Kid-Pleasing Southern and Barbecue Food

Sometimes, general dining out strategies can only help so much. When you eat at a privately-owned or ethnic restaurant, there's often no pamphlet or website with nutritional information and amenities offered. How do you know what to order, especially when you're bringing children along?

That's why we researched and collected tips for the most popular restaurant cuisines.

This article is part of our BabyFit Family-Friendly Dining Guide. We tried to emphasize kid-friendly foods and health at the same time. As we believe in all things in moderation, you'll find a few indulgences and treats on each of our menus. We also provide pros and cons about this type of cuisine, plus some activities to entertain children at restaurants.

Kids love to get messy, and it's rare that they're allowed to make a mess at the dinner table. From ribs to corn on the cob, this saucy and sloppy meal is sure to bring a few smiles!

Kid-friendly dishes

Appetizers/Sides

• Cole slaw: Cabbage, carrots and maybe a few other vegetables are cleverly masked by a sweet dressing.
• Corn on the cob: It's hard to eat corn if you're missing your front teeth, but it sure is fun.
• Baked beans: Full of fiber, the sweet sauce on these beans entices kids.

Entrees

• Barbecued ribs: Kids love getting their fingers messy. They'll gobble these up.
• Pulled pork sandwich: A bun helps contain the juicy barbecued meat.
• Fried catfish: Breading, it seems, makes any food appealing to kids.

Treat

• Sweet potato pie: Vegetables for dessert!

Thumbs-up

• There are plenty of "kid-friendly" foods here.
• Family-size portions mean it's easy to share.

Thumbs-down

• Much of the meat is greasy and salty.
• Many sides are deep-fried.

Table talk
Ask kids to name states located in the South. Bonus: Have them name the state capitals!

Note: Pregnant women should avoid eating deli and processed meats, soft cheeses, and some types of seafood due to the risk of illness to herself and her unborn child. Eating raw or undercooked meat, poultry or seafood also poses health risks. Find more information on which foods to avoid here.

About The Author

Stepfanie Romine A former newspaper reporter, Stepfanie now writes about nutrition, health and fitness, with an emphasis on whole foods and from-scratch cooking. She is a certified Ashtanga yoga teacher who enjoys Spinning, international travel and vegetables of all kinds. See all of Stepfanie's articles.