Kids Eat Free (or almost free)- Mishawaka/South Bend/Granger

This of course is not a complete or perfect list, but as many restaurants I could find.  Comment below if you have any restaurants to add or correct so I can share with other families!

I recommend CALLING AHEAD to make sure the restaurant has not changed their policy.

Updated to the best of my knowledge 4/30/15

MONDAY

• Flat Top Grill in UP Mall- Kids 10 and under eat for free all day, limited to one child per adult entree purchased
•  TGIFriday’s: —Kids eat free, though offers vary by location.
• IHOP -Daily- Kids eat for free from 3 -8 pm, limited to one child per adult entree
• Ponderosa in Town and Country Plaza in Mishawaka- Kids 3 and under eat for 99 cents all day
• Chick Fil A on Michigan Street in South Bend- Bring in Sunday's church bulletin get a free chicken sandwich when you buy an original chicken sandwich.
• Main  Street Pub- Kids Eat Free. 2046 S Bend Ave, South Bend, IN 46637
• Cici’s Pizza: Daily—Kids 3 and under eat free. 
• Golden Corral: Kids 10 and under eat free from 5-9 pm. Two kids per adult. Kids 3 and under are always free.

TUESDAY

• Fazolis in Mishawaka on McKinley-99 cents kids meal with purchase of adult meal, 5-8pm
• Bob Evans - Kids eat free. One child per adult. 12 and under. 4pm-close
• Famous Dave's- Kids eat free with purchase of adult meal
• IHOP- Kids eat for free from 3-10 pm, limited to one child per adult entree
• TGIFriday’s- Kids eat for free all day, limited to two kids per adult. though offers vary by location.
• Ponderosa- Kids eat free from 4pm to close. You can get up to 2 free kids’ meals with each adult entree purchased. 
• Beef O Brady's in Granger- Kids eat free 4-8pm with purchase of adult entree. 1 child per adult
• Main  Street Pub- Kids Eat Free. 2046 S Bend Ave, South Bend, IN 46637
• Cici’s Pizza: Daily—Kids 3 and under eat free. Ask server for specific details.

WEDNESDAY

•  Roc’s- Down town Mishawaka.  Kid’s night after 4pm
•  Legends of Notre Dame -free kids meals on Wednesday nights.
• Buffalo Wild Wings- 1.99 kids meals 5pm-8pm 12/under dine in only
• IHOP- Kids eat for free from 3- 10 pm, limited to one child per adult entree
• Ponderosa - Kids 3 and under eat for 99 cents all day
• Main  Street Pub- Kids Eat Free. 2046 S Bend Ave, South Bend, IN 46637
• Cici’s Pizza: Daily—Kids 3 and under eat free. Ask server for specific details.

THURSDAY

• IHOP -Daily- Kids eat for free from 3 -10 pm, limited to one child per adult entree
• Perkin's Restaurant & Bakery- Kids Eat Free with purchase of adult entree. 4pm-8pm.
• Ponderosa - Kids 3 and under eat for 99 cents all day
• Cici’s Pizza: Daily—Kids 3 and under eat free. Ask server for specific details.

FRIDAY

• IHOP -Daily- Kids eat for free from 3 -10 pm, limited to one child per adult entree
• Ponderosa - Kids 3 and under eat for 99 cents all day
• Cici’s Pizza: Daily—Kids 3 and under eat free. Ask server for specific details.

SATURDAY

• IHOP -Daily- Kids eat for free from 3 -10 pm, limited to one child per adult entree
• Steak-n-Shake- Kids Eat Free all day. One free kid's plate per $8 spent.
• Ponderosa - Kids 3 and under eat for 99 cents all day
• Cici’s Pizza: Daily—Kids 3 and under eat free. Ask server for specific details.

SUNDAY

• IHOP -Daily- Kids eat for free from 3 -10 pm, limited to one child per adult entree
• Granite City Food & Brewery- Kids eat free with adult entree purchase. 5pm-close.
• Steak-n-Shake- Kids Eat Free all day. One free kid's plate per $8 spent.
• Ponderosa - Kids 3 and under eat for 99 cents all day
• Main  Street Pub- Kids Eat Free. 2046 S Bend Ave, South Bend, IN 46637
• Cici’s Pizza: Daily—Kids 3 and under eat free. Ask server for specific details.

Bird Beaks and Caterpillar Camouflage

  We used our "beaks" to catch some "caterpillars hiding in the grass". You can do this activity while studying Birds or camouflage.

Aims of Lesson:

• To discuss how birds use their beaks 
• Discuss caterpillars use camouflage to hide from predators

Book Suggestions:

• If you are focusing on different butterflies and caterpillars then use the book A Butterfly Is Patient. because it's entire inside cover is covered in illustration of different colored caterpillars.
  
• If discussing birds the use the book Beaks!

Materials:

• Clothespin for each child 
• Fake grass from Silk Flower Aisle in Dollar Store
• Multi-colored pipe cleaners cut into 1 inch pieces
• Glue and crayons
• paper

Procedure:

1. Look through some books on caterpillars and see their different colors.   Or look through some bird books and read how birds use beaks.
2. After teacher "hides" caterpillars in grass, each kids takes turns catching the caterpillars.
3. Draw the correct camouflage for the caterpillars you find (red flowers for red caterpillars, green caterpillars in grass, etc)

Letting Go~Author Unknown

 A counselor shared this with me a few years back, and it is still very applicable.

To "let go" does not mean to stop caring,
it means I can't do it for someone else.

To "let go" is not to cut myself off,
it's the realization I can't control another.

To "let go" is not to enable,
but to allow learning from natural consequences.

To "let go" is to admit powerlessness,
which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To "let go" is not to try to change or blame another,
it's to make the most of myself.

To "let go" is not to care for,
but to care about.

To "let go" is not to fix,
but to be supportive.

To "let go" is not to judge,
but to allow another to be a human being.

To "let go" is not to be in the middle arranging the outcomes,
but to allow others to affect their own destinies.

To "let go" is not to be protective,
it's to permit another to face reality.

To "let go" is not to deny,
but to accept.

To "let go" it not to nag, scold or argue,
but instead to search out my own shortcomings, and correct them.

To "let go" is not to adjust everything to my desires
but to take each day as it comes, and cherish myself in it.

To "let go" is not to criticize and regulate anybody
but to try to become what I dream I can be.

To "let go" is not to regret the past,
but to grow and live for the future.

To "let go" is to fear less,
and love more

DIY Raised Garden Bed 4ft x 8ft

We made a 4 x 4 Square Foot Garden Bed
last year and were very successful.  We decided to make a
large second bed for vine vegetable that need a lot more room,
 like zucchini.




Directions for 4 x 8 foot Raised Garden Bed
We decided to do a  raised bed due to lots of roots in our yard.  Check your local recycling center or waste department of your city for free compost to fill the bed.

Materials Needed:

•  6—8 ft. 2x6’s
• 1—8 ft. 2x2
• 2 ½ in. screws

 Procedure

1.      Cut two of the 2x6’s in half to give you four 4 ft. sections and four 8 ft. sections.  You’ll put two on top of each other to form each side (You could user wider stock and less boards, but the 2x6 are much easier to handle and rip with a table saw).

2.      Cut the 2x2 into four 1 ft. sections and one 4 ft. section.

3.      Assemble the box using the 1 ft. 2x2 boards to brace each corner.  Use the 4 ft. 2x2 and some scrap wood to brace the middle of the long side to prevent bowing when the box is filled with soil.

4.      Wrap chicken wire loosely around the base to keep out seed-munching varmints.  I added some scrap rebar driven into the ground near the front corners to reinforce the wire.  It can unwrap to give you access to the garden when needed.

Simple Garden Markers

I have seen a lot of fancy garden markers on Pinterest.  I don't have time or motivation to spend an hour painting rocks for my garden.  So here is my simple, but effective solution....

Materials Needed:

• Sharpie from your house
• Rocks in your yard

 1. Use some warm water and wash rocks. Let dry thoroughly.
2. Write on rock.


Yep..that simple:)

4 DAY CAMPING MEAL PLAN

 Camp Food Tips-Pack Smart and Safe. 

SMART

• Fill empty/clean milk jugs with water and freeze.  This will give you clean-water as they thaw, and double as your cold source in your cooler.
• Bring about a dozen frozen water bottles and refill with your water jugs throughout the week. Again, clean water source and cold course in cooler, making more room for other foods.
• Non squish-able bread and snacks. Tortillas and bagels are great for quick & easy wraps and sandwiches, and don't take up tons of room because you don't have to worry about having to pack them on top. Brings apples instead of bananas.
• Ziplocs are your best friend. Don't bring anything in it's original boxes if you don't have to. Put snack, like goldfish crackers or trail mix, into individual baggies before you leave. This make getting ready for hikes easy, and allows your kids to pick their own snacks easily. 

SAFE

• Keep raw foods separate from other foods. Never bring meat or poultry products without a cold source to keep them safe and in water tight packaging. 
• Freeze all cheese and meat individually in ziplocs before hand . It cuts down on ice/space you need in cooler and you can have "fresh" food the 1st and/ or 2nd night. Ziploc containers take up less space than bulky cardboard boxes,  and you only bring what you need. If you have frozen sausages for breakfast, they will thaw and make the cardboard wet. 

4 DAY CAMPING MEAL PLAN
For camp Kitchen Organization and lists- See Family Camping Organization 

Unless you want to spend your entire camping week preparing or cleaning up food then be OK with some repeat and/or easy meals.   You will be happier to have time to hike and explore, than spending all your time cooking.

Day ONE Check in at 2:00pm

You don't want to have anything to complicated the first night.  We are always tired from setting up the tent and the campsite, so simplicity is key. 

• Dinner-  Hot Dogs over fire and Buns, apples
• Snacks/Dessert- Smores

Day TWO-

This is our big fire-cooking food day because our "fresh" food is thawing and we have had time to tend the fire.  Since many campfire meals require hot coal beds instead of flames, you need to allow an hour or two tending the fire before it's time to cook.  We use up our frozen raw food that is thawing this day.

• Breakfast – Use Gas Camp Grill so you don't have to wake up and build fire-shakeup pancakes,eggs and sausage patties (frozen in Ziploc) with syrup and milk (frozen in water bottles)
• Lunch- Cheese, spinach & deli meat Quesadillas on Gas Camp Grill and apple sauce cups. You can also bring cooked shredded chicken that already has taco seasoning added (freeze beforehand)
• Snacks- Apples and Trail Mix
• Dinner- The fire must be a couple hours old with very hot coals to cook the hobo dinner.  Don't forget heat gloves or oven mittens when handing your pie-irons.
• Campfire Stew- Frozen ground beef patties (on bottom), washed baby potatoes, baby carrots salt and pepper, dried onions, 2 spoonfuls of Cream of mushroom soup on top.  Cook for at least half hour on HOT coals. You can add other veggies that your family likes, like zucchini. 
•  Campfire Pies for dessert- buttered white bread with pie filling in between cooked in pie iron. 

Campfire Stew-tastes SOOOO much  better than it looks.  Trust me. 

Campfire Pies with pie filling

Day THREE- 

This is usually the day we go hiking, bike riding, or swimming at the beacg, so we plan mostly easy and portable meals.

• Breakfast – Fruit cups and bagels with spray butter (you can toast on fire or gas grill)
• Lunch- Bagel or Tortilla Wrap Sandwiches with deli turkey and cheese
• Snacks- Fruit snacks, goldfish, Animal Crackers
• Dinner- Grilled Cheese and canned Soup (heated on gas grill or over flame)

Day FOUR-Check out at 11:00am-

 Since you will be packing up campsite today, keep it easy and simple.

• Breakfast- Poptarts and Fruit Punch
• Snacks-Whatever is left in snack bins
• Lunch- Deli Meat Bagel Sandwiches with ham and cheese

 

Use Pie iron to warm up your Poptarts:)

GROCERY LIST-4 Day Camping Meal Plan

DAIRY

• Eggs (use first morning)
• Half gallon of milk (you can freeze also)
• Shredded Cheese (freeze)
• Frozen cheese slices (enough for at least 3 meals)

MISC.

• Empty Half Gallon Milk Jugs, clean & washed.  Filled with water and frozen

MEAT

• Sausage patties (frozen in Ziploc) 
• Hot Dogs  (freeze hot dogs if not using the first night)
• Frozen ground beef or turkey patties (at least one for each person)
• Frozen Deli Meats (gets individually wrapped in a variety of meats so you can mix it up)
• Cooked shredded chicken that already has taco seasoning added (frozen in ziploc)

DRY GOODS

• shakeup pancake mix
• Hershey bars (freeze to avoid melting in heat)
• Graham Crackers
• Marshmallows 
• Syrup
• Pam Spray (for camp stove)
• Spray butter (for corn and grilled cheese)
• Individual Apple Sauce and/or pudding
• Water bottles (freeze and fill up through week with water from milk jugs)
• Trail Mix (you can make your own and put in individual Ziploc bags before for easier access for kids while hiking)
• 1 to 2 cans mushroom soup
• Ketchup/Mustard
• Pie filling
• Lemonade Mix
• Canned Soup
• Fruit snacks, goldfish, Animal Crackers (indivudal bags or bag in small snack bags before you leave)
• Pop-tarts

BREAD

• Hot Dog Buns
• Tortillas
• white bread
• Bagels- plain for sandwiches, flavored for breakfast

PRODUCE

• romaine lettuce for sandwiches
• Apples
• Washed Baby Potatoes 
• Baby Carrots

SPICES

• salt and pepper
• Dried minced onions

MATERIALS NEEDED

• Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil  
• Pie Irons
• Camp Stove
• Fire tongs

You may also like:

• Camp Site and Kitchen Organization with checklists- See Family Camping Organization  
• See post on Camping with Kids for more Info about keeping kids entertained while camping.