Baum & Whiteman Co., an international restaurant consulting firm, predicted that gastronomy for kids would be one of the top trends in restaurants this year.

That means cookbooks for kids, cooking classes for kids and, what really caught my eye, real food for kids at restaurants.

Finally.

I hate kids menus. Why should my daughter only have the choice between greasy chicken fingers or rubbery hot dogs with fries, while I enjoy a relatively healthy meal?

In reality, she doesn't. She usually shares food from our plates when we're out. We've ordered off the appetizer menu for her. Or I ask for substitutes, which often are granted. I don't mind (and she sure doesn't either) the occasional hot dog or chicken finger. But why not pair it with some fresh vegetables or applesauce instead of fries.

I know I'm lucky. My daughter loves scallops. She's into lettuce. She doesn't mind food that's a little spicy. She's interested in sushi. There are few foods that she'll refuse unless it's spaghetti at home if it has sauce on it.

It's her personality. But I have to give a little credit to myself and my husband. We've always put all kinds of foods in front of her. Why can't restaurants do that too?

I haven't seen any major push around here to start serving kids mini versions of what us parents are eating. But I've found a few restaurants with a decent kids menu. At least they offer fresh fruit or vegetables.

Here are a few I've found, but this list is far from comprehensive. It's just places we've been recently where I've noticed they've actually made an effort to offer some healthy options for kids.

So here are mine. What are your favorites? 

Elmo's Diner in Durham and Carrboro offers breakfast and lunch all day. They know kids. Where else can you find a small bowl of Cheerios on the menu for a quarter? Lots of pretty healthy selections and choice and pretty cheap ($2.75 for a ham sandwich and side). And, best of all, all sandwiches are served with fries, applesauce, carrot sticks or raisins. Check out their kids page on their Web site.

I want to eat from Guglhupf Bakery & Patisserie's kids menu in Durham, which includes a grilled Nutella sandwich. Unfortunately it's for kids 10 and under. The kids menu includes sides of fresh fruit (melon cut in long, thin strips which my preschooler loved the last time we were there) for the sandwiches. Yummy breakfast options include apple with honey yogurt dip and granola. Prices are $2.50 to $3.75.

I'm not a big fan of chain restaurants, but Firebirds Rocky Mountain Grill (North Hills in Raleigh and at The Streets at Southpoint in Durham) offers a variety of healthy sides on their kids menu, including mashed potatoes, fresh fruit, carrots and a small side salad. The entrees include a grilled chicken breast option. Prices are $5 to $8.

Sushi Thai in Raleigh and Cary has a small kids menu with chicken teriyaki, fried chicken or fried shrimp on it. But they come with a big scoop of rice and some steamed vegetables. Prices are $6 and $7. What we usually do here is order off the sushi menu for my daughter. Rolls are $1 or $2 a piece (so no worries if your kid doesn't like them).

The usual suspects are on the kids menu at the Village Tavern in Cameron Village (and probably others in the local chain), but when I asked for a substitute of steamed vegetables for the fries, they were happy to comply. The price is $3.99 for all kids meals.

Tir Na Nog, the Irish pub in downtown Raleigh, includes mixed vegetables with their kids entrees, including bangers in a blanket, pita pizza and mac and cheese. The price is $5.50 for each meal. Kids under 5 eat free at their Sunday brunch buffet.

My daughter usually gets a hot dog at the Q Shack in Raleigh from the kids menu, but she has her pick of the sides, which includes a salad and really yummy mashed sweet potatoes.

Every Wednesday, moms write about what they're eating and what their kids are eating on TriangleMom2Mom.

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MONDAY: Meet!
TUESDAY: Ask!
WEDNESDAY: Eat!
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