Is once a week too often for grilled cheese/fries/shake?

[carfreemama]

Dd is 5 and in Primary (kindergarten) this year. She comes home for lunch every day. Once a week, we go to lunch at our neighbourhood diner. Dd usually gets a grilled cheese on whole wheat, a few fries and we split a milkshake. I usually get a club and sometimes onion rings.

We pretty much never eat out otherwise and I cook from scratch. We do have pizza every week, but at least it's whole wheat and made ourselves. It's not the healthiest meal, but we love our lunch dates and it's the only one in walking distance from school. We do lots of picnics and such in nicer weather; but even then, dd reminds me of our diner date.

Does this seem excessive?

[EnviroBecca]

It sounds fine to me. I think kids that age need a lot more fat than adults. Mine (almost 5) eats lots of cheese, butter, and nut butters, and I remember craving those foods at about his age and remember my younger brother going through that stage too. All of us were very thin at that age (EnviroKid has grown 4 inches and gained 1 pound in the past year!!) and I think the fat is needed to keep up with growth.

Anyway, although there are no fruits or vegetables in that meal, if your kid eats them at other meals I think it's just fine.

[carfreemama]

Okay, good. I usually bring some dried blueberries and an apple for the way back to school on those days, at least. And you're right, she's growing like a weed and is skinny, too!

[Ammaarah]

It sounds fine to me! Grilled cheese on whole wheat is fine more than once a week IMO and a few fries and some ice cream aren't gonna hurt her, especially if she is an active kid. She will treasure the memories of her weekly lunch dates with Mom!

[lil_earthmomma]

Totally fine in my books!!! And very sweet.

[anomaly13]

Sounds good to me! However I myself would probably nix the onion rings/ff and get some sort of salad with my sandwhich, either a whole salad or side salad, with a fatty dressing and share some with my little one (he loves salad). Or a cup of veggie soup or ask to add tomatoes to the grilled cheese. But ultimatly if she is getting a varried, balanced, healthy diet the rest of the time then her once a week lunch sounds just fine.

I do agree that little kiddos need lots and lots of healthy fats to promote healthy growth as well as lots and lots of fruits and veggies, especially greens.

Enjoy you lunch dates!

[carfreemama]

Thanks for the replies. My only hesitation with the grilled cheese is that this is a pretty, um, inexpensive diner and I know it's processed cheese. We eat cheese at home, but it's from the farmers market. As for veggies, we are also members of two CSAs and I just can't bring myself to order their "salads" (just not that appetizing, when they're even available), when I have so much fresh, local produce two blocks away. Same for the soup. You're right about the onion rings and I often do skip them. But I'm super skinny too! So sometimes even bad fat feels good. They do use nice real chicken and they're clean and incredibly nice to my daughter. They also make really yummy clam chowder sometimes...oh and rice pudding even I can't come close to. Dd gets a TON of exercise and is a really healthy kid and yes, we do love our dates!

[MsBirdie]

I say that if ther are no weight issues for either for you, it sounds reasonable.

[Gentle~Mommy :)]

I sounds like a wonderful & special mother/daughter treat