tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-540263390309982110.post1443578189205217566..comments2023-04-29T00:56:28.340-07:00Comments on The Full Table: Eating outMonicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05856975629899818393noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-540263390309982110.post-76578662942865435152008-06-17T12:19:00.000-07:002008-06-17T12:19:00.000-07:00We have 4 kids and use many of your same strategie...We have 4 kids and use many of your same strategies. My kids are young enough now that if I do happen to buy a kids' meal I can feed two kids. <BR/><BR/>One thing I like to let the kids do at sit down dinner restaurants is order from the side dishes menu. Often they'll be happy with a cup of fruit and cottage cheese, throw in some free crackers and you've got a meal. My kids eat like birds though, so this wouldn't work for everyone!Tarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09327853756206724940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-540263390309982110.post-41422305353710907812008-06-09T19:27:00.000-07:002008-06-09T19:27:00.000-07:00I tell my girls if they want pop when we are out t...I tell my girls if they want pop when we are out to eat, they can buy it themselves with their own money; that is completely fine. They are suddenly quite satisfied with water. :)Cindy-Still His Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00699695957294293616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-540263390309982110.post-70923069722798473382008-06-08T03:13:00.000-07:002008-06-08T03:13:00.000-07:00My husband and I have four children, and we practi...My husband and I have four children, and we practice some of the same principles as you do when eating out.<BR/>We know which nights are "kids eat free or discounted". In our area, Mr. Gatti's offers free kids meals on Monday and Tuesday nights. Applebee's offers discounts on Tuesday nights. If we are near Nashville, Fazoli's and Chick fila offer Tuesday night kids specials. Wednesday's are pretty dry in our area. If we had a need to pick up food on a Wednesday, we would grab a family meal at Mrs. Winner's, KFC, or Captain D's. On Thursday's Captain D's has Kids Eat Free meals with inside dining. For the weekends, we try to eat at home but we use coupons if we need to pick up something.<BR/>Also I keep "on sale colas" and juices in the back of our vehicle. We order water most of the time, even at McDonald's. If we want a cola, we order ice and use a cola from the back of the car. <BR/>I keep a three ring binder in the car that I drive. I three whole punch coupon flyers for all the local places. I also have pockets with coupons for Kroger and CVS. I can't leave without my binder in my car. <BR/>I also sign my children up for all of the birthday meals. <BR/>My boys love FAMOUS DAVE'S. On birthdays, I take in our birthday email along with an internet coupon for 25% off a family meal. The birthday child normally orders a child's rib basket and the rest of us split the family meal. We order extra corn muffins of course. <BR/>My children also love Cracker Barrel, but it is so expensive. We rarely frequent this place. <BR/>At each child's birthday, the child chooses a restaurant of his choice for a family birthday dinner. <BR/>By the way, my husband now lives on a weekly budget. He is asking for his own coupon binder. Years ago he would get frustrated with my coupons. Now he complains that I keep all the good coupons. I am now getting a binder together for my man. <BR/>He has enjoyed the free fruitisa at Taco Bell this week. He is also grabbing for the free chicken sandwiches at McDonald's. <BR/>We do not eat out all the time, but we have a definite strategy to not break a reasonable budget when we do eat out. <BR/>We try to eat at our own table on most nights.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com