Has afternoon tea food for a child changed significantly?

This gave me a great laugh

It's fine. And agree more nutritious than a jam sandwich.

Do they have a proper meal at 11.30 lunch? If so and the child will be having another proper meal at 6.30 then also crumpets, babybel and piece of fruit would be fine too.

I really want a hot buttered crumpet now, has been years since I had one!

Anyone who was sniffy at me serving their kid fishfingers when I'm providing 4+ hours of free childcare would not be offered further favours.

What would you give your kid? Make that.
i wouldn’t serve what you’re suggesting because that’s not what we eat at home, but if that’s what you eat, serve that.

I think it's more that you might take the edge off the guest's appetite for supper at home? Not in a hunger sort of way..more in the type of food. It's nice to have variety and if you have had mini suppery type of food 2 hours earlier and then the same or similar again at home you might not be keen. I wouldn't be keen. I suppose that's why afternoon tea with cakes etc was invented?

Anyway you seem really keen on fishfingers so I don't know why you are asking everyone else? Go for it!

Soup and soldiers? Very low effort, warm, nutritious, and filling.

It's just a different way to eat. Mine wouldn't have a hot meal at that point but hot vs cold makes no difference actually.

It's more 'snack' than 'tea' in our house. Crudités, cheese, yogurt, fruit, toast, something like that.

This, that’s what I’d do for my daughter, anywhere from 2 til 3.30pm

edit, it didn’t include the quote. I was quoting a poster who said cheese and crackers, and salad sticks/fruit at that time.

But for many 4 year olds 3 fish fingers and beans is a whole meal.
Some of the things that have been suggested are not any better I agree.
But I really would feed someone else’s child a meal like that after they’d asked me not to.
A few small snacks is what would be expected.

If the child is going home to eat a family dinner the don’t feed him that much food.
Some fruit, biscuits and maybe some cheese or toast is plenty.

If it's 'dinner' ie main evening meal I usually ask the parents for likes & dislikes. If it's after school snacks, I would just offer what mine usually have - fruit/veg sticks, yoghurt, cheese and crackers or if they're hungrier maybe a crumpet with Jam or some noodles

If you're cooking, I'd think that was more like dinner. I'd be looking more at afternoon snacks, apple slices and cheese, with a biscuit afterwards.

Tomato soup and cubes of cheese.

Just some sandwiches, biscuit and a warm drink then rather than a double dinner.

If it isn’t their main meal, but just a snack, I’d cut up various fruits and let them make fruit skewers.

if I had them in, I would offer alternatively houmous and veggie sticks and cheese (assuming not allergic).

Best plan however is to ask the other parents what they would normally give/would they be happy with what you are offering.

I'd serve nuggets or something similar. They're there to play and be given something you know they will eat. A lot of kids would not go near cottage pie. I'm not cooking up a storm that will in all likelihood go to waste. We all know what kids should be eating but in reality we all know what kids are like.

I suppose it depends on how active the children are. The OPs child sounds quite busy?
Being a child of the 70s, my favourite house to go and play in was devoted to Mr Kipling. They used to have a huge spread just for afternoon tea (jam tarts, Battenberg, Fondant Fancies) plus hula hoops and skips. I would get as much as I could down my neck and was still skinny as a rake. Good old days. I miss Mr K..

Sadly there is a very high number of obese children it isn't funny and yes there's a lot of over feeding going on.

Children who are a healthy weight at this age have their ribs visible. We are in a situation where we can't buy clothing for healthy children due to the growing need to facilitate over weight children.

Threads like these clearly show there is a huge issue in people having a clue what is an appropriate amount of food for a young child.

Build your own crumpet pizza would be my go to for this. Put some crumpets out, grated cheeses, sliced baby tomatoes, sweet corn, slices of mini pepperoni and let them make it them selves. A few minutes under the grill and they are good to go.

Some of these snacks people are describing are far more substantial than a couple of fishfingers.
Lack of understanding of calories might have more to do with childhood obesity than fishfingers at snack time...

Something fun like waffles or Crumpets with cheese or marmite. Or tea cakes are nice. Glass of milk or hot chocolate as it's autumn. If a friend is round you can have treats surely. Fishfingers would be more like supper (you did ask!).

No I wouldn't give them that as it is too much and mine would not eat a dinner afterwards.

Ask his mum. But honestly mine would have fruit, cheese, crackers or a yogurt.

They will have had a lunch, they will have dinner why are you fitting in another meal.

Please check with his mum but if mine had more than half a toastie then that would be it.

It is concerning how normalised over feeding is on this thread. They have tiny stomachs at that age and you should be able to see their ribs.

😂 So true! 🤗

As others have said just do your thing. 12-6pm is a long playdate, you need something to break ot up. I am guessing your friend is working, I am sure she would be grateful for anything you feed her DC. My suggestionis pancakes, more substantial than just fruit and crackers, warm but possibly won't spoil their appetite ( also contain eggs so not totally empty calories).