The other day while reading the newspaper, I noted an article on Children’s Restaurant Meals. This is an interesting article. However, when I went back to reread it, I was unable to find it. So, I’m just going to have to give my blog article on what I remembered about it.
More Food For Less Money – Children’s Restaurant Meals
Basically, it told the tale of one woman living in another state and her quest to find the most food for the least amount of money. She used local restaurants in her area to order takeout from. It, seemed like, she ate a lot of pasta meals from the children’s menu. She would always get her children’s meals to go, so no one saw her actually sit down to eat a children’s meal portion. According to this person, the restaurants she got the takeout food from, would generally give her an adult-sized portion. She, however, only paid for the child’s meal price. And so, that was her budget savings idea. Only one time was she questioned about the child-sized meal.
The article went back and forth if this was an ethical thing to do.
Fast Foods and Free Toys
Here at Farmhouse Magic Blog, I admit there was at least a few times I ordered a child’s meal from a takeout restaurant to get the free toy. Sometimes, I would donate the toy to a charity and other times keep it for my collections. However, I’ve never ordered a child’s meal at a nice sit-down restaurant.
OK, this needs more of an explanation. Not too long ago, I subbed at a school and would save the toys to be added to the classroom’s toy box. The toy box gave some children a toy at the end of the week. The toys were just little things like pencils, erasers, small books, or toys. A lot of those fast food toys were perfect for this type of give away. I would add to the classroom’s collection. I then started to pick up certain unopened fast food toys in secondhand stores which I donated to the cause.
That went along for a good portion of the school year. However, when the children returned to their homeroom with a toy, I guess, other children began to notice it. The principal also thought the toys should be stopped because the children were older and didn’t need the toy. This was true, however, but I personally loved the toy box idea and the children’s delight with the free toy.
So, what type of toys did Farmhouse Magic Blog collect from children’s meals? I still have a few of those cute white spotted Dalmatian dogs. I pulled a small red ribbon through them and hung them on my holiday tree. Cute and different.
Below photograph shows a free root beer mug which came with a drink. The glass has no markings on it, so I can’t be sure it was even from root beer.
This clear freebie glass mug is said to be a root beer mug. There are no marking on it. Root beer was initially served in a chilled glass mugs because it was thought to taste better that way.
Collectible Free Toys
Briefly researching online sites on freebie toys, it seems that to put things online for the best price, you need the complete set. I guess that means 101 Dalmatians. Hot Wheel cars or beanie babies might bring $50 or more to a collector.
Ending Notes on Children’s Restaurant Meal Blog
To sum things up, I really don’t do “takeout”. When I want to go out, I prefer to dine out in the restaurant. That gets me out of the house plus I also seldom order pasta off the menu.
As things go, I also, rarely eat fast food meals anymore.
This October, I guess I’ll not be receiving a free Halloween bucket with my child’s size meal. Oh well, on that one.
Resource Sites: CollectiblesInsuranceServices.com and jjbeans.com