Disclosure: My family received two free meals at Zoës Kitchen for review purposes but the opinions in this post are mine.

Giveaway: September is Hunger Action Month. Please see the details for my Zoës Kitchen giveaway at the end of the post. For every entry received, San Antonio Mom Blogs will donate $1 to the San Antonio Food Bank (up to $200). At the San Antonio Food Bank, a $1 donation buys $13 worth of food for families in need. For more great ways and creative ideas for how you can help end hunger, please like Moms Fighting Hunger on Facebook.

My kids and I have dined at Zoës Kitchen in Lincoln Heights three different times.

On our first visit, I saw “chicken fingers” on the kids menu and, out of habit, I ordered that (with fruit) for my kids who are four and seven. Fried chicken is never MY first choice for my kids when we eat out but I know they’ll eat it without complaint and it saves tears and time and empty bellies.

I’m not proud that I let them eat fried chicken fingers from time to time when we go out but I pick my battles and this is often one I’m not willing to fight. Besides, dining out with kids and finding healthy choices for them can be challenging.

Many restaurants tend to offer only cheesy, white-flour processed, carb-loaded, and fried food to appeal to what they believe to be a child’s picky palate. Parents, including me, wish for healthier (and tastier) options beyond the typical chicken fingers, cheeseburgers, and peanut butter and jelly.

Zoës Kitchen in Lincoln Heights

But when I ordered the kids’ chicken fingers at Zoës I somehow failed to see that they were grilled, not fried. Oh, but it was brought to my attention as soon as the food arrived and my children began to gripe and whine that this wasn’t what they wanted. WHERE WAS THE FRIED PARTS???

Finally, I convinced them to try the grilled chicken strips. Because, I ever-so-patiently (!!!) explained, Zoës doesn’t fry anything. So, they could either try them or just eat the fruit. Strange but true, silence then prevailed (in between burp jokes of course – dining out with kids is DELIGHTFUL I tell you.) because their mouths were full of grilled chicken and they actually liked it. Funny how kids will eat healthy food if it tastes good and you can just get them to try it.

Kids’ Grilled Chicken Fingers with Fruit

On both of our next two visits to Zoës Kitchen, my kids complained, “But that’s the place without the fried stuff!” But, on both occasions, once the grilled chicken fingers were before them, they ate every bite and even admitted that they like it. They just keep forgetting that they do. Ah, the joys of raising children.

What I like about Zoës Kitchen is precisely that they don’t fry everything (or anything). Their menu includes freshly made salads, soups, sandwiches, and roll-ups, with an emphasis on Mediterranean cuisine.

On our most recent visit, my husband had the chicken salad sampler. He said the chicken salad had a great flavor, although he prefers his with a little more crunch.

Chicken Salad Sampler

I had a tuna salad sandwich on seven-grain bread. This is my favorite sandwich I’ve had at Zoës so far (I’ve also tried the egg salad sandwich and the turkey sandwich). The tuna salad has boiled egg whites in it which I’ve never seen before. And the tuna salad is just a touch saltier than the egg salad sandwich (to which I found myself adding salt). No matter what sandwich you try, make sure it comes on the seven-grain bread. It’s soft, delicious, and hearty.

Tuna Salad Sandwich on Seven-Grain Bread

Zoës has lots of other options including grilled sandwiches, pita sandwiches, pita pizzas, hummus, tabouli, kabobs (shrimp, veggie, steak, and salmon), soups and more–their menu folds out into four panels. There are many, many options. And, they’ve got Take Home Tubs of their chicken/egg/tuna salad, slaw, hummus, pimento cheese, potato and pasta salad.

Take Home Tubs

If you’re looking for a tasty, healthier alternative for family dinners or lunches with friends, visit Zoës Kitchen or, better yet, win four free meals at Zoës by entering the San Antonio Mom Blogs giveaway below!

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