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Original poster

Child size portions (food)

14 replies

Pascha · 15/09/2018 08:10

Can someone tell me what age their children stopped being satisfied with the amounts given from the children's menu at restaurants please?

I dont mean the food which is often rubbish I know, but the portion sizes.

OP posts:

BikeRunSki · 15/09/2018 08:14

This summer in holiday, DS are adult sizes every meal. He was 10 estkirrbthis month. He’s very tall and slim, and fives eating a chore, do big portions nowbis need rather than greed.

DinosApple · 15/09/2018 08:17

Mine are both still ok, but on the eldest is on the cusp at 9. She has a small appetite though. Eg. a Happy Meal would be ok with half a hot apple pie, but an adult meal would be way too big.

My brother had adult portions from very young, maybe 6 or 7. He had a lot of growing to do and is 6ft4 now (and has never been overweight).

Original poster

Pascha · 15/09/2018 08:19

That's interesting thanks. My just turned 8yr old boy is starting to suggest he's rather have the adult version but sometimes it looks so enormous I don't know if I'm right to let him.

I have kids menus anyway. Much rather let him pick from the main menu but have an appropriate portion served up. Not possible in the average chain though I suppose.

OP posts:

Original poster

Pascha · 15/09/2018 08:20

Oh Ds1 changed from happy meal to adult meal with half the chips in the summer to get two extra nuggets.

OP posts:

Sirzy · 15/09/2018 08:20

A lot of places will do smaller portions of meals from the main menu if you ask

Returnofthesmileybar · 15/09/2018 08:21

My DD is 12 and still happy on kids meals, but she doesn't have a huge appetite and it's what she's chooses to order, she could order off the adults if she wanted. I can't imagine it will last much longer though and I'm pretty sure most places only allow up to 11 or 12 anyway

Idontbelieveinthemoon · 15/09/2018 08:29

DS1 is 12 but 5'11" and has always been very tall, so around 8 began having adult sized portions. His growth spurts are ridiculous and although he's always been very slim he eats like a horse.

Part of it is activity level; he does so much sport that bigger portions just became necessary. He also eats very healthily and would choose something like salmon fillet with new potatoes and veg from an adults menu rather than 'junk'.

DS2 is almost 8 and I can't imagine him ever reaching the point of needing adult sized meals; he seems to be one of those 'grazer' children who eats little and often. Size-wise he's on course to be as tall as DS1, but DS2 is a little more stocky so I'm more conscious of the choices he makes with food. He's as sporty as his brother, though, so I'm sure his appetite will kick in eventually.

PinkGinFreak · 15/09/2018 08:32

My son was 10 when I let him have adult meals, daughter is 8 and wants them now but I won't let her

Original poster

Pascha · 15/09/2018 08:48

They do, @sorry you're right and we do ask locally but I've never had much luck from places like Beefeater or chain pubs attached to hotels when we are away.

Earlier this summer we we ate at a local Beefeater. Ds1 wanted the cod bites from the children's menu but they didn't have any so after much discussion he chose fish and chips from the adults menu instead but the portion was scarily enormous! He ate the lot (which was fine) but I must admit we were all watching him towards the end. He ploughed on through it and cleated the plate so it's just made me wonder if he's ready for something I between child and large adult portion.

OP posts:

Original poster

Pascha · 15/09/2018 08:48

@sirzy not @sorry. Dyac.

OP posts:

yikesanotherbooboo · 15/09/2018 08:52

Around 8 yo but they might have kept going a bit longer if there were more restaurants that just offered small portions of the adult choices. They all felt very short changed from a young age by the brown food options particularly if we had more interesting choices on our plates.

Cachailleacha · 15/09/2018 08:52

About 10. But then the adult sized portion is usually too big for most adults.

Enb76 · 15/09/2018 08:53

If we go to a proper restaurant my 10 year old will have a starter but the main meals are still too big, depending on restaurant. Too big for me too really. Often we’ll share a big plate. She’s tall and slim.

Jagblue · 15/09/2018 09:13

Our son has a small appetite even at 12 he is 5.2" slim and tallish.
The problem is he loves food and kids menus are so boring. He normally wants food from the adult menu.
I wish they did half portions. It's very tricky to let them eat big portions at an early age as they may overeat.
Unless they are very active I'll discourage big portions.

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