We are so excited to be teaming up with Heather from My Life Well Loved for a fun Blog Swap. While my kids aren’t in the Toddler phase anymore, I remember very well how difficult getting a good meal out could be. Heather is breaking it down for us with this list of Local Restaurants that are Toddler-Friendly. (Meaning they won’t throw you out should a meltdown happen or if a little bit of macaroni were to go flying across the restaurant.)

If you’re looking for ideas for keeping the kids busy on rainy days or ideas for beating the summer heat, check out our guest post for the best indoor activities for kids!

Heather is a Birmingham native who grew up in Homewood, went to Samford University and met and married her college sweetheart there. She runs the popular healthy life+style blog MyLifeWellLoved.com, teaches Pure Barre and loves to lead an active lifestyle with her family. She has a 2.5 year old little boy and is 23 weeks pregnant with their second boy. You can typically find Eric, Heather and Leyton on the weekends going on family walks, at church and enjoying local eats with friends.

Eating out as an adult with a toddler is certainly a much different scenario than eating out around town as a Samford college student. Back then, I wanted to be at the hippest and most fun places although 10 years ago that was pretty limited compared to Birmingham now!

Let’s take an aside to revel in the glory that is the city of Birmingham and all that she has to offer now. Breweries, multiple walking/running/biking trails, new non-chain restaurants popping up all the time, Railroad park  and many others… as a Birmingham native in her early 30’s I can’t believe how far our city has come! Go B’ham, go B’ham!

I have a 2.5 year old little boy and am currently 23 weeks pregnant so EASY places to eat out with a toddler are the name of my mom game these days. Here’s our top picks for Birmingham toddler-friendly restaurants:

Bar Taco: We LOVE Bar Taco! You can sit inside or outside, your kids can run around on the outside patio, they are always super friendly and mama can get a margarita. Can I get an amen?

Zoe’s Kitchen: We love the SOHO location especially because you can sit out on their patio with the large umbrellas and have a little enclosed outdoor area for your kids to run around in. Bonus? If Leyton is good for the meal, he gets one of their GINORMOUS chocolate chip cookies that make all my pregnancy dreams come true.

Nabeel’s: I have taken Leyton here with couple friends, with girlfriends and their kids, and gotten take out from here to take to friends who have just had kids. It’s an excellent option to sit on their side patio and enjoy the outdoors plus then with that little tucked away patio, you aren’t bothering the rest of their guests. Insider tip: If you’ve never tried the Feta Theologos app, it’s mouth-wateringly good! My sister-in-law requests we go to Nabeel’s each time just to get it!

Urban Cookhouse: This fast casual American fare restaurant tucked in the heart of downtown Homewood is loud, bustling and no one will notice if your kid has a meltdown. They have healthy options, a yummy kids menu and they go above and beyond to show that they “get the kid thing” by having little cups of Cheerios ready for you to give to your hungry munchkins.

Brixx Pizza: Eric and I have fallen in love with the laid back vibe, the beer draft selection, drink specials, and the Brixx salad with extra goat cheese and salmon. Seriously, it’s so good! The crazy part? You can request pizza dough for your child to play with while you wait! AND they have chalkboard walls kids can draw on, so fun!

Ashley Mac’s: Leyton and I are pretty regular luncher’s at Ashley Mac’s with girlfriends. We love how the founder has really implemented mom-friendly thoughts into her store from the easy takeaway meals to the cute kids’ toy pliable sticks that come with kids’ meals. We enjoy sitting outside where Leyton can run around!

Jim ‘N Nicks: A Birmingham staple, cheese biscuits and a boisterous atmosphere make for the perfect scenario for no one to care about toddler holler

Vecchia: I have learned recently that I’m doing Vecchia all wrong. I usually get the lasagna roll up’s and their wine ON TAP – yes, you read that right! – but lately I hear that the panini’s are where it’s at. We come to Vecchia for the beautiful big wrap-around porch, the scenic views and the ability to walk around and take in Moss Rock Preserve. On Saturday’s they have a bounce house to entertain kids and chalk available for drawing all the time.

Post Office Pies: One of our very favorite things to do with other couples who have young kids is grab Post Office Pies (one of my favorite local pizza joints) and head over to sit outside and have drinks and playtime at Avondale Brewery where you can play bags, kick around a soccer ball, take in the pooch watching or just let your toddler run wild. It’s truly a spring time staple!

Beef O’Brady’s: Kids eat free on Thursday nights with a paying adult and they often have kids’ activities this night as well. It’s low key, you can have a fun night out with your family and nobody is bothered by kids running around.

Although we all know that you can pretty much hit up any Mexican restaurant in Birmingham, I wanted to think a bit outside the box for places to recommend that are toddler-friendly in their vibes and that also have good stuff to offer for adults.

This list also has several options that include healthy food choices if that is important to you like it is to me…well, at least when I don’t have a pregnancy craving hit, ha!

What did I leave off the list? I’d love to hear your favorite toddler-friendly restaurants to hit up in the comments below or feel free to let me know on Instagram under @MyLifeWellLoved!

The month of May means it’s nearly time for America’s favorite food lovers’ tradition: visiting your local farmers market. In addition to all the invigorating colors, exquisite aromas, strong flavors, and spirit of community, the farmers market is also an opportunity to develop one-on-one relationships with the people who produce your food! Their passion for food can be quite inspiring.

Stop Foodborne Illness  a national public health organization whose mission is preventing illness and death from foodborne pathogens wants to remind you that no matter where you get your food – by supporting friendly local farmers or by shopping your neighborhood supermarket – food safety is always important.

Food that is fresh is a delicious treat! Organic and sustainable farming doesn’t use pesticides, chemicals, hormones and other additives, but it isn’t necessarily safer when it comes to foodborne illness – because everything is still grown in the dirt, and handled by humans. Pathogens such as E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella are found naturally in soil, as well as manure. Which basically means, everything needs to be washed.

Farmers and vendors selling food at the farmers market, as well as consumers/shoppers should understand the necessary steps to reducing the risk of illness from food. “It’s a good idea to know the signs of safe food handling when you visit each market vendor,” said Deirdre Schlunegger, CEO of Stop Foodborne Illness. “Knowing your favorite farmers and vendors are using safe food practices, definitely boosts one’s confidence in their purchases!”

Most states have passed legislation regulating farmers’ markets. For example, in Illinois, most home-canned foods other than jams, jellies and preserves cannot be sold at the farmers market. Typically, farmers markets must be inspected by local health departments who make sure each market meets food safety standards, and most vendors, including those from so-called “cottage industries,” must be licensed to sell their products at farmers markets.

If you’re interested in policies and regulations affecting farmers markets in your state, contact the department of health. For more information: www.stopfoodborneillness.org/ awareness/food-safety-by- state/

What to look for when it comes to safe food handling:

The condition of the vendors’ booths and their products can tell you a lot about their safe food practices. Look for clean hands. Dirty fingernails or a filthy apron aren’t appetizing. For vendors serving food – are they wearing gloves, and is their hair covered?

A certification notice. Some vendors will display certificates that show they have been trained in food safety. These are good indicators that their foods are handled properly.

The carton is clean. When buying eggs, look to see if the carton is clean – inside and out, and make sure the eggs are clean and not cracked. Reused egg cartons are fine, if clean.

Cold foods are cold. Meats, cheeses and other dairy, and eggs should be kept cold. Salads and cold sandwiches should feel like they’re straight from the fridge.

Meat, poultry and fish are cooked to a safe temperature.  The only way to determine a safe temperature for meat, poultry or fish, is by using a cooking thermometer. If you’re not sure, ask.

Hot foods are hot. The “Danger Zone” for food (where bacteria multiply quickly) is between 40°F and 140°F. Cooked foods like soups and burgers should be piping hot.

Samples are being safely handled. Vendors using gloves, tongs, tissues, or other utensils are doing it right! (They shouldn’t be using bare hands.) Are knives, serving utensils, dishes, and service surfaces kept clean?  If not, take a pass on these foods.

Ciders, juices, and dairy products are pasteurized. Since unpasteurized foods are serious sources of foodborne pathogens, shoppers should ask when products, including the samples, are not clearly labeled.

On hot days …
Be mindful of jars open for sampling —sauces, salsas, jams, pickles and so on —they should not be out for more than two hours at outside temperature. One hour, if it’s over 90°F. Many markets have started offering hand-washing stations with hand sanitizer. We encourage you to use them.

If you’re purchasing perishables like dairy, eggs, or meat bring a cooler or insulated bag with ice to the market, so your newly purchased products can be kept cold for the ride home in the hot car.

Make the farmers market your final stop before heading home. Your fresh veggies and fruit, and other perishable foods, won’t have to sit long in a hot car, and will make it to the refrigerator that much more quickly.

Foodborne illness is no laughing matter; serious cases can have severe and long-lasting consequences. Keep in mind that babies, young children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with compromised immune systems are most vulnerable to serious attacks of foodborne illness.

Make sure to check our list of Local Farmers Markets so you know the best places to shop this summer!

About Stop Foodborne Illness:
Stop Foodborne Illness is a national nonprofit, public health organization dedicated to preventing illness and death from foodborne pathogens by promoting sound food safety policy and best practices, building public awareness, and assisting those impacted by foodborne illness. For more food safety tips please visit www.Stopfoodborneillness.org/ awareness/. If you think you have been sickened from food, contact your local health professional.

We love our local libraries, they show up a lot on our events calendar for all of the great events they offer us that help us get our kiddos interested in reading.. Here’s a great way to give back to them!

“The Great Give” is an online fundraising campaign that will kick-off Tues., May 8, & Wed. May 9 benefiting the Public Libraries In Jefferson County as the library cooperative celebrates its 40^th anniversary.

In 1978, the Jefferson County Library Cooperative was established to link all locally-funded city libraries in the county. Today, 22 member libraries–with 40 locations–offer countywide sharing of countless services and resources with the “One County, One Card” system.

All funds raised through The Great Give will help to further the significant work of the 40 municipal libraries in the Jefferson County area.

To promote the campaign on social media sites, the 40 Public Libraries in Jefferson County will be utilizing a hashtag-#TheGreatGive.

A kickoff event will be held on Friday, May 4, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Homewood Public Library. Bring the entire family for fun on the bounce house, food trucks, face painting and more!

“We encourage Jefferson County residents to give $40 this year as we celebrate 40 years of cooperation with what is now the 40 libraries in our cooperative,” said Pat Ryan, Executive Director, Jefferson County Library Cooperative. “The Library Cooperative works behind-the-scenes to coordinate the services that link 40 libraries with one card for everyone in the county.

The core services made available to all county residents through the library cooperative are as follows:

• Delivery service – the items residents want where they want to pick them up
• Nearly 2 million items in 40 libraries countywide
• In person, or online holds on items at any library in the county, text messaging reminders
• 24/7 catalog, downloadable audio & ebooks
• Information databases
• Internet access –Plus Free WiFi available in 40 libraries
• Books-By-Mail for the home bound
• IT Support for member libraries

The Great Give fundraising campaign will assist the library cooperative as it works to continue linking the 40 libraries with Jefferson County residents.

All donations will be tax-deductible as the Jefferson County Library Cooperative, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.

To donate, visit https://www.mightycause.com/story/Great-Give-2018 or mail your donation to Jefferson County Library Cooperative, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203, or by dropping off a donation at any local library.

About Jefferson County Library Cooperative  

The mission of the Jefferson County Library Cooperative is to connect all citizens by providing resources and community-building opportunities that inspire life-long learning. The Public Libraries In Jefferson County have been cooperating since 1978 with 22 member libraries (40 locations). To learn more, visit www.PublicLibrariesInJC.org.