What age did your kids switch from the child's to the adult's menu?

[Tiddleztheelephant]

Just that really?
My 9 year old ds wolfs down a kids meal in record time but I'm reluctant to switch because he's getting a bit chubby anyway plus he probably wouldn't take advantage of the wider range of food available on the adult menu.
So far he seems happy with his meals and doesn't complain of being hungry afterwards but, somebody suggested tonight that "next time we could give him the choice"
So, what age did your dc make the switch?
Thanks!

[ThisMustBeMyDream]

I think he was around 11, perhaps 10. It was just a natural progession really. I wouldn't over think it. He will probably tell you himself when he wants a bigger plate.

[OverByYer]

About 10? Depends what the meals are

[Wantingtogetitright]

Still on kids at 10

[BeaBeaBuzz]

I let my 10yo look at both but if she picks something that’s available on the kids menu then she gets that one. She generally leave at least a third of an adult portion.

[ScarfsForAllSeasons]

11 or 12.

[AlexanderArnold]

Eldest was thirteen!

[MazDazzle]

My kids (10 & 13) will sometimes have a starter from the adults menu, and a child’s main.

They def. wouldn’t be able to finish an adults main.

[Pieceofpurplesky]

DS often hated stuff on the kids menu so was about 7 when we started asking for half adult portions - most places were quite happy to do that. By 10 he was wolfing down full portions

[WellTidy]

Around the time of their 11th birthday. But I have a friend whose Dc were eating from the main menu at about 8yo, so I don’t think it’s unusual.

[DelurkingAJ]

About 7. He’s a verging on underweight (always has been) beanpole who, when hungry, out eats me. He also genuinely enjoys food. I give him the choice though. On not hungry days he’ll happily order from a decent kids menu.

[Nuggetnugget]

Mine (nearly 8) eat the kids meals but lately he is wanting more adventurous food so we get him a starter and then he has the veg / potatoes from the sides that we all share.

That way it isn't expensive but he gets to try new things.

[Tiddleztheelephant]

Oh ok, he's not complained at all so far and automatically reaches for the kids menu so hopefully I'll get another year or so

[Babdoc]

I don’t recall my DDs ever having a separate children’s menu, but that was 30 years ago. They just got smaller portions of the adult menu, or a starter as their main.
DD2 enjoyed eating snails in a crepe at the age of 5, on holiday in the Dordogne!
I really wouldn’t have wanted them to eat the sort of boring unhealthy stuff on most modern kids menus - they all seem to involve chicken nuggets, pizza or chips. We used to think it important to get them used to a healthy variety of adult foods right from the start, to develop their taste.

[Foobydoo]

Mid teens for dd1. I actually felt guilty when she was in year 8 and we took her friend out for tea who was as tall as me but she ordered from the childrens menu as dd did. I did offer the adult one though.
Dd2 is 9 but doesn't finish a childs meal so will probably be the same.

[Tiddleztheelephant]

@Pieceofpurplesky

DS often hated stuff on the kids menu so was about 7 when we started asking for half adult portions - most places were quite happy to do that. By 10 he was wolfing down full portions

Now, I'd be perfectly happy with this is he wanted the adult menu for more variety.

[DrRamsesEmerson]

About 6 she started to want things on the adult menu! She's now 10 and quite interested in food, I don't think I'd have a hope of fobbing her off with a kids' menu.

[Forstarters]

Kids don’t ‘get chubby’ eating decent food. I’d look at what he’s eating before offering larger meals

[Tiddleztheelephant]

@Babdoc

I don’t recall my DDs ever having a separate children’s menu, but that was 30 years ago. They just got smaller portions of the adult menu, or a starter as their main.
DD2 enjoyed eating snails in a crepe at the age of 5, on holiday in the Dordogne!
I really wouldn’t have wanted them to eat the sort of boring unhealthy stuff on most modern kids menus - they all seem to involve chicken nuggets, pizza or chips. We used to think it important to get them used to a healthy variety of adult foods right from the start, to develop their taste.

Kids menus are generally pretty crap standard to be fair. Ds used to be very fussy and wedded to a few safe foods. We've improved this hugely at home but sadly it hasn't translated into meals out yet.

[nocturnalcatfreetogoodhome]

10? 11?

Depends where you're eating.

Then sometime an adult portion and sometimes a child.

[MoveHouse]

Mines 9, nearly 10 and as we’ve started going out again she’s chosen from the main menu.

More of a choice thing- she’ll eat what we eat so when it’s nuggets or fish fingers, she’d rather have a lasagne or steak (yes, she bloody loves steak as we used to treat ourselves to one during lockdown and now she’ll bloody have one when we’re out!)

She won’t eat all of it, maybe say 70% but either me or DH soon finish it off

[ManxRhyme]

DS from when he could read the adult menu and realised what he was missing out on. I used to let him order from the adult menu and I'd get a salad or similar then share with him. No chance of that since he's turned 9 though, he eats more than I do!

[DeePlume]

My eldest is 9.5 and has started asking for items from the adult menu. I'm in mourning for the cheap/free kids menus

[LBOCS2]

My 8yo will have a look at the adult's menu to see if there's anything on there she fancies instead of the beige children's menu.

Like a PP's son, she's a beanpole but if she's really into her food will put most adults to shame. She ate an adult's portion at Toby Carvery a couple of days ago as she absolutely loves a roast dinner :)

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

It depends on where we are. Some places the children's meals are tiny. Some places they are bigger. DDs are 8&10.

[Tiddleztheelephant]

@Forstarters

Kids don’t ‘get chubby’ eating decent food. I’d look at what he’s eating before offering larger meals

The meals on the kids menus aren't really "decent food" though.
If he ate larger meals that were better quality then I'd be ok with that but what I suspect would happen is that every meal out would become a tussle between me trying to get him to choose a healthy option and him wanting beige rubbish.

We know why he's got a bit chubby (although still within the healthy weight range) and are tackling it so don't really want to turn this into a thread about his weight