaper for them. Some of us paid for our surgeries with insurance and are not wealthy.

I presume we're good here.

Edited April 5, 20233 yr by pintsizedmallrat

2 hours ago, pintsizedmallrat said:

You're absolutely allowed an opinion. If you don't feel that you can avoid eating chips when they're in front of you, it's very wise to avoid having them there. My point only is that most American restaurants' dishes, even ones intended for children, often are accompanied by a carb-forward "side item" like chips, rice, potatoes, etc. This is often in the misguided intention of adding "value" with the appearance of a larger meal for a cheaper price. However, it's always your choice whether to consume it.

I think it felt to me at the time you were unfairly criticizing her plate, and I understand now that was not your intention. Things are tough out there and if someone orders a "combo" or kids meal because it ends up being cheaper for them. Some of us paid for our surgeries with insurance and are not wealthy.

I presume we're good here.

Thanks for allowing me an opinion.

I gotta think that you do not intend to be coming off the way you are to me. I'm finding it difficult to read what you've posted charitably.

Frankly, you are wrong that I criticized anyone. Can you make the same claim?

How did you get out of what I wrote that I have an issue not eating chips? Weird.

I understand how restaurants work, I'm not sure why you felt the need to explain. As I have said multiple times already, what we do and eat is about what is on our plans and is completely about what works for each of us. I'm glad you seem to agree.

Then you moved on to how this was about money and that "some of us paid for our surgeries with insurance." This completely confuses me. Insurance also paid for my surgery 20 years ago. You seem to be assuming money is not a concern for me. Like many people here I've gone through periods, even since surgery, where even a child's meal was an extravagance too far. Where did I even come near belittling the choice of a child's meal based on cost? Again, you seem to be reading things that simply are not there.

With all this you presume we're good here?

I want to believe you intend to be, what, helpful? But it feels to me like accusation. Please approach every post by every person here with the most charitable interpretation possible, which is how the vast majority of posts here are intended.

I know sometimes folks take expressions of contrary life experience and choices as criticisms. Please don't.

Good luck,

Tek

4 hours ago, The Greater Fool said:

Thanks for allowing me an opinion.

I gotta think that you do not intend to be coming off the way you are to me. I'm finding it difficult to read what you've posted charitably.

Frankly, you are wrong that I criticized anyone. Can you make the same claim?

How did you get out of what I wrote that I have an issue not eating chips? Weird.

I understand how restaurants work, I'm not sure why you felt the need to explain. As I have said multiple times already, what we do and eat is about what is on our plans and is completely about what works for each of us. I'm glad you seem to agree.

Then you moved on to how this was about money and that "some of us paid for our surgeries with insurance." This completely confuses me. Insurance also paid for my surgery 20 years ago. You seem to be assuming money is not a concern for me. Like many people here I've gone through periods, even since surgery, where even a child's meal was an extravagance too far. Where did I even come near belittling the choice of a child's meal based on cost? Again, you seem to be reading things that simply are not there.

With all this you presume we're good here?

I want to believe you intend to be, what, helpful? But it feels to me like accusation. Please approach every post by every person here with the most charitable interpretation possible, which is how the vast majority of posts here are intended.

I know sometimes folks take expressions of contrary life experience and choices as criticisms. Please don't.

Good luck,

Tek

You are right. I was wrong. We all need to walk our own journey and I humbly, sincerely apologize. I know you are considered a leader and knowledge base for everyone here and I am deeply embarrassed I crossed such a treasured member of this community and hope the rest of you don't choose to make me a pariah because of this.

Zero excuses. I was rude to someone important. I apologize once again and hope this is the end of the acrimony.

1 minute ago, pintsizedmallrat said:

You are right. I was wrong. We all need to walk our own journey and I humbly, sincerely apologize. I know you are considered a leader and knowledge base for everyone here and I am deeply embarrassed I crossed such a treasured member of this community and hope the rest of you don't choose to make me a pariah because of this.

Zero excuses. I was rude to someone important. I apologize once again and hope this is the end of the acrimony.

Ugh... Every POV here is important. I do appreciate the kind thoughts, though.

As I said, I don't think you intended offense or rudeness. Written stuff like this makes reading tone very tough. So, no need to apologize. Least of all to me.

Keep up the good work.

Good luck,

Tek