On our winter wonderland weekend in Traverse City, Michigan, we had plenty of fresh air and opportunities to burn calories. This made us hungry. Very hungry. To a foodie’s delight, Traverse City supports regional food, independent restaurants, and culinary variety. With kids in tow, our mantra has always been affordable, healthy, and fun. Here’s where we re-fueled:

Bay Bread  Company

Appropriately marketing itself as a neighborhood bakery, Bay Bread company at 601 Randolph St. is in the heart of the  “Little Bohemia” neighborhood*.  Serving up breakfast, lunch, espresso drinks, and bakery items “to go”, Bay Bread Company supplies area businesses with freshly-baked loaves. Hungry patrons can select from forty different kinds of bread, ranging from traditional rye to pesto batard, onion loaf, cinnamon swirl, sunflower, wheat and many more.

Unique to the Bay Bread dining experience is an upstairs seating area called “TheRoost”. In the building next door, go up, down, up, and then up to what I imagine was recently a second-floor apartment (the shower in the bathroom gives it away). With tables and cozy seating areas, your food is delivered by bakery staff. Self-serve coffee refills occur in the in the kitchen. Feeling at home in the living room, kids can find a spot on overstuffed couches and read books in baskets stocked just for them. The kids ordered the Cafe Kids Pack, which includes half a sandwich (choices are PB&J, grilled cheese, turkey and cheese, or just cheese) with a drink and a cookie for $4.65.

* Also known as Slabtown, Bohemian immigrants used slabs of scrap lumber from the local mills to construct their homes.

Red Mesa Grill

Located near the Sugar Beach Resort Hotel (our home away from home on the East Bay), we were thrilled to discover the entire lunch and dinner menus at Red Mesa Grill are available for carry out. Specializing in Latin American fusion food—just spicy enough for us Midwesterners—Red Mesa Grill is known for guacamole made fresh every day. With a bustling dining room on a cold evening in January, the colorful building includes covered outside seating just asking for a margarita and lazy Sunday afternoon in August (we’ll be back to test this theory out).

Quite possibly the most attentive telephone service we’ve ever had, a custom dinner for two picky eaters and two famished adults was ordered and ready for pick up in twenty minutes. With food enough for two meals, we carried home a cup of salsa, a cup of guacamole, and an armload of chips as our appetizer. Grabbing kids’ activity bags stuffed with goldfish crackers, wikki stix, and activity sheets, we were thankful for the food and entertainment on the drive home to Wisconsin.

Items on the kids menu include a Mexican hot dog, pizza, chicken strips, Mexican grilled cheese, a taco, kid’s hamburguesa, and Caribbean fish fingers and range in price from $5.29 to $7.99. Dinners include a side and drink (we picked fruit and rice). Parents of kids with gluten concerns can ask for a Celiac safe menu (also available online).

Mix one part sun with equal amounts of white sand, fresh air, and salt-water and  Gulf Shores, Alabama will whet your appetite in a New York Minute. With ample dining venues and endless opportunity for fresh, regional sea food, we ate our way down the coast with kid-friendly dining on the stomach (er, brain).

The Hangout

Backing up to prime-time ocean-front property, The Hangout is a popular “hang loose” casual dining establishment (where 59 ends and the fun begins).With generous indoor seating and spacious patio space, kids can enjoy dancing to live music, playing in the sand hill, and a trip through the foam machine (this You Tube video gives you an idea of what to expect and what to wear). Adult-focused after the sun sets, The Hangout features hamburgers, chicken strips, fried shrimp, grilled chicken, and grilled mahi on the Kids Menu (10 and under, served with fruit cup, spuds, or mac and cheese for $6.50). A seasonal family-style breakfast is available during peak travel months (kids eat for $4.50).

LuLu’s at Homeport Marina

Situated on the inter-coastal waterway that meanders out to the Gulf of Mexico, LuLu’s at Homeport Marina is the creation of none other than Lucy Buffett. Adding her personal touch to the menu, the venue, and the atmosphere, LuLu’s will add some color to your family vacation. Designed to keep patrons of all ages entertained before, during, and after their meals, kids can play in LuLu’s fountain for youth (two words: mud pie), listen to live music, shop in the retail store, climb the Mountain of Youth (a three-story climbing apparatus), or just watch the boats motoring by.

Featuring an allergy menu organized to avoid gluten, eggs, seafood, shellfish, dairy, and soy, parents can order according to dietary needs or choose from the traditional Kids Menu. For kids 14 and under, choices include a grass-fed beef cheeseburger or quesidilla ($4.95) or  fried shrimp or grilled or fried fish ($5.95). For a regional treat, try the L.A. (Lower Alabama) caviar (black-eyed peas in balsamic vinaigrette for $4.95) or  fried crab claws (fresh and local ) for $18.95 (plenty to share, if you can).

Tacky Jacks

Down and across the inter-coastal waterway from LuLu’s at Homeport is another brightly-themed Gulf Shores dining venue. Spacious and airy, Tacky Jacks is ever-so-slightly scaled down from its neighbor to the North. Featuring a sandy beach with toys and a gift shop, Tacky Jacks appeals to a slightly older, karaoke and sports-loving crowd. Catering to kids with a Little Vittles (12 and under) menu, choices are Lil’ Chickies, Small Fry Shrimp, Tots Grilled Cheese, and Lil’ Fishies ($5.99). Adventurous (and famished) families can attempt a Mexican Garbage appetizer or share 1/2 pound of Royal Red Shrimp.  A popular Tacky Jacks beverage is the Bushwacker, a frozen “adults only” milkshake.

Sweetie Pies

Last, but certainly not least, leave some room (and a few notches on your belt) to experience dessert, Alabama style. Sweetie Pies, a family-owned deli and bakery on the Gulf Shores Parkway, is known for just shy of twenty specialty pies. Baked fresh daily, a trip to Sweetie Pies will feel a bit like the first-time in a candy store. If you can make a decision, pies can be enjoyed by the pan or the slice. From meringue (key lime, lemon, and even chocolate peanut butter) to traditional (southern pecan, peach, sweet potato, and blueberry), enjoy your treat in the dining room or take it on a field trip to the beach.

Theo's Owner Steve Theodosopolous holds his "mile high" meringue pie.

In the Theodosopoulos family since 1963, Theo’s Restaurant in downtown Cambridge, Ohio can trace its early roots back to 1931. Credited with for bringing the Coney Island Coney Dog to Cambridge, “The Coney” changed has changed names and hands through the years—managing to uphold its reputation as one of the favorite family dining venues in town. Equally popular with local residents and tourists traveling along the Interstates 70 and 77 corridor (the highways come to a crossroads just south of downtown), Coney Dogs are a 70-year mainstay on the menu.

Known for some of the best pie around, a popular strategy for dining at Theo’s is to start with dessert. A slice of the “mile high” meringue sells for $1.95/slice. Employing forty-five chefs in their kitchen, owners Alex  and Steve Theodosopoulos regularly serve between 500 and 1000 hungry customers on any given day. With 200 seats in the dining area, the Theodosopoulos brothers credit their affordable menu pricing to the consistently high volume of patrons. “If we do have a wait for a table, say on a Friday night, it’s usually not a long one.” said Steve Theodosopoulos. “Using ingredients from all over the country, we still make all of our food on site,” Theodosopoulos added.

Theo's Restaurant in Cambridge, Ohio

Curious about any Greek culinary influence, I ordered and thoroughly enjoyed a lamb meat gyro for $5.50. (Way to go Ohio!) Based solely upon on the name, the Moist and Sassy chicken sandwich (marinated in wine, olive oil, and spices for $4.25) is a close runner up. Unfortunately on the Children’s menu, choices are not as exotic. That said, for $1.25 you can coax your kids with a bowl of vegetable soup or let them order mini corn dogs and fries for $3.25. After4PM, spaghetti is available for $2.95 a plate. My personal opinion is this: Prices at Theo’s are low enough for the entire menu to serve as an extension of the kids cuisine (heck, with extras to take home or share between friends and siblings).

A grocery store may seem like an unusual dining spot, but for families meandering through the rolling hills of Amish Country, Walnut Creek Cheese is a budget-friendly tourist stop. Packing a grocery store, bakery, café, creamery, deli, cannery, test kitchen and gift shop into 15,000 square feet, one step through the sliding doors and it’s apparent why Walnut Creek Cheese calls itself a Village of Shops.

Drawing an average of 13,000 customers through the store on any given week, Walnut Creek Cheese caters to the needs of tourists and the local community. The largest supplier of bulk foods in Amish Country, store manager Bruce King credits the success of the 30-year old business model to “offering the lowest price possible and doing it in volume.” King compares his product pricing to that of Wal*Mart.

The largest retailer of cheese in Holmes County, Ohio, Walnut Creek Cheese is also one of the largest employers in the area. Of the 125 store employees, 95 positions are held by individuals living in the nearby Amish community. “Half of our paying customers live in Walnut Creek,” King explained. “We sell the butter the Amish eat.”

Open Thursday through Saturday, Ella’s Test Kitchen-located in the back of the store by the bakery-is a popular sampling spot. Store chefs prepare new meals in the kitchen, providing customers with a recipe and list of ingredients (available before they leave the store, of course). Sampling jam and jelly from the Copper Kettle Cannery is also encouraged (many a biscuit lover has deemed this the highlight of their trip).

Flavors of homemade custard from the Mudd Valley Creamery change daily, as do lunch specials at the Mudd Valley Café. With 99 percent of the menu items under $5.00, Mudd Valley Café has aligned its pricing with the rest of the store. Alas, even in Amish Country, kids can choose between a hot dog and a junior cheeseburger (take comfort in side dish choices ranging from broccoli salad and yogurt to a fruit cup). Other, more exotic, menu items include Trail & Swiss (a specialty sandwich topped with the original Troyers Trial Bologna and number-one selling Walnut Creek Swiss cheese; served on a homemade bun for $3.99) or a BBQ Rib sandwich with homemade apple butter barbecue sauce for $2.29.

Above the main retail level is a second floor 200-seat dining area that offers a unique vantage point for people watching and appreciating the extensive display of antiques and colorful collectibles. Local artwork, including paintings and framed photographs, are also available for purchase. Again, at a reasonable price tag.

In a Wisconsinite’s opinion, not a true cheese store without a Cheese Cave, Walnut Creek Cheese has skillfully placed “the cave” near the front registers. A shame to dine with a lone stick of Uncle Mike’s Beef Jerky, Walnut Creek’s own brand of jerky, select from 50 different variety of cheese ranging from Swiss to Munster.  Rounding the experience with a trip through the Butter Churn Kitchenwares shop, select a souvenir table cloth, candle or, cheese knife you put to good use before the day is done.

Summer in Michigan isn’t complete without sparklers, sand castles, and soft serve ice cream. A self-proclaimed Wisconsin custard elitist, Michigan is still my home turf and I’m not ashamed to say I’ve put down a few cones in my day. Sandy, sunburned, and starving on a sunny day in August, Whippi Dip ice cream came up over the hill on 977 Pontaluna Road in Spring Lake like a neon oasis in the desert (Or should we say, dessert?).

A popular name for ice cream stands across the Midwest, Whippi Dip on Pontaluna Road has been serving up famous BBQ, fries, and turtle sundaes for over 60 years (owned and operated by the Ruark family for the past 40). Tempted by the home made french dip au jus and $1 sloppy joe sandwiches, we stuck to the soft serve and ordered a twist, a dip, and a flavor burst (see Mr. Strawberry on the right.)

Donned with edible sugar eyes and smiling in the face of their impending doom, one technique for eating this summer treat is to sneak up on it from the back side. Using the same shrill screams enjoyed while eating ginger bread men and chocolate bunny ears, our family rolled in masochistic laughter as we monopolized a picnic table by the shaded play ground out back. Chuckling at the weather rock (see photo), we determined the day was sunny enough to sit for a spell. Painted like a melting ice cream cone, the building is as colorful as the people who work there (mostly summer college students who patiently wait while you photograph ice cream cones and listen to the sounds of laughing children).

Just down the road from Hoffmaster State Park on the shores of Lake Michigan, plan to use the rest room before you visit. Known for waiting until the last possible minute, we took a stroll to the nearby gas station to wash sticky fingers and avoid a bathroom emergency. Lacking a traditional website and open seasonally from Mid-March to Mid-October, visit Urban Spoon online for photos, menus, and customer reviews.

The Road Trips “Feed Me” mantra, is simple, but not always easy to accomplish. On our family travels, we look for the extension of “dinner at home” where ever we roam. In the ongoing search for high-quality, affordable, regional, delicious food, I packed up the boys and headed to Chicago Southland for the weekend. If there’s one thing Chicago knows how to do, and do well, is satisfy the foodie in us all.

The Patio Restaurant, Orland Park

With six locations in Chicagoland, The Patio Restaurant has been serving up award-winning barbecue, sandwiches, homemade soups and garden-fresh salads for over 30 years. Dining in the roomy modern, retro, “outside comes indoors” Orland Park location, we placed our orders, cafeteria style, from the main counter. The pulled pork sandwich (hickory smoked and smothered in BBQ sauce for $5.49) received my “I once lived in Texas and now have ridiculously high BBQ expectations” seal of approval. One kid ordered spaghetti (homemade meat sauce served with french bread) and the other grilled cheese (freshly baked white bread grilled with American cheese and served with a pickle and not salty-yea!-fries); both for $5.25. Unable to pass by the ice cream counter, dishes of superman ice cream rounded out the meal.

Ed & Joe’s Restaurant & Pizzeria, Tinley Park

If you’re in the mood for authentic thin crust gourmet pizza, Ed & Joe’s in charming downtown Tinley Park should be a “must stop” on your Chicagoland family dining itinerary. Known for high-quality ingredients and “slow” food, Ed & Joe’s has been perfecting the dining in and dining out experience for 50 years. Offering live acoustic music three nights a week, daily specials, and social media incentives, prepare to take in the ambiance while your food is prepared. Intrigued by the name and their regional popularity, a plate of Schmods (French bread dipped in natural Italian beef broth and oven-roasted with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses and served with the dipping broth) whet our appetite while our pizzas baked in the oven. The kids happily split a single topping ($11.25), while I feasted on the Putanesca (topped with fresh garlic, feta, mozzarella cheese, diced tomatoes, fresh basil, and olives). Between the three of us, two small pizzas left more than enough to bring back to our hotel for late night (and early morning) snacking.

Jason’s Deli, Oak Lawn

Celebrating 35 years of serving really good food, Jason’s Deli was recently voted the #1 deli in America by Parents Magazine. Our maiden voyage to Jason’s, we were overcome with hope for kids’ menus everywhere. Free if nitrites, artificial colors, and high fructose corn syrup, Kidwich Meals and J.D. Pickle Meals include items like Ham & Cheese (served on wheat, white, or an organic wheat wrap), a baked potato, or bow tie pasta and chicken Alfredo (each for $3.59). Organic apples, organic carrots, fresh fruit, or chips, and organic apple juice, organic milk are included in the price. The kids happily licked their complimentary low-fat ice cream cones while I sipped coffee from a real mug and watched the deli experts prepare muffalettas and paninis for happy, hungry, looking customers.

Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery, Flossmoor

A delightful surprise on our culinary excursion, the Flossmoor Station Restaurant and Brewery was a Thomas the Tank Engine kind of find. Located in a restored train station, the building remains adjacent to an active Metra line. In the heart of downtown Flossmoor, a person can’t help but feel like they might just be in Europe. Ordering from the rail-themed kid’s meal, we shared dippers (carrot and celery sticks, steamed broccoli, and the best bread sticks this side of the Mississippi, $4.59) and health bites (fruit kabobs with fruit dip, $2.99). Creatures of habit, the boys selected pasta and chicken timbers for their entrees, not the fish fillet ($4.79) or 1/4 slab rib dinner ($6.99) pitched by their (eye roll) mom. Too satiated to even order gelato or yogurt from the seasonal Caboose Ice Cream Shoppe, we popped in the rail car to confirm all 24 toppings—reluctantly leaving with a promise to come back the next time we pass through town.

Door County, Wisconsin is nothing short of a Mecca for foodies. From award-winning wineries to fish boils, supper clubs, bakeries, and bistros, what you won’t find in Wisconsin’s beloved vacation destination is an abundance of ordinary dining venues. Our “Feed Me” mantra has always been to provide family-friendly dining options not served on a box; choices easy on the weary traveler and the pocket book. Skip a stone in Door County and you’ll practically hit a restaurant that fits the bill.

On the peninsula recently, here are three family-friendly restaurants we enjoyed on our journey:

Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant & Butik, Sister Bay

One of the most famous restaurants in Door County, Al Johnson’s is also the greenest place to dine. Shingled with sod and covered in grass, goats roam freely above your heads. Inside the casual dining room, waitresses decked in traditional Scandinavian costume (and clogs) deliver lingonberries and meatballs with a smile. While hot dogs and Corn Pops have found their way onto the Kids Menu, you can still order Swedish Pancakes and whipped cream for breakfast ($5.50) or boneless lake perch with applesauce and fries for an evening meal ($9.75). Not in the mood to chew the cud? Check the online goat cam for action-packed grazing from anywhere.

Not Licked Yet Frozen Custard and Restaurant, Fish Creek

Discovering this frozen custard stand in the magical hour before dusk, we found ourselves on the bank of Fish Creek under twinkle lights. Sitting in Adirondack chairs, satisfied parents gladly watched children tire themselves on the playground while they ordered Rubens, Paninis, and slices of cherry pie for themselves. The Sponge Bob Sundae ($5.50) with chocolate custard and marshmallow topping on a rice krispy treat first caught our eye. From the cleverly named Angry Ogre (hand carved turkey on freshly baked bread with lettuce, tomato, avocado spread and mayonnaise) to Door County Cherry Juice, Not Licked Yet is our favorite find of our summer so far.

Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor, Ephriam

In Eprhiam since 1906, the red and white tribute to Coca-Cola that is Wilson’s Registrant & Ice Cream parlor has been satisfying sweet tooth’s for over a decade. Truly a Door County rite-of-passage, we introduced our kids to the old-time soda fountain experience with juke box music and people watching during the 47th annual Fyr Bal Festival. Ordering such items as PB&J and grilled cheese (each $3.45) from the Children’s Corner menu, I openly defied my family in a solo attempt at the Wilson’s Banquet (five flavors of ice cream and three toppings of your choice, loads of whipped cream, cherries and pecans). Priced at $14.95 and without a t-shirt at the finish line, the Banquet melted faster than my spoon. Anyone who lives only once should also try this some day. Don’t worry, they give you four extra spoons in case you want to share.

Dining in a “big” city, you don’t often find fresh, local food prepared in a way that sustains the community and the environment. And on a road trip, teaching kids about farming is something you certainly don’t expect one block down from the bus stop.

The greenest restaurant in the city of Chicago, third-party certified by the Green Restaurant Association, Uncommon Ground has been shifting the urban restaurant paradigm for the past twenty years.  Expanding from the flagship location in Wrigleyville (near the Chicago Cubs), restaurant owners Helen and Michael Cameron opened a second location in Edgewater, just north of downtown, in 2007.

Supporting local agriculture by purchasing locally-produced food, free of herbicides, pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, or genetically modified ingredients, the Camerons have become one of their own suppliers with the addition of an organic farm atop the roof of the Edgewater location. Meshing the food harvested on the rooftop garden to the kitchen creations one floor below, the Camerons harvested just over one pound of produce/square foot from their rooftop farm in 2010—the majority of which fed an average of 200 people on any given day.

Family dining at Uncommon Ground is anything but ordinary. With a kids menu for breakfast (served until 3PM) and lunch and dinner (served all day), healthy choices for kids are plentiful. From farm fresh scrambled eggs ($3) to a grilled cedar grove cheddar cheese sandwich ($5) or the griddled gunthorp farm chicken tenders ($6), sides including seasonal vegetables, fruit, and sweet potato fries can be added fora few dollars more.  Hormone-free milk (white and chocolate) and even a kid s’mores cocoa topped with house-made marshmallows and graham crackers ($3) will whet your appetite. Make sure to point out the tabletops; crafted from trees that fell during a windstorm in nearby Jackson Park.

With live music seven days a week, Uncommon Ground is known for its entertainment as much as the food. Plan your visit on a Friday and take advantage of the rooftop farm tours (first Friday of the month, from June 3 through September 2, 2011), food sampling and educational programs on urban agriculture. Any way you look at it, a trip to Uncommon Ground will leave you hungry for more.

Heading out for a road trip this summer, one way to cut down travel costs and keep your family on a healthy diet is to stock up on your favorite snacks. Road Trips for Families attended the 2011 Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California last month to find the Top 10 road-trip friendly snacks. Our criteria is this: healthy, fun, portable, packable, affordable, non-melt-able snacks your kids will actually eat on a road trip. Sampling our way through one million square feet encompassing 3000 booths and holding 56,000 people (record attendance, by the way), we’ve narrowed down the list to our Top 10.

Granola: LOVE Grown Granola
LOVE Grown Foods

A LOVE story as much as a LOVE for a healthy lifestyle, LOVE Grown Foods is churning out some of the best granola Colorado has to offer. Made from high-quality, all natural, and freely unprocessed ingredients, the granola comes in five flavors (influenced heavily by the chocolate chips, Cocoa Goodness won our informal family taste test). Each granola is made with high-quality, all natural, and freely unprocessed ingredients and each flavor is made with certified gluten-free oats, sweetened with natural honey and agave, toasted to perfection, and then packaged with LOVE in 12 oz re-sealable bags.

Crackers: Sticks & Twigs
Mary’s Gone Crackers

Now, I have to admit the stick-like shape first attracted me to Mary’s Gone Crackers. Snickering at the thought of tricking a squirrel, Sticks & Twigs have a surprisingly light and fluffy taste. Because they are made of whole grains (including brown rice, quinoa, red quinoa, amaranth, and millet) and seeds (including flax, sesame and chia), the organic crackers offer a kosher and gluten-free snack free from trans fats and dairy.

Bars: Clif Kid Zbar Crispy
Clif Bar

Without any high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, trans fats, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, the CLIF Kid Zbar Crispy’s are surprisingly loaded with flavor. In three flavors for our family’s finicky eaters (peanut butter, chocolate, and chocolate chip), I have to confess eating all of the samples on the flight home. BUT, you can find these organic snacks at grocery stores and co-ops across the country. A close runner up are the CLIF Kid z-fruit ropes made with organic fruit puree (one serving of fruit per 20g rope).

Jerky: Tanka Bites
Native American Natural Foods

With no nitrates or MSG, Tanka Bites are low fat, gluten free and lactose free. Did we mention there’s a dude racing a buffalo on the bag? One glimpse at the packaging, and my boys will think they can take on the entire prairie. A fan of jerkey for any road trip, Tanka Bites offer protein in the form of 100% buffalo meat. Slow roasted with cranberries for a tart edge, Tanka Bites come in a 3 oz. resealable pouch. Campers, put the 100% natural buffalo hot dogs in your cooler before you pack your TP (er, tent).

Nuts: Hail Merry
Hail Merry

There’s nothing like a nut to curb the appetite of a tired, hungry, crabby kid. We like Hail Merry nuts because they are soaked prior to packaging (this activiates the living enzymes and help aid in proper digestion). Not to mention, they’re carefully dehydrated as low temperatures to protect said enzymes and the essential fatty acids. Available in a variety of sizes and assortments Hail Merry nuts are available in recipes appealing to all parts of your palate (from Lemon Thyme Pecans to Vanilla Maple Almonds to Chocolate Macaroons). While you’re there, take a gander at the Merry’s Miracle Tarts. Don’t worry, they won’t last long enough to melt on the dashboard.

Applesauce: GoGo squeeZ
Materne

GoGo squeeZ is applesauce  on the go. Not only are these convenient, re-sealable, portable pouches a no-brainer for a road trip, they’re made without artificial flavors or preservatives and refrigeration is not required. Available five kid-friendly flavors (Apple Apple, Apple Peach, Apple Banana, Apple Strawberry, and Apple Cinnamon), the pouches are available four to a box and in 3.2 oz. servings. For camping or day trips, I would gladly plan ahead and avoid high fructose corn syrup away from home. Approximately the equivalent price of individual fruit at the grocery store (99 cents/pouch is less than the cost of an apple and a banana at the airport, for example), we’re going to do a little squeezing of our own this summer.

Drinks: TummyTicklers and BellyWashers
In Zone Brands

Designed for kids, TummyTicklers and BellyWashers offer 100%  juice (no added sugars, flavors, colors, or preservatives) in 4, 6, and 8 oz. servings. A “special treat” for a road trip, I would gladly let my kids pick a bottle sporting their favorite carton character before heading on vacation. Because the bottles are washable, reusable, and BPA-free, you can keep them filled with water once the juice is gone. Especially on the road and in the summer, keeping your kids hydrated is no small feat. With spill-proof sippy lids, the TummyTicklersTots and TummyTicklers help in the fight against sticky car seats.

Marshmallows: Dandies Vegan Marshmallows
Chicago Soydairy

Calling all campers, this product is for you. Our friends at Chicago Soydairy are re-inventing the marshmallow. The only all-vegan, gelatin free, air-puffed marshmallow available, Dandies can be used in hot cocoa, krispy treats, and (of course!) s’mores. Now, I have to admit purposefully ignoring the list of ingredients on marshmallows in the past, but no more. We will be choosy campers from here on out! Dandies look, feel, and taste like a real marshmallow and my kids wolfed down half a pack for an afternoon snack.

Chips: Beanfields Crispy Licious
Beanfields

A healthier alternative to corn chips, tortilla chips, or potato chips, the clever folks at Beanfields introduce a brand new snack made from US grown black beans, navy beans, and long grain rice. Trust me, these thins are addictive in a good way. Because the chips combine beans and rice, each 1 oz. serving contains 4 grams of complete protein and 4 grams of fiber—your stomach will love the energy from half the amount of food (take that, tortilla chips!). Gluten free and containing no trans fat, the chips are also non-GMO and come in four awesome flavors: naturally unsalted, sea salt, salt & pepper, and pico de gallo. Some finger licking may be required!

Chewies: Ginger Chews
The Ginger People

America’s #1 selling ginger candy, Ginger Chews by The Ginger People are my pick for road trip chewies.  Ginger’s is know for its queasy-quelling properties, Ginger Chews are great to fight off nausea while flying, boating, or going on a bumpy road trip (pregnant moms love them too). In flavors like Original, Spicy Apple, Peanut Butter, Hot Coffee (hello!), the chews are available individually and in samplers and variety packs. To boost your pre-trip immune system, consider Ultra Strength GinGins too.

Sparky's

Our guest post this week is by Kate Canterbury, travel writer for the Capturing Como… Columbia, MO Beyond the Black and Gold.

Columbia, MO is called a lot of things: Athens of the Midwest (due to the high number of artists in comparison to the population), Missouri’s Hotel California (since once you move in, you never want to leave), and Tiger Town (Go MIZZOU!). But after ten years of moving from big city to big city, I am happy to say that I just call it home. You may not have heard of Columbia, but if you’ve driven 170 through Missouri you’ve gone right through it. We’re smack dab in the middle of the state, two hours from both Kansas City and St. Louis. Though you will find many reasons to visit Como (as we call it), at the very least consider pulling off the highway the next time you’re driving through Missouri. Spend an hour or two at one of our restaurants and get a great meal instead of fast food. All of these are ten minutes or less from a highway entrance.

Cafe Berlin
220 N. 10th Park Hours: Sunday: 8-2, Tuesday to Saturday 7-2

Cafe Berlin prides itself on featuring as many organic and local ingredients as possible. They also serve breakfast all day. And what a breakfast it is. Forgot the typical two eggs, sausage, and hash browns served at chain breakfast places. At Cafe Berlin, you can feast on Turkish Eggs: three free-range eggs scrambled with sautéed green pepper onions and tomato, topped with feta cheese and served with pita to sop it up $7. Or indulge in the Pancake Burrito, a large pancake with two scrambled eggs and Patchwork bacon all rolled up inside. It comes with real maple syrup to douse it in, $7.50.  They have a kids menu too with simpler versions of their outrageous breakfast entrees. They also serve lunch all day, in case you want to start your morning off with a house made veggie burger.

Les Bourgeois

Les Bourgeois
14020 w. Highway BB Rocheport, MO 65279 hours vary

If you have a couple of hours, or a sober driver, pull off the road in Rocheport (just outside of Columbia, MO) and head to Les Bourgeois winery. Even if you’re not a wine drinker, this is one of the best spots to view the Missouri River. Their A-Frame offers al fresco dining with several levels of picnic tables. There are even a few side decks that are perfect for quarantining yourself with the kids. Bring in your snacks from the car, buy a glass of wine (they sell soft drinks too), and spend a few minutes watching the river and letting the kids run around. If you’ve forgotten the snacks the A-Frame offers sandwiches, picnic food, and even goldfish for the kiddos. If you still have energy to burn, grab your glass of wine and wander the property. There’s a large open space by the grapevines that is perfect for kite flying. Our kids also love to watch the fountain. Need a full meal? The bistro offers a full menu and access to an outdoor space for the kids to run while you’re waiting for your food to come.

Sparky’s Ice Cream
March through New Year’s Eve, seven days a week 11:30am to 11:00pm

Just need a snack? Sparky’s Ice Cream is the ticket. This is far from your standard ice cream parlor. Every single flavor is made in house using as many locally sourced ingredients as possible. The flavors change often but my past favorites have included Strawberry Cookies and Cream and Uprise Cookie Dough made with cookie dough from a nearby bakery. Always on the menu are fruit sorbets and alcoholic milkshakes (Guiness float anyone?) Kids always eat free, a kids size comes with each adult’s purchase. You can eat inside and look at all the crazy stuffed animals in their window. Or you can sit at their sidewalk tables and feed the concrete Sparky who hangs out out front. Street parking can be hard to find, but there’s a parking garage around the corner at 10th and Cherry.

Main Squeeze
28 S. 9th St Columbia, MO 65201, Monday to Saturday 10am-8pm, Sunday 10am-5pm

If that ice cream is sending you to a sugar crash. head across the street to Main Squeeze. This restaurant manages to please even the pickiest eater with its healthy, vegetarian food. Their food is organic whenever possible so you may spend more than you would at McDonald’s but you will leave feeling so much better and energized for the road. One of my favorites is their Hummus Sandwich: homemade hummus, avocado, lettuce, tomato, red onion, vegan chipotle mayo on whole wheat 7.75 (half 4.50). And it comes with blue corn chips and house made salsa (or the veggie of the day.) They have a kids menu filled with things my kids will actually eat (nothing over $5) and you can take a smoothie or freshly squeezed juice for the road.

Dining in the south required a paradigm shift for the Feed Me family. Catfish, sweet tea, and fried pickles aside,we finally figured out if we slowed down, sat a spell, and let everything digest, some of our Northern Aggression would fade away. So, go ahead, talk to your neighbors, play some checkers, and stay longer than you planned. Heck, you might even think twice about a big slice of pecan pie!

In the town of Corinth, many appetite-building activities are within a 30 minute radius of downtown. Whether it’s touring the Civil War battlefields of Corinth, Iuka, Farmingon, and Shiloh, a historical walking tour, or the magical Grand Illumination, you’ll eventually need to find a vittles or two. Whatever brings you to town*, here are some family-friendly restaurants to consider on your next trip through northeast Mississippi:

Rib Shack: 920 Highway 72 East

If there’s only one remaining slice of strawberry pie under the glass pie plate as you enter the Rib Shack, do not pass go, immediately order dessert. Trust me on this one. Also do not let the rolls of paper towel dispersed throughout the dining room dissuade any finger licking. Kiddie Korner menu choices include smaller portions of chicken strips, ribs, and a smoked chicken breast for $3.80. Or for the same price, order a basket of fried corn nuggets and share a jumbo pork sandwich for about a dollar more.

Abe's Grill

Abe’s Grill: 803 Highway 72 West

Lordy, lordy, how I want Abe’s Grill to franchise right in my home town. Open only for lunch and dinner, come early and be prepared to seat in any available seat (belly up to the bar in more ways than one). For $4.13, try the famous country breakfast featuring sawmill gravy on a fresh-baked biscuit (Martha White would be proud). Surrounded by old license plates and road signs, chances are Abe will serve you himself. Here’s a You Tube video to give you a “taste” for yourself.

Borrum’s Drug Store: 604 Waldron St.

To the nature lover, the famous “slugburger,” may not be your first choice. On the menu at Borrum’s Drug Store since the great depression, take comfort in the downtown crowd happily lunching at the old soda fountain and out into the original drug store. First sold for a nickle (a “slug”), you can try a slugburger today for $1.91 with tax and a bag of chips. While you’re there, consider adding an authentic chocolate malt or a cherry coke (as in, coke with cherry syrup) to the tab. Also new to our palate was pimento cheese on a cracker; sold as a scoop or on a sandwich. Two thumbs up from Wisconsin, y’all!

The Dinner Bell

The Dinner Bell: 1000 South Harper Rd.

Present our family a restaurant with a bell to ring, and it doesn’t matter what’s on the menu. Simple pleasures aside, The Dinner Bell restaurant serves the entire community with their home-style cooking. In the entry way you’ll see local high school football schedules, community events, and a poster supporting 100% Mississippi farm raised catfish. Kids may enjoy a trip to the salad bar as much as the smiley fries on the children’s menu (all items $3.99, including a drink and treat). But don’t forget to set aside a quarter for the jumbo gum ball machine on your way out (parents can participate too).

Pizza Grocery: 800 A Cruise St.

Completely and pleasantly blown away by the entire Pizza Grocery experience, I would come back to Corinth just to lick the bottom bowl of spinach and artichoke dip. Upon entering the Pizza Grocery (originally a warehouse for dry groceries, produce, and beer), a person must head to the basement level for the full dining experience. Carrying a bottle of our own wine, we descended into a  world of Italian cuisine. Open only for lunch and dinner, all items on the kids menu are $5.00 and include household favorites like lasagna, mac & cheese, spaghetti and meatball, and a one-topping pizza of course.

JuJu's Shrimp Boat

JuJu’s Shrimp Boat: 1907 Shiloh Rd.

If the character Private Benjamin Buford “Bubba” Blue would have survived his fate in the movie Forest Gump, I imagine he would have loved JuJu’s Shrimp Boat. Decorated with fish nets, Mardi Gras beads, and the occasional voodoo doll, it only seemed right to order a bowl of gumbo with a bowl of etouffee (with hushpuppies for dipping purposes, of course). With shrimp and fried fish strips on the kid’s menu for $4.95 (fries and drink included), don’t be afraid to split grilled tilapia, chicken breast, and catfish between the kids. Made from scratch by owner Cheryl Wilson, end on a note of key lime pie ($2.95/slice). 

* With the 150-year anniversary of the Civil War in 2011, visit the Corinth Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and go for the full on family vacation.

On a mission to find kid friendly, affordable, fun restaurants all over this great country, Lynn’s Paradise Café in Louisville, Kentucky now has a permanent home in the Feed Me Top 10. Located at 984 Barret Avenue in the funky Highlands neighborhood, just let the GPS lady get you there. With cameo reviews in airline magazines and oh, you know, Bon Appétit, I’m not exactly planting a flag on the moon with this one. Heck, we found seven different state license plates in the parking lot alone (Rhode Island was sandwiched between Michigan and Oregon).

If you ever wondered who actually purchases the the primary color paint from Home Depot or where funky old ties find their final resting place, Lynn’s Paradise Café is the place for you. Entrance to the restaurant requires passing a giant, 8-foot tall coffee pot pouring water into a laundry load of foaming sudz. Pass through the World of Swirl gift shop (Leave time to linger. Touching everything and reading all the wickedly sarcastic magnets and t-shirts will take some time.). A dream come true for those of us with self-diagnosed Adult Attention Deficit Disorder, taking it all in is an impossibility. I seem to remember a killer whale hanging next to a ball of twine in the branches of the tree closest to us. Or was it a cow-shaped kite?

It was my husband who noticed the wall of fluorescent light bulbs blinking in synch with the background music (ranging from The Beatles to the Dixie Cups, by the way). Miniature buckets of toys dotted the tables. Our daughter found a bucket of ponies and the boys helped Mr. Fork find Mrs. Spoon on the back of the kids menu. A row of push-able construction trucks were neatly parked next to the maÎtre d’ station (primed and ready for the big-boy booth wigglers).

Enough ambiance? Here’s what we had to eat: fried green tomatoes, sweet tea, mom’s meatloaf. Good ol’ comfort food. For $3.95, the kids ordered a peanut butter sandwich and pancakes. At $4.95 one kid upgraded to a corn dog. Accompanied by apple sauce or fries, we stayed saucy. Standard kids cuisine, serious gobbling was book-ended by the glorious absence of three things (1) fighting, (2) whining, (3) begging. Relaxed-looking parents were scattered throughout the dining room. And for these three things alone, we’ll be back. (That and we need the “tofu vs. bacon” figurines.)

A summertime rite-of-passage, roasting s’mores around the campfire has been a family tradition since marshmallows found their way onto grocery store shelves in the early 20th century. A camping delicacy, to make a s’more you need three fundamental ingredients: marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers. Roast the marshmallow on a stick over the fire, slide it between a sandwich of chocolate and graham crackers, and you’ll be asking for “some more” before you have time to lick the melted goo from your hands.

Since my sister unofficially coined the phrase “raw marshmallow” back in 1986 (no risk of salmonella: a combination of smoke and vacation slothery compel you to eat marshmallows directly from the bag), each year we try mix the s’more up a bit. This summer was strawberry marshmallows on cookies pre-assembled with melted fudge. We even tried peanut butter cups with Girl Scout cookies (pack your EpiPen before trying this one). Whatever your tradition or your s’more recipe, here are some places to get your marshmallow on. After all, August is National S’more Month!

Shenandoah National Park: 90 miles outside of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is is hosting the Backyard Barbecue & S’mores Festival on Saturday August 21st at Skyland Resort. Guests can enjoy barbecue pork, chicken and ribs, along with S’mores makings for kids of all ages. Located on mile 41.7 on Skyline Drive, the festival will also feature entertainment by country artist Glen Shelton. For more information visit www.visitshenandoah.com or call 800-778-2872.

Mesa Verde National Park: Located in southwestern Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park is home to the largest cliff dwelling in North America. In honor of National S’more Month, they are offering the Complete Camper Package for families looking to enjoy the great outdoors. The package includes S’mores fix’ns and an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. Priced at $89 for a dry campsite and $115 for a base campsite, the package includes two seats on the new Far View Explorer Tour, a driver-guided adventure that takes guests to the popular Far View archaeological sites. For more information on the Morefield Campground or the Complete Camper Package, please visit www.visitmesaverde.com or call 866-292-8295.

The Adirondacks: Larger than many states, the Adirondack region is only a short drive from many major cities. There are over a dozen byways to explore road-trip style, with hundreds of camping options for s’mores heaven. Lake George, Lake Placid and the Old Forge area are the best known destinations, but with more than 100 other villages to pick from, you can find your version of perfect or just keep trying new campfires. www.visitadirondacks.com

Hells Gate State Park: Located on the Snake River, Hells Gate State Park is about as urban as you can get, with easy access from both Lewiston and Clarkston, but feels completely out in the woods. Think of it as all of the camping with not so much of the road trip. Campsites are very shady and lush, and between s’mores cookoffs you can take a jet boat excursion into Hells Canyon. http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/hellsgate.aspx

Rocky Mountain National Park: There’s nothing diminutive about Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s 416 miles of gigantic wonderland. Over 60 mountains in the park exceed 12,000 feet with Longs Peak topping the crowd at 14,259 amazing feet. Scenic wildlife drives and lush meadows let the non-climbing among us relax with a campfire and gentle trails. http://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm

Acadia National Park: Located on the rugged coast of Maine and home to the tallest mountain on the US Atlantic coast, Acadia National Park is one of those visits you’ll never forget. Take a 20-minute driving tour or spend a week, or anything in between. The ranger-led boat cruises are especially family friendly and many of the hikes are accessible and suitable for small children. Don’t forget tea and popovers at the Jordan Pond House between your s’mores cookouts. http://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm

Lake Ouachita State Park, Arkansas: One of the cleanest lakes in America, Lake Ouachita is a water sports mecca for swimming, skiing, scuba diving, boating, and fishing. Stay in Hot Springs and just drive out to get your s’mores fix or camp for a couple of nights. Arkansas state parks also have a fun geocaching program. You get clues at each of the 52 state parks that lead you to the super secret 53rd cache. Get your Lake Ouachita clue while you walk off some of the calories from all those s’mores. http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/lakeouachita/

Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas: Known as the grand canyon of Texas, Palo Duro Canyon is south of Amarillo in the Texas panhandle. Home of the Official Play of the State of Texas (yes sir, cowboy, that’s really a designation!), the horseback tours of the region are also very popular. Camping is available, and because of the diverse habitats, wildlife is plentiful. On the canyon rim, longhorn steers which are a part of the official Texas State Longhorn Herd, may be viewed from the main road. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/palo_duro/

Lake Bistineau State Park, Louisiana:Famous for the stands of cypress and tupelo trees, as well as all types of water sports, hiking and some of the state’s best picnic areas, Lake Bistineau is one heck of a place to make up some s’mores. Cabins and a swimming beach as well as hiking and canoe trails give everyone something to do when you’re not firing up the marshmallows. http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/ibistino.aspx

Your Own Backyard: Get out the grill or fire up the fire pit and make some s’mores as a surprise treat. It’s August, so sleep out under the stars and tell ghost stories or have some friends over. You really don’t need to go anywhere special to get your marshmallow on.

Beef-a-Roo

Part of  the upcoming “Monkey Business” review of  Rockford, Illinois, dining in Rockford deserved its own Feed Me review.

Let’s start with a local Rockford favorite, Beef-A-Roo. Family owned and operated for over 40 years, the seven Beef-A-Roo restaurants in the Rockford Region collectively hold their own against the many chain restaurants. Each Beef-A-Roo building has a different theme, including oldies rock-n-roll, fire station, warehouse, and lodge.

I normally wouldn’t have given the name Beef-a-Roo much of a chance, but when three people at three different places in three hours recommended it, we were feeling optimistic about a menu void of  jumping marsupials from Down Under (if you know what I mean). We dined for lunch at the warehouse location, and the restaurant itself was fast food meets sit down. For a whopping $17.58, one adult and three kids had drinks and meals. Choices for the kids meals included yogurt and fresh fruit and you are only charged for the items you eat (one kid had water, so his meal cost less than the others=what a concept).

Lino's Italian Restaurant

Please crave Italian food for at least one meal in Rockford. This way, you won’t miss out on a trip to Little Italy in Northern Illinois. Almost every table at Lino’s was full when we arrived on a Saturday night. Multi-generational families were happily tossing pennies into the wishing fountain in the main lobby and painted cherubs circled above their heads. Known for the pizza, many tables at Lino’s (including the giant one under a replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa) were lined with bread and pizza and other food covered in red or white sauce.

Reasonably priced, we ordered sides of spaghetti with meat balls for the kids. Order a surprise salad if you like a little sausage and egg with your roughage (I’m craving another one just writing about it.). Many people have written their own online reviews of Lino’s, and they are objectively favorable. We loved the family atmosphere, making a few wishes on three trips to the bathroom, and telling the kids about the vegetable jail (tables behind an ornate wrought-iron gate; reserved for people who didn’t try a bite of the surprise salad—hopefully purgatory has lasagna for us sneaky moms).

Kegel’s Harley Diner

The next morning, our stomachs were rumbling by the time we rolled into the Motorcycle Oasis diner inside the Kegel Harley-Davidson building (a Harley-Davidson retail store and mechanic shop). Whether you come craving a Sturgis Omlet or want to re-fuel with a cup of coffee, the Motorcycle Oasis is a unique place you’ll want to come back to again and again.

We bellied up to the bar, sitting on leather bike seats. Up on a pedestal in the middle of the restaurant, Evel Knievel’s 1972 Harley Davidson blocked some of our people watching. The kids were engaged with crayons and activity packs and I read through the menu that features items like dip sticks, spokes, a throttle dog, and the fat boy burger.

Other Rockford restaurants on our list included authentic Mexican food at Alvarez Restaurant, Swedish pancakes at the Stockholm Inn, and the up-scale Garrett’s Restaurant and Bar (in nice weather, ask to sit on the outside patio and watch golfers at the adjacent driving range). Otherwise detained by dinosaurs, sock monkeys, and water tables at the Discovery Center Museum, we’ll be back to Rockford again and ready for the next course.

Milking the Moment in Madison, Wisconsin

If you’re not familiar with the “Feed Me” mantra, it’s to find family-friendly dining establishments on the road. Places where families can enjoy the atmosphere, come out of the car, and gather around a different dinner table. Sometimes you need quick, convenient meals. Other times, kids need a place to stretch their legs and burn off steam while your eyes look at something other than interstate signs.

Being on vacation is fun for kids and parents. We love juice boxes and hot dogs as much as the next family, but when it comes to driving and dining, it’s still important for kids to drink milk and water the majority of the time. Maybe it’s because our family lives in Wisconsin, the dairy state, milk is a default beverage choice at our house. (We even started the rumor that chocolate cows make chocolate milk.)  However in some families and in other parts of the country, milk is not part of the local culture.

Because milk is the leading food source of calcium and vitamin D, it’s important for growing strong bones. Milk is also a good source of high-quality protein for lean muscle and B vitamins for energy. Plus it tastes good and you can dunk stuff in it. If you don’t believe me, try dipping a chocolate chip cookie in pop.

Mustache in Memphis

When I got wind that the the National “got milk?®” Milk Mustache Mobile Tour is crossing the country from March to September, we checked our calendar and popped in on the action at the “Cows on the Concourse” event in Madison this past weekend. We even got milk mustaches like this Memphis baby (what a hunka hunka burnin’ love).

Traveling to 75 cities nationwide, the “Milk the Moment” tour features a variety of fun and educational activities for the entire family. This year, the tour helps celebrate family dinners and invites moms to share how they make the most of time together around the table. I figure, why not suggest milking the moment on the road.

Here’s why: Studies show that when kids eat dinner with their families, they’re more likely to have nutritious diets, healthier weights, and do better in school. Research also shows that they have higher fruit, vegetable, and calcium intakes than their peers. Soft drinks and sugary fruit drinks have been edging out milk at mealtime, but these drinks don’t give kids the long-term energy they need to get up and get “mooving” in other aspects of their lives.

Score Big With Milk

During the tour season, the Milk Mustache Mobile Tour crew travels all over the country with milk, cameras, and an arsenal of information on moo juice. I touched base with Shannon Traeger, member of the Chicago “herd”. I asked what she thought milk drinkers have in common, “All families who drink milk seem to appreciate the value of using milk as a great nutritional addition to every meal. Milk is so naturally nutrient-rich like no other beverage, and I think families who drink milk seem to really appreciate this healthy beverage choice!” Part of Shannon’s job is also assisting with the milk mustache. Apparently, if you don’t tip the glass properly you could end up with a milk goatee. And now I’m kicking myself for asking for advice on crying over milk spills.

If you’re road tripping this summer, why not go to whymilk.com and see if the Milk the Moment tour is passing through a city you are too. Stop by for a mustache, milk memorabilia, and enter the enter the national “Milk the Moment” contest by sharing how you milk the moment with your family (you could win a trip to San Francisco to have a family dinner with the latest Milk Mustache celebrity and chef Tyler Florence).

For more information on the importance of serving milk at the dinner table and the National Milk Mustache “got milk?®” Campaign visit whymilk.com, fan them on Facebook or follow @MilkMustache on Twitter.