Being faced with a cranky kid who has low blood sugar is enough to make any mama’s anxiety peak. We do our best to keep healthy snacks on us at all times, but even the best of us can foiled when it comes to mealtimes, so we keep a mental map of all the locations of the Magic Oven, where the food’s nutritious, the service is fast and they’ve thought of ways to keep your kids amused so you don’t have to.

Tony and Abby Sabherwal opened up the first Magic Oven in 1977 and they’ve since expanded to six locations throughout Toronto.  With a passion for using local ingredients like organic, unbleached flour, organic meats and tomato sauce made from non-GMO tomatoes, they’ve created a menu that accommodates dietary concerns including gluten-free and vegan options.  And their offerings include soups and yummy apples, salads, pizzas (of course), pastas and sandwiches.

A visit to their Danforth location was necessary recently when we were out and about with wee ones who were starting to grumble with hunger. We slid into a large, comfy booth and were immediately engaged with Wikki Stix – bendable, colourful natural wax that can be twisted into anything imaginable. Not only did they keep our kids busy and in their seats but they also unleashed the Picasso in us as well.  We started a rousing game of 101-things-to-make-from-Wikki-Stix but we’d only got to creation number four when our meals arrived.  And what did our young testers think?  Their mouths were too full to get a well-crafted review which, for the record, seldom happens around our dinner table. And we got to enjoy our meal without having to negotiate “just one more bite”. Plus the bill at the end didn’t break the bank.

As an added bonus kids eat free on Monday evenings only at the Danforth location – two tots per adult. And every meal ends with diners big and small being offered an organic apple to enjoy on their way out which kept our kids busy and quiet on the drive home. Who knew an apple would give us a little bit of much needed silence?

Magic Oven:  www.magicoven.com