I cook for families for a living, and I have three kids of my own under the age of ten with very different eating habits. So, trust me when I say I have done the research when it comes to kid-friendly menus. Every night at my table is a live focus group: what gets devoured, what gets pushed to the edge of the plate, and what earns a spot into the weekly meal rotation.  

And when it comes to eating out, we won’t go somewhere unless we know that they have at least one thing each kid will eat. But that doesn’t mean that we want a kids menu packed with bland basics and a sea of brown. We want tasty, interesting, somewhat healthy and of course, affordable options.

My favorite spot has a steak or salmon kids entrée that allows the kids three sides – so they get the french fries they want, alongside the apple sauce and broccoli I want for them. Win-win. It’s the places our kids truly love that bring our family back again and again.

Think Mini, Not Mediocre

The fastest upgrade on any kids menu costs nothing: intention. Instead of building a separate kids world of nuggets and buttered noodles, look at what’s already performing on your core menu and scale it down. Maybe that’s a half-portion of your signature pasta or a slider version of your most-ordered burger.

At my house, I can get my kids to eat almost anything if it’s in slider from, especially on tender brioche buns. The smaller size of the Delancey Street Deli® Artisan Brioche Buns are perfect for any kids menu. Top them with a kid-size version of the house burger, a fried chicken cutlet, or tender, fully cooked Ridgecrest® Pulled Pork. Now your kids menu has extensive handheld options, which are easier for kids to eat and less mess at the table.

My kids also go crazy for a Build-Your-Own scenario, where they can pick and choose the toppings and elements they prefer on the plate. You can apply this to sliders, tacos, pasta and more just by pulling apart the individual elements on your menu. Kids can be picky about sauces or mixing things together, so give them agency to create what is in their mind, the perfect bite. This way, you add more options for the kids without adding new elements for the kitchen to deal with.

Let's be honest, pizza is almost always a yes. An Ultimo!® 7" Microwaveable Pepperoni Pizza gives kids a perfectly portioned favorite while keeping back-of-house prep simple with a straight-from-the-freezer, microwave-ready format.

Go Global

Here’s something people often underestimate: Kids today are more adventurous than we give them credit for. My daughters are wild about all things Japanese cuisine, and they will crush a bowl of ramen or a plate of gyoza. The key is familiar comfort in an unfamiliar wrapper. And I mean that quite literally in the case of gyoza, or potstickers, which are basically meatballs wrapped in a big flat noodle! And ramen in its most simple form is reminiscent of chicken noodle soup, with ‘curly’ spaghetti as my kids call it.

Italian cuisine is also a hit with the younger crowd. Of course, buttered spaghetti with parm is a classic but fun shapes, simple sauces, and stuffed pastas are also winners. One option to look at is Roma® Heritage Italian-Style Meat Ravioli. Inside each square pillow: ground beef, caramelized onions, prosciutto, mortadella, and Romano cheese. It’s the flavor profile of a great meatball transformed into a pasta kids can pick up and enjoy. And as an added bonus: They also fry beautifully as a shareable appetizer for kids of all ages. With marinara for dipping, of course!

Three Ways to Upgrade

• Give the menu personality. “Mini Meatball Ravioli” beats “Kids Pasta” every time. Kids engage with names; parents read them aloud. A little fun in the menu copy costs nothing and does a lot.

• Price it intentionally. A kids portion built on elevated ingredients can command a higher price point. Parents pay for something that feels like real food with nutritional value.

• Upgrade the default side. A small Caesar, seasonal fruit, or Contigo® Cheese Tequeño Pops alongside the entrée creates perceived value that justifies a higher price and makes the plate feel balanced. Plus, healthier options make parents feel better than the standard chips or french fries.

The families who feel seen at your restaurant, who order off a kids menu that actually reflects the same care as the rest of your food, become your most loyal regulars. They recommend you to every parent they know. They write the reviews that tell the story you want told. And the best part? The building blocks are already in your kitchen. You just need to think like a kid!