Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 April 2004 — Page 26

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Community Service 9 Marriage Announcements 9 Social Clubs People£sTrends

C SECTION FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2004

FROMTHEDESK 18 th Annual Beautillion Militaire OF JADA

(FeatureSource) — Ah...those good old days. Before you had kids, you could eat out just about any time you wanted. There were no worries about wait times and kid-friendly menu choices. Yes, it is more complicated to eat out when you’ve got a couple of kids in tow, but don’t give up altogether. Bridget Swinney, author of Healthy Food for Healthy Kids (Meadowbrook Press) has advice for parents when it comes to dining out.' “Getting your children used to eating out at an early age gives you an opportunity to teach manners for eating out as well as a chance to introduce new and unusual foods,” says Swinney. To make your dining experience the best it can be, follow these tips. (1) Make sure your child is not overly hungry. Children have a very low tolerance for waiting when they’re hungry, which means waiting for a table and food will not be an enjoyable experience. Since eating out is often a spur-of-the-moment idea, usually little or no time is available to plan ahead. So grab an apple, some animal crackers or pretzels for your child to snack on before you head out the door. (2) If the outing is planned, make sure your child is well rested. If the family has been running nonstop all day, you can be sure that your child won’t be her usual angelic self if you choose to go out to eat that evening. (3) Choose a restaurant that has some diversion for children (or bring your own). Most restaurants have crayons and an outline to color, toys or a table with beads. If your child is not overly interested in this sort of entertainment, bring your own. Things that are useful include books, small cars, small stuffed animals and action figures for pretend play. Packets of sugar can be used to make a picture or stack. A handful of straws can be used for a game of pick-up sticks. (4) If your child is unlikely to make a meal from items on the menu, bring some of your own food. Restaurants usually don’t mind and completely understand that children have special needs, especially babies and picky eaters. (5) Decide on your philosophy about eating out before you leave home. Many restaurants have kids’ menus from which you can choose the usual burger, grilled cheese or hot dog. Ifyou’d like to encourage your child to try new items, offer only a few new choices from the menu and leave out the fact that they could order a bu rger or hot dog. (6) If your child is in the “terrible 2s”stage, this is probably the toughest time to go out. You will spend most of the evening chasing her and trying to get her to sit down. For this age group, stick to a kid-oriented place like Chuck-E-Cheese or get a babysitter! (7) If your child is a light eater and not too picky, order her a side dish or let her eat part of the food on your own plate. This will save money and aggravation. “There’s no reason that children should keep you from experiencing new restaurants," says Swinney.

The annual Beautillion Militaire was recently held in the Olympic Suite at the Pan American Plaza. The Beautillion has been held every year for 18 years. It includes a 15-week program to help African-American males "develop character and increase their knowledge.” This year's Beautillion participants received a variety of awards.

This year's top beau was Clifton Snorten a Warren Central High School student. During the ball Snorten dances with his mother Carol. (Photos/C. Guynn)

Circle City Links

Radio One Easter Egg Hunt

The Circle City Chapter of Links Inc. recently held its 4 th Annual Celebration of the Arts at the Children's Museum. Members of the Circle City Links Chapter are from left to right Annette Henderson, Mildred Varnado, Dorothy Crenshaw and Barbara Boyd. (Photo/C. Guynn) Alpha Eta Boule

Radio One employees made their last minute preparations before the Easter Egg Hunt began. (Photos/J. Hurst)

The annual Alpha Eta Boule Easter Brunch was recently held at Omni Severin Hotel downtown. Mays Chemical Co. owner and CEO Bill Mays and his wife Rose attended the brunch.

Charles Williams, president of the Alpha Eta Boule, and his wife Robbie. (Photos/C. Guynn)

Deon Levingston helps the 3 to 5-year-old group with their hunt.