Kids Menu?

So I'm sort of stuck...I'm going out to dinner and a movie with my friends tomorrow. Clearly, it would be awkward, and possibly even rude, of me to eat beforehand and not eat anything at the restaurant. But I've looked at the menu (we're going to Red Robin), and I've found some good options on the kids menu. Do you think they would let me order off of the kids menu? I'm currently 16, but I suppose I look older, if that information helps at all. I'm truly not doing it to be cheap. It's just that I know how I get...If there is food in front of me, I WILL eat it. Even if I were to get a normal-sized meal and put half in a to-go box, I know I'll start eating out of the to-go box as well once I've finished what is on my plate. I just don't even want to be tempted. Besides, I couldn't find any good options off of the normal menu anyway. The salads were in the 600-1000 (yes, 1000 -_-) range and the burgers were even worse.

One bigger than normal meal isn't really going to have an impact on whatever you've done for the week.   So don't worry about it too much and enjoy the evening.   I'm sure you can ask for a smaller-size portion off the children's menu.    If not, could you order a big green side salad (dressing separately) and a plain grilled burger without the bun?  That would be quite a healthy choice and not particularly calorific.

Like gi-jane said, don't worry too much about it.  You could also see if you could share a normal order with a friend.  Or even ask for a take-away box when the order is brought out, put half of everything in the box, and put it away.

You should definitely be able to order off of the kids menu. I ALWAYS eat off of kids menus at every restaurant I go to - and I am 19. The portions are much better for me since I am not a huge eater anyway. I have only had a restaurant refuse to let me order off of the kids menu once - and it was at Johnny Rockets. Every other restaurant.. it's no problem!

I went to Red Robin with some friends a few days ago and got the Apple Harvest Salad with the dijon vinagrette.  It was 600 calories and a huggeeeee salad and it was DELICIOUS!  I just ate lightly for the first part of the day, and then enjoyed myself!

They should allow it.  At worst they would just charge you more, but you'll get what you want.

As a frequent RR flyer...  lol.  I get the Whiskey River BBQ chick sandwich w/ ONLY red onion, lettuce, tomato on it with fresh fruit as a side  and it's satisfying and fairly healthy (look up on the nutrition calculator, I think it runs around 500 cal and pretty low fat). 

Red Robin has an awesome calorie calculator. You can get most of their entries to around 500-600 Callories. I usually tell them to skip mayo and sauces, and instead of fries ask for a salad. I LOVE sautayed mushroom burger and Whiskey River BBQ chicken burger (light on BBQ, with onion rings and no cheese).

UD

Hmm, yes. These are all great ideas! But the thing is...I just can't imagine wasting 500 calories on a single meal! That may sound odd, but the thing is, I eat a LOT. Like I am constantly hungry (and I don't mean I'm starving myself, because I always am sure to satiate that hunger, lol. I usually eat something every 1-2 hours). I normally have large meals that range from 150-300 calories, then eat loads of (mostly healthy) snacks throughout the day, with a total of 1300 calories. The 150-300 calories that I allot for each actual meal may seem low, but it's not because I am not eating enough during those meals, causing me to be hungry afterwards. I'm always quite full after them. It's just that I find really low calorie choices. Like I found this amazing pasta that's only 20-25 calories per serving, and I usually have two servings of that along with steamed veggies for dinner. So that meal would only be like 100 something calories and would fill me up. But anyway, I don't want to waste 500+ calories on that single meal because then I would have to eat less throughout the rest of the day. And surely it wouldn't be helpful to starve myself?

I will try to see if I can order off of the kids menu. If I can, I will get one of the kids sized burgers with a side of mandarin oranges, and that would only be 300 calories and fill me up! The only other good option I found to be around 300 calories that was not on the kids menu and didn't require splitting my meal was either a bowl or cup of Chicken Tortilla Soup. Only problem is that I don't think it would fill me up for very long. Soups never do much for me. So hopefully I will be allowed to get the kids burger!

By the way, I LOVE Red Robin with a fiery passion.  There is a great way to cut calories on the burgers though.  You can ask for the burger on lettuce.  All of the toppings get put on the side and you can have your burger salad and put as much or as little of the toppings on as you like.  PLUS you can ask for melon slices instead of neverending french fries and these can count as your dessert!  Sure the burger itself is still a bit caloric, but it is just as enjoyable (sometimes I think even more so) than having it on the bun and it definitely helps to leave the bun out.  I have nothing against carbs, but have you seen how LOADED with fat the onion rolls are? Oh my goodness...  Those are some greasy buns!

My second favorite option (though also not SUPER calorie conscious) is the half a BLTA and a salad.

In short, Red Robin is really good at letting you do pretty much whatever you want with your meal so feel free to customize to get something you won't feel guilty about.

I just looked on the red robin site, and the kid's burger (beef) is almost 300 calories, but that doesn't include any dressings, cheese, toppings, etc.  Those are calorie pits.  Also, it doesn't include the french fries that come along with it, or any side for that matter.

So, if you want to have a small plain burger on a bun, that'll allow you to stay in your calorie range for your meal, but that honestly doesn't sound a) that appetizing, or b) that fun.  Also, your friends will probably think you're crazy since red robin is all about the toppings on the burgers :)

Original Post by watchmeshrink2009:

But anyway, I don't want to waste 500+ calories on that single meal because then I would have to eat less throughout the rest of the day. And surely it wouldn't be helpful to starve myself?

The only other good option I found to be around 300 calories that was not on the kids menu and didn't require splitting my meal was either a bowl or cup of Chicken Tortilla Soup.

Actually, like another poster above said, you can order the lettuce-wrapped burger without the cheese and it comes to 332 calories.  You can order a side salad (that's how it usually comes), ask for oil & vinegar dressing, and get a tasty, VERY filling meal (my husband loves Red Robin and that's what I get every time we go - and I leave stuffed!)  Their burgers are so large that I find I struggle with finishing it.

ok so your average big meal is 150-300 calories

adding an extra 2 or 300 calories to 1 meal is not gonna make an ounce of difference

as long as this doesn't become a daily thing, which by the sound of your little panic attack over it it seems youre pretty militant about calorie counting and this wil be an uncommon occurence

Original Post by watchmeshrink2009:

Hmm, yes. These are all great ideas! But the thing is...I just can't imagine wasting 500 calories on a single meal!

I normally have large meals that range from 150-300 calories, then eat loads of (mostly healthy) snacks throughout the day, with a total of 1300 calories. 

 And surely it wouldn't be helpful to starve myself?

 

Because you're 16 the absolute bare minimum calories you'd need if you were totally immobile would be 1500 per day.... So your 1300 cal day is insufficient.  No, it's not helpful to starve yourself.

Check your stats through this calculator which is aimed at the under 21s (CC is aimed at over 21s)  http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/bodycomp/bmiz2.html  Most healthy teens will be 'low activity' as standard. Because you're 5'7", 170lbs and 16 you need 2510 per day to maintain your current weight.   Deduct no more than 700 cals from the total energy needs you get  if you need to lose weight.... 1800.   Your 1300 cals is really too low and I wouldn't be surprised if you started to find it more difficult to keep losing weight.  Again... no, it's not helpful to starve yourself.

Because you need 1800 a day  then 500 cal meals would be very light indeed and you wouldn't have to starve yourself the rest of the day.   It's not 'wasting 500 calories' in the slightest.

Rethink your intake target.  You'll feel better and you'll see better progress.

hear is a good tip to use 1.when u get to the order place ask for then kids meal without the toy and other kids stuff tell then you want it as a adult meal then you wont have the kiddy stuff plus when ur freinds r ordering say ur going to the bathroom while they order then wait til they finist ordering then go up and order so they wont hear what u order

Order the veggie burger with a green salad on the side (ask for dressing on the side).  When it comes, give the bun to someone else or toss it and enjoy the patty and the salad.  voila.

Original Post by amber89956:

hear is a good tip to use 1.when u get to the order place ask for then kids meal without the toy and other kids stuff tell then you want it as a adult meal then you wont have the kiddy stuff plus when ur freinds r ordering say ur going to the bathroom while they order then wait til they finist ordering then go up and order so they wont hear what u order

LOL

i hope you're not serious

its a good idea better than no idea

Why would you have to hide what you are eating from your friends?  Also, ordering a small burger (or nuggets), fries, and diet is less expensive than a kids meal at a fast food place so why not just order that instead of going through the trouble?

Original Post by amber89956:

its a good idea better than no idea

actually it's much worse than no idea

Like some other people said, having one bigger meal isn't going to be a problem in the long run.

However, if you want to order off the kids menu, they'll likely let you. Disguise it as "ooo I want dinosaur nuggets!", like you're ordering off the kids menu for the lols, not the lower calories. If you don't want to eat an adult meal, you don't have to. Screw social acceptance.