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I was smitten with Noodles & Co. before I even set foot inside the door. I had been lucky enough to receive not only a buy-one-get-one coupon, but a nutritional guide that gave me the low-down on all the dishes. Could this really be true? A restaurant that served up healthy dishes that were all based around one of my favorites - noodles? As it turns out, yes, it could be true. Noodles & Co. serves up a wide variety of dishes ranging from Mac and Cheese to Pad Thai, and most are what I would consider to be fairly healthy. Apparently, I’m not the only one. Noodles & Co. made Health magazine’s top 10 healthiest food chains list with a proud ranking of number 4. Started in 1995 by Aaron Kennedy, Noodles & Co. was created with the goal of offering the best noodle dishes from around the world on one menu. It took the form of a fast, fresh and wholesome noodle shop and 14 years later they're growing by leaps and bounds.
What makes Noodles & Co. so good is that each of it's global dishes is prepared to order using pasta, veggies, fresh herbs and spices, their tasty (and not too heavy) artisan sauces along with chicken, beef, shrimp or organic tofu. With simple noodle bowls like mac and cheese or noodles with marinara for the kids, and dishes that cater to a more discerning palate such as Pad Thai or Tuscan Linguine, there's something for everyone. The average price for and entree is $7, and they come out quick as a wink so the kids don't have time to get bored. To make your child's meal more healthy, ask for a side of broccoli (just $.75!), add some organic milk and you're set.
Here's what I say: Eat more noodles!
* Don't just take my word for it, see for yourself. Take a peek at the nutritional information for Noodles & Co. and you'll see that, while there are a couple of chart-topping numbers, the majority of entrees weigh in at a reasonable level of fat and calories.
Win It
We're giving three winners a $25 gift card to Noodles & Co. (that'll just about cover a family of 4). To enter simply leave us a comment and give us your tips for dining out with kids, or your favorite perk for kids when eating out. Keep it short and sweet, please. Deadline is Midnight, EST, July 3rd.
*Congrats to our winners: Annette D., Kate S. and Renee T.
91 comments:
I took my family there and the prices were reasonable and the portions were generous. A tip for dining out with kids...bring along a sippy cup or cup with cover so they don't spill their drinks in your lap!
We took our kids out to restaurants from the time they were very young. If they acted up as babies, we removed them and took them outside until they settled down, so as to not disturb other diners.
My tip is to get children into restaurants from the beginning, and teach them proper behavior and etiquette.
As basic as it sounds, teach manners. Manners are not old-fashioned, but rather a sign of respect for others as well as yourself. Children with good manners can eat at any restaurant - family friendly or not!
Always go to fast serve or order ahead. Kids get bored
teach kids young and split portions for kids so food is not wasted
Here's my tip....let your kids do whatever they want unless its disturbing to others and you're willing to clean up. they probably weren't the ones that asked to be dragged out to dinner:)I let my 20 month old play with the silverware and the condiments and the menus and the sugars....and I politely clean up his every mess before we leave.....and tip generously too:)
bring toys to entertain the kids during the wait for the meal!
Thanks for the giveaway!
email in blogger profile.
If your child decides to have a melt down, please remove him/her from the restaurant until the tantrum is over. Yes, I did it with my kids. I don't want to hear your child scream while I'm trying to eat. (Sorry, I know this won't be popular with some parents!)
Teach your children manners, restaurants are for sitting & eating, not running wild! Sippy cups are wonderful, also keep extras in your bag!
Start going to restaurants when your kids are babies. As they grow, they'll see how YOU act and it will be automatic for them to act the same.... but bring crackers and crayons, just in case :-)
we try to make the eating out experience short and sweet. get in, order, eat, get out. sometimes if the kids are really good, we will stay a little longer - almost to see why they are behaving, lol. and one thing that keeps them in line is knowing if dessert is coming. thanks! (freaaa@gmail.com)
I began taking my kids out to sit- down restaurants when they were toddlers. Those are some of my favorite memories. They were expected to be polite, and I encouraged fun conversations.
One of the things I usually have with me when I have a child with me (I have a number of nieces and nephews but unfortunately no children of my own) is I have string cheese in the individual packets. This is something that most of them love. So no matter what they might have ordered for dinner or lunch I always have a fall back on something nutritious that they will eat and I then know that they will have something substantial in their system.
Making sure the restaurant has at least one of their favorite foods. At Noodles & Co., it's the Wisc. Mac & Cheese.
I believe if you start early and tell kids that dining out is a treat, they learn to behave as if it were a reward to be there.
Be considerate of others and make sure that the kids are busy, either eating or coloring or something. If they make a huge mess, clean it up!
jedoggett@embarqmail.com
Parents should teach their children to use inside voices. I went out just last night and children were screaming and running around the table. It was out of control!! Parents should keep their kids occupied with quiet toys or coloring books (not loud annoying video games). Every child should be taught proper table manners and restaurant etiquette. And if a young child starts screaming they need to be taken out of the restaurant immediately.
go to a place with a lot of options and a lot of basic food!
we take the kids nintendo DSs for dining waiting
2kidsblogger(at)gmail(dot)com
Don't wait until they are starving.
Don't wait until they are starving.
we don't eat anywhere that people can smoke!
autumn398 @ yahoo.com
My favorite perk for kids when eating out is that they end up eating for half the price of an adult meal or better yet FREE. We always pick restaurants the kids would enjoy as well as us that save us money.
tip: go somewhere where the wiat isn't long and service fast, its the wait that is hard
I like when they have things for the kids to do like coloring
If my li'l tots are being finicky about what they want to eat, I let them choose from the appetizer menu!
txgigggles@yahoo.com
Well my tip would be, even before you get in the establishment to eat you tell each child who they be seated next to so they dont cause a commotion or get confused when taking their seat.
skyskyaa11(at)gmail.com
The thing I like best about this place is when I take my nephew out to eat. He loves Mac and cheese and really likes it here.
We take the kids to kid friendly eating places, and always take a sippy cup!!
lgrieser(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
Take a small toy along to keep them entertained.
I love when restaurants will let me order a meal from the adult menu and create it in a half-size kid portion. My kids have sophisticated tastes and don't just want a grilled cheese or PB&J when we go out, but they can't finish off a full size meal either. When restaurants are so flexible I really appreciate it!
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com
I plan our meals out around my son's naps. I've learned that it's really just easier. He's less grumpy then and he'll actually eat. Most of the time, the portions are just too big for me so I usually share my meal with my son. That saves us some money. Thanks for the chance.
sweetascandy579 at yahoo dot com
With young children, try and stay with finger foods and don't wait until they're starved.
the kids behave really well in restaurants-We usually bring small notebooks and markers to occupy the time
tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
My kids will usually stay busy and quiet with the small sized Magna Doodle's to play with. You don't have to worry about using up all the coloring space like you do with crayons and paper. Also, no lost crayons that roll to the disgusting restaurant floor.
When I take my grandson out to eat with me I always bring something for him to do. I keep a coloring book and his little cars in my tote bag and sometimes a book.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I always try and keep my children busy while we are eating out.
Our kids know that manners are essential everyday, and especially when dining out. They know to use please, thank you, etc and be on their best behavior if they want to keep going to restaurants.
I let my son take his hand held video game to keep himself entertained.
We generally keep ourselves occupied while in restaurants playing Hangman or as my kids call it paper Wheel of Fortune.
Just went to Noodles for the first time yesterday. Son loved Japanese noodles,daughter enjoyed Chicken Noodle Soup. I loved my Chopped Chinese Chicken Salad.
rmc1ra(at)aol(dot)com
I love Noodles! A tip for dining out with kids is to show them the menu ahead of time by way of pulling it up online. Having them choose their meal before arrival saves time for everybody in a long line!
Love kids night at Fazolis!
Thanks for entering me! Great Contest!
Janna Johnson
janna@FeedYourPigBlog.com
jannajanna@hotmail.com
www.FeedYourPigBlog.com
Oh, I love Noodles & Company! I am pretty sure they are from my hometown of Boulder, Colorado. I live in Texas now and they don't have one here, but I am about to head back to Colorado and would love to celebrate with this gift card!
I think the best way to deal with kids eating out is to do it from a very age so it doesn't seem like a big deal. Coloring supplies don't hurt either ;)
Thanks for a great giveaway!
As a Mom with young kids I will say the key to eating out is to go early BEFORE they are hungry so they are fussy waiting for the food. I live taking my kids to eat at Noodles & Company because there is such a huge selection, something for every picky eater, and it is healthy. My kids are crazy about the place so we go often (and I hit the Starbucks next door for my afternoon jolt of caffiene LOL)
My tip is to look up the menu online before you go out and figure out what everyone's going to order. This saves a lot of time when you get there.
looks good
I always ask if they can bring my daughter's food first, so she finishes along with the rest of us.
Jennifer, jennem22 at yahoo dot com
I know this firsthand by working in a restaurant - don't let your children play with the sugar packets, etc. in a restaurant. Countless times I would spend 30 minutes plus after diners with children left cleaning up the entire area, vacuuming, picking up tiny pieces of playdoh, cheerios, spaghetti thrown over the booth, sugar packets that were ripped open and sugar wasted, etc. Please try to keep the area tidy or at the very least, leave a generous tip. Those 30 minutes spent cleaning means that you lose tables to other servers as well. Thanks!
luckymegs1981 AT yahoo DOT com
We go during off times so the we don't have to wait for a table and then wait for food too.
Ok my kids are grown.
So can I just say that I've been wanting to try the "Noodles" place?
Take my daughters Portable DVD player with us. That keeps her entertained. Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
I suggest going out to resturaunts that offer kids eat free nights. Every little bit helps. trinitygsd at yahoo dot com
Always bring along some toys to keep the kids entertained!
stoopidgerletsy@yahoo.com
My kids don't know how to use chopsticks very well, but at Noodles and Company they can get chopsticks with their meals. They are getting quite proficient using chopsticks on their mac and cheese!
Bringing lots of toys seems to work for us! Thanks for the contest. Kamclaughl at aol.com
Always take something interactive for kids to play with or a book to read while waiting. Take them often and emphasize the rules BEFORE entering the restaurant. Thanks.
Thanks.
pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net
its always nice when there are things to entertain the kids!
amwysoc@ilstu.edu
Start them out young as restaurant patrons but match the restaurant to their age...and patience limits. Don't be afraid to pick them up and leave if they fuss and meltdown. Get the food put into to-go boxes and get the heck outta there before you ruin the evening for everyone else in the place!
I appreciate it when a restaurant offers healthy options for the kiddos.
Always have crayons and a coloring book to keep them from being bored!
I have not had a chance to try this place yet but I keep thinking about it -- it looks good.
My tip -- order drinks in to-go cups so they lids and straws -- since my kids seem to always manage to knock over glassses!
marielay@gmail.com
We took our children to restaurants when they were young, and they were pretty much always good. I think the key is to teach well-mannered behavior at the dinner table at home.
My tip is to have them color a placemat with crayons and teach them to have an inside voice and not an outside voice in a restaurant!
kngmckellar@hotmail.com
My tips? 1) Feed the baby in the car or as you order (sleepy = less fussy). 2) Bring your own "play kit" - with crayons, and printed out coloring pages in case the restaurant doesn't have any. 3) Don't decline the offer of extra napkins! Munchkins are messy.
Haha, I'd like to thank my niece for teaching me (and my sister!) these tips!
postedcontests(at)gmail.com
My tip is carry an activity with you. They can get bored..waiting for the food.
Thanks
charisscharity [at] yahoo [dot] com
I always pack a juice box and crackers. With little patience that they have, it is sometimes impossible to wait for the server to bring a drink to fill the sippy cup or to bring a snack...
Put them in time out if they misbehave.
My tip is to try to look at the menu for a restaurant online with your kids before heading out so you can explore the options and be prepared to order as soon as you get seated -- that way there's less chance for your kids to get bored or antsy, and you can be sure they'll find something they'll like beforehand. Thanks for the giveaway - love Noodles & Co!
gkaufmanss@yahoo.com
My tip is always bring a sippy cup and plenty to drink. Also bring a little baggie of snacks. I discovered something new to do tonight. We went out to dinner and my two year old wanted to color. We thought they would have crayons because most places do. But they didn't. So I am going to buy a box of crayons and keep them in my purse for when we go out to eat. I was thinking about keeping them in the car but melted crayons are NO FUN to clean.
ilovebabynoah707@yahoo.com
Bring along snacks to tide the kids over until the food comes in case there is a long wait.
My perk for kids eating out is that everyone can pick with the want! My family is extremely picky
My best tip is to go when the restaurant isn't busy so you won't have to wait.
I always look for restaurants, like Denny's, where kids eat free on certain days of the week!
Katie
showbizkp[at]gmail[dot]com
I bring workbooks for the kids to work on while they wait --as long as they are busy they will remain calm.
Teach your children manners.
Stampnsark@aol.com
my favorite perk is free kids meals on some nights intime@myself.com
My favorite perk for my children is ice cream. garrettsambo@aol.com
I love it when restaurants offer free meals for the kids and crayons. Thankyou for the contest! :)
I bring an activity book for the kids to work on while we wait for our food to come
We play restaurant Bingo with the kids. They look for the items on a card I made and try to fill up the card.
penguinchick@comcast.net
My favorite restaurant perk for kids has to be from a pizza place here that gave a ball of dough to create their own pizza, which they baked! It was a major hit! Anything interactive, like crayons, will work well, though. Thanks for the giveaway! theprophecygirl at hotmail dot com
I definitely like the restaurants that offer games/toys/coloring for the kids but for cases where that is not offered, be prepared. Have a pen and paper or other age appropriate toys to entertain the little ones.
tlannan30[at]yahoo[dot]com
With little ones, restaurants that offer kids toys or coloring options while waiting are good ideas. As they grow older, it's nice to find restaurants that carry decent kids options!
strycker@slu.edu
Our favorite perk for our kids when we are eating out is bribery! We tell the kids ahead of time that if they behave, like good little children, LOL, then they can pick whatever they want for desert. This ALWAYS works. Our kids are always the best behaved kids in the restaurant, and they do deserve a special treat for desert because I normally do not have sweets in the house, so going out to eat for them should be a unique treat for them too!
joannaonthelake@gmail.com
i love the places where kids under a certain age eat free and the places that have little place mats you can color to keep little ones occupied :)
Christina - xristya@rock.com - I think children (unless they're too little, in which case you hold them and help them) should engage in conversation at the dinner table, even when it's eating out - what they want to order, how their day has been, etc., which would keep them somewhat occupied and out of trouble!
great blog
I like the plastic cups the drinks come in for kids - we take them home and use them over and over!
Thanks
Sarah
believedreamcourage (at) gmail.com
My tip is to bring a magnet board for distraction that isn't as likely to fall on the floor
I have a newborn so I've learned to balance her on my lap and eat with one hand!
My favorite perk for kids when eating out is free kids meals.
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