Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Has afternoon tea food for a child changed significantly?

213 replies

DeepBalonz · 13/11/2024 17:10

I’ve just moved back to the UK. DS (4) has a play date with the neighbour’s son. As a 90s kid I was given fish fingers and beans, dinosaurs and peas etc as tea at friends’ houses.

Is that kind of food still the done thing or has it all gone a bit posh along with most other things?

Too early for dinner but still a decent time since lunch so fruit and peanut butter probably won’t be enough.

OP posts:
Hohofortherobbers · 13/11/2024 17:31

Sausages, new pots, and veg is my go to. Or spaghetti and meatballs

GettingThemFromHereToThere · 13/11/2024 17:31

I've never heard of "afternoon tea" that doesn't constitute dinner.

I wouldn't want my child to eat a meal there if I'm still expecting them to eat dinner at home.

A snack would be fruit here; banana, grapes etc. maybe a biscuit alongside it for a bit of fun, but not beans and nuggets etc.

bridgetreilly · 13/11/2024 17:28

If it’s not dinner, a jam sandwich, slices of apple and a biscuit.

HalfasleepChrisintheMorning · 13/11/2024 17:22

Cheese and tomato pizza with cut up cucumber, red pepper and carrot sticks was a win for everyone even the fussiest eaters we knew.

RosesAndHellebores · 13/11/2024 17:19

Mine were 90s born, 00's play date ready.

I tended to serve things like cottage pie, fishcakes with fresh veg and potato wedges, macaroni cheese, occasionally pizza, sometimes a roast chicken. Pud was usually fruit and ice cream.

Usually served at about 5.30/6 for a 6/6.30 pick up.

DS's grown up friends, now 30ish still sometimes come for dinner.

Original poster
DeepBalonz · 13/11/2024 17:18

W0tnow · 13/11/2024 17:17

Are you talking about feeding a neighbours kid their evening meal? If so my go to was bolognese.

It won’t be the evening meal. The boys go to a half day nursery. This will just be something to hold them over until dinner.

OP posts:
GildedRage · 13/11/2024 17:18

i guess the question is what time is dinner. we eat dinner as a family between 5 and 6pm.
if my child went on a playdate at 2 and was fed fish fingers and fries supper would be ruined and i'd be wasting food (not a happy camper).
mid day snack is a few veggie sticks, fruit, drink (milk) and maybe a cookie or muffin.

W0tnow · 13/11/2024 17:17

Are you talking about feeding a neighbours kid their evening meal? If so my go to was bolognese.

Merryoldgoat · 13/11/2024 17:16

I ask the parents what their child likes and give that

PuppyTimes · 13/11/2024 17:15

Yes, play date teas round here are all chicken nuggets, pizza, possibly spaghetti with optional bolognese!

TeaAndBrie · 13/11/2024 17:13

Tbh i would recommend playing it safe, chicken dippers, potato smiles, pizza, tomato pasta etc unless you know the child.
when my DD had friends over we used to make pizza which was always a hit. You can buy pizza bases if you don’t want to make the dough and then just little bowls so they can put on what they like. Peppers, mushroom, pineapple, ham, sweet corn etc

Pixilicious1 · 13/11/2024 17:13

That sounds perfect

TheJones · 13/11/2024 17:13

Yeah that sounds good!

A lot kids can be fussy (or my child has ARFID but I sort that out) So that tea sounds spot on…. Their parents can feed them organic steaks if they want but cook something they’re guaranteed to eat.

Swipe left for the next trending thread