These tips will make dining out with baby a breeze

A baby’s life is full of firsts. First steps, first words, first tooth, and for parents who enjoy dining out we can add baby’s first meals out, too.

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Mikki K. Harris / mkharris@ajc.com

Ryland Gummere, 6 months, gets ready to eat a meal of organic pureed peas and African squash at The Shed at Glenwood, which offers an upscale dining experience of fresh food from local farms for adults as well as babies.

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Mikki K. Harris / mkharris@ajc.com

Ryland seems to enjoy his organic pureed vegetables. “We’re ‘foodies’ so we dine at restaurants we enjoy,’ Gracie Gummere, Ryland’s mother said.

Gallery: The Shed serves organic baby food

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Sure, you can bring your own baby food, but many restaurants today can whip up baby-pleasing and nutrition-friendly foods. Smartest first step: Find a chef with a baby. Young chefs and restaurant owners with their own tots will be familiar with what might work for their youngest customers.

Lance Gummere, executive chef at the Shed at Glenwood, has a 6-month-old son and sympathizes with families looking to dine out.

“We find that new parents and parents of young children steer away from dining out [out] of paranoia that they are irritating the establishment,” Gummere said. “So to counteract that, we have early-bird specials for parents.”

Gummere has added pureed organic vegetables to the menu, including butternut squash and English peas. He adds that offering menu specials to families seated before 6:30 p.m. helps other guests enjoy their meals, too.

“We do really try to push for the early dining because in trying to satisfy all guests, if we accommodate parents with children’s bedtimes early, we can then entertain our adult crowd later and keep everyone happy.”

Proper behavior

• Table lessons. Dining out with small children, even babies, helps encourage a healthy curiosity about food and how to behave at the table.

• Fruit first. Restaurants often have fresh fruit available. Ask for cut-up fruit while you enjoy an appetizer. It gives baby a serving or two of healthy fruit and it keeps him or her busy.

• Pasta, please. The old stand-by plate of pasta is a favorite, with penne or shells the best choice for babies working on their pincher skills. Ask for pasta tossed with a little olive oil and grated Parmesan cheese rather than coated in melted butter.

• On the menu. Try to work with what’s on the menu and ask for slight variations. For instance, miso soup at Japanese restaurants comes with chunks of tofu, so ask for pieces of tofu on a little plate. It’s a good source of vegetable protein and soft enough for babies eating solid foods.

• Not on the menu. Chances are most eateries have eggs, so you can request one scrambled for baby. Hard-cooked eggs are often ready for salads, so you can ask for one on the side.

• Simple is best. Request that baby’s vegetables or mashed potatoes be prepared without added salt.

• Beware the hot stuff. One mom told me that her toddler was served hot chocolate in a cup with a lid and a straw and before she could grab it away, the baby slurped in the hot liquid and oh, the tears! Avoid spicy foods, too. It’s best if you taste it first.

• Be a cut-up. Always cut cherry tomatoes, grapes and other foods into tiny bites. They’re easier to pick up, too.

• Serve safe. Bring a portable place mat that can stick to table tops so you know the surface is clean. You can cut things up so that older babies can eat with their hands right off of the mat.

Carolyn O’Neil is a registered dietitian and co-author of “The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous!” E-mail her at carolyn

@carolynoneil.com.