I don’t plan out my posts much more than a scrap paper or notebook page of brainstorms. This post was not planned at all. My son was under the weather and wouldn’t eat. I knew he needed to eat lunch and when I asked ” If you could have anything what would you eat?” his answer was “A Happy Meal” . I was not taking him to McDonald’s every time he is sick! . So instead we made one at home. Huge , huge success ! He was sick and not at all into doing anything but this would be a fun parent and child activity. I am sure this is a healthier option ( not by much… but it is organic) more importantly it’s a treat at home!
- Gather your ingredients and materials. You will need a paper bag, some markers, foil, containers, straw..whatever you need to package your food. Don’t forget a toy or prize as well! We played restaurant as well so I grabbed some money and a tray to complete the pretend play.
- Start by decorating the bag – I wish my son was feeling well enough to do it but instead he told me to make one with fish.
- Make your food! We made apple slices, chicken nuggets, ranch dip , and milk.
- Pack your meal up and don’t forget the prize, I popped some Olympic stickers in for him.
- Take their order and their money!
- Dig in!
- He cleaned his plate and loved the stickers.
Books
Dinner at the Panda Palace by Stephanie Calmenson is a great book. I grabbed it only because of the title but found a gem. My son and I both loved it and had a blast reading it. The story is about a restaurant and the people , or rather animals that come into the restaurant in ever enlarging groups. The text is rhyming and well written. My son loved counting each group that came in figuring out after a few that each group was one animal larger. It was a great opportunity to practice one to one correspondence as he counted one each page. There was also a great message about there always being room for one more when all the chairs were taken and a mouse came knocking wondering if he could eat too!
How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food? by Jan Yolen is a book all about eating in the popular and well loved series of dinosaur books . My son loves these books, he likes that the dinosaurs always misbehave in such over the top ways before the reality of how they really behave, well mannered , listening to their parents and eating all thier food. What I like about this is that kids relate to the dinosaurs and I have never had one question why the parents are human. I like that children are encouraged to sit still and say please and thank you. What I don’t like is that the dinosaurs are encouraged to clean their plate, never drop anything and try everything put before them. I know some parents will love these rules but for our house it doesn’t work, we don’t encourage plate cleaning or force bites. The book still served a purpose, as my son said loudly ” I’m a boy I don’t have to eat everything, right?” and we had a good talk about eating.
Elisa says
Lovely idea! I’ll try it next time my son is at home!
.-= Elisa´s last blog ..Inizio la settimana con un appello =-.
EntertainingMom says
Alexander will LOVE this idea! I will have to do this on one of his half days…
Also commenting for your letter of the week below. Love that too!
.-= EntertainingMom´s last blog ..Pour, Pour me… No Wine tonight… =-.
dana says
that is too funny!
.-= dana´s last blog ..Takin’ the Plunge =-.
Jessica says
This is another awesome idea!
.-= Jessica´s last blog ..Free Museum Admission =-.
CraftyRachel says
Fabulous idea! Sometimes it really is just about the presentation.
.-= CraftyRachel´s last blog ..New Month, New ‘Do =-.
Celeste says
This is such a cute idea. Both my kids will be home Friday I might have to try it. Thanks!
.-= Celeste´s last blog ..Lost so far =-.
Lindsay @ Bytes of Memory says
What a great way to encourage a sick kiddo to eat something! Also fun for a picnic or special treat!
Michelle says
I agree, what a great idea! A special treat or for a picnic! How’d you do your chicken nuggets?
admin says
It’s totally all about the presentation! The nuggets are the dino ones – I cooked them in the oven and wrapped them in foil.
Jennifer says
This is such a cute idea! My son doesn’t really care about Happy Meals yet, but I’m sure that will change as he gets older. I think a lot of times it’s not the junk food that the kids want, it’s just the novelty of how it’s presented.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..A good samaritan =-.
Beverly says
love this idea. Noah loves that dino book!
.-= Beverly´s last blog ..Please Spread the Word =-.
Nikki says
My kids are going to be so thrilled when we do this! You are awesome. as usual.
.-= Nikki´s last blog ..Good bye February! Hello March! =-.
Tonya says
Very cute idea! My girls will love it.
.-= Tonya´s last blog ..The Usborne Little Book of Flowers =-.
Josie says
Playing resturaunt is my daughters favorite way to eat lunch. I never thought to make a happy meal though. We’re definitly going to try this one!
familyofthree says
This is such a sweet idea! I’m fairly new to your site and look forward to your ideas everyday!
I hope your son feels better soon!
Holly T. says
This is an AWESOME idea!! Thanks so much for this site – you have the best ideas! I have recommended this site to all parents in my early childhood class and they are now fans, too. Thanks again!
.-= Holly T.´s last blog ..Organizing Junkie’s 28-Day Challenge…completed. =-.
rori says
I love how you even put the Please Recycle Sign on! I’m glad you brought up the point about the food in the dinosaurs bks, I had never thought of that!
Sandi says
That’s great! We did this once with Lunchables. My daughter saw some in the store and was begging to get one (I don’t have a clue how she knew what they were??) Anyway, they are WAY to expensive for me so I suggested we make one at home. I cut the ham and cheese into squares/circles and stacked them up next to a stack of Ritz crackers. She was thrilled and I saved a bunch of money.
admin says
That’s a wonderful idea too!
Monica Lavoie says
What a great idea, Thanks!
Joyce @ Keeping Up With The Moys says
How fun! Hope he’s feeling better.
.-= Joyce @ Keeping Up With The Moys´s last blog ..Family Favorites: Animal Stories Collection =-.
Sandy says
I have to tell you how much I love this idea! In fact, I am picking Felicia up early from school on Friday, and I think I might surprise her with one. She will be so happy!
.-= Sandy´s last blog ..The View From My Front Window =-.
admin says
Rori – I am sensitive to food things and I just went to a great presentation about healthy family eating and they really pushed hard for parents to eliminate the “no thank you” bite idea so it was fresh in my mind.
I still really love the series of books but this one will remain a library one, we own a few of the others.
Brian MacDonald says
The “How Do Dinosaurs…” books are all great. Rhymes, great art, a nice message, and learning how to pronounce dinosaur names!
.-= Brian MacDonald´s last blog ..Anatomy of “No Time for Flash Cards†(Episode 98) =-.
admin says
I have such a hard time with the dinosaur names! My son is a pro though, our favorite book in the series is “How do dinosaurs say goodnight.”
Lexi says
Love the Quatchi stickers 🙂
admin says
Quatchi is a big deal here! My son has a zipper pull from the Olympics that he makes me put on all his zippers . Loved seeing all the billboards and buss signs with him, he would scream ” Mama look it’s Quatchi!! He’s on a bus , that bus , he’s on it with Miga!!” . I saw a Quatchi backpack at Save on and if my husband hadn’t been there to talk me out of it my son would have yet another backpack 😉
Jen says
What a great idea to make lunch time fun! Hope you are feeling well with your pregnancy. My little guy is already 2 months old! I look forward to doing all of these fun preschool activities with him when he gets older. We read Dr. Suess today!
🙂
Jen
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Happy Birthday, Dr. Suess! =-.
Heather - Dollar Store Crafts says
Fun idea! My boys would love it.
.-= Heather – Dollar Store Crafts´s last blog ..Transform Valentine Hearts into Shamrocks =-.
admin says
Jen – 2 months already? Congrats! How is having a little man after 2 girls? I am excited and doing well. Thank you!
Shannon says
That’s a great idea!!
Rachel says
You even made him pay for it! Awesome! I bet he had a blast!
.-= Rachel´s last blog ..Magnetic Words: Great Way to Teach Site Words to Preschoolers =-.
Molly says
What a GREAT idea!!!! I am SO doing this.
.-= Molly´s last blog ..Craft with me 1, 2, 3…..Celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday! =-.
Mandy says
The homemade Happy Meal is such a great idea! I’m definitely going to give it a try! Thanks for posting!
Paula says
I love that idea!! We’re going to be doing dinners in the car on Monday nights and I think I may make them little take out dinners in a bag! FUN!
.-= Paula´s last blog ..Frugal Friday =-.
Christie says
I love this idea but what I am really writing about it the tray. Can you tell me where you found it. I live in Alaska and where I live it’s hard to find cool stuff. I love the trays and my little one would love them for so many things. Thanks a bunch