Amy Palanjian

My parents are a nutritionist’s dream come true. They regularly eat quinoa, kale, and flaxseed; grow their own vegetables; and, as a general rule, feed us extremely well whenever we visit. Of course, they have a real soft spot for their grandkids, which is often communicated in the form of treats.

I’ve learned that the way that our kids feel about the food they eat, and the environment in which they eat it, often means so much more than what the food actually is.

My husband and I recently took our 3-year-old out for burger night at our favorite local restaurant. We wanted to take advantage of the reduced prices — and sometimes, on a random Wednesday, it’s just nice to have someone else do the cooking. Of course, I packed a tote full of books and crayons to occupy our girl, but the key to a stress-free dining experience with a tot in tow often requires a bit more thought. Here are three ways we keep eating out enjoyable for the whole family.

In my house, we eat mostly fresh foods and keep packaged foods to a minimum. We grow a lot of our own produce in our backyard garden and are members of a CSA. We even buy most of our meat from local farmers who are transparent about using non-GMO feed. But I’ll never say that we eat “clean” because it undermines my long-term strategy for both my own health and that of my two girls. Here’s why.