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Original poster

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

163 replies

Tiddleztheelephant · 29/07/2021 22:39

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!

OP posts:
Sirzy · 30/07/2021 11:20

@1940s

I'd make sure he was moving and eating decent food instead of allowing smaller portions of rubbish. If his appetite is big enough for more food let him have a large portion of decent food and ensure he's moving enough
The problem getting used to eating large portions isn’t all that good either. Portion size does matter, not too much for one off meals obviously but it does make a difference over time.
Sirzy · 30/07/2021 11:20

@grey12

Save space for desert WinkCake
That’s fine it’s well know that most of us have a second desert stomach that is NEVER full Grin
BorderlineHappy · 30/07/2021 11:21

DS is 19 months old and eats well, but there is no way I would let him eat a whole adult portion
@Ozanj we're not talking toddlers but older kids

Anyone ages from about 8 usually finds kids D's menus small and not very appetising.

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Aroundtheworldin80moves · 30/07/2021 11:22

By 10 years old an active child could have higher calorie needs than their mothers.

rantymcrantface66 · 30/07/2021 11:26

In most restaurants I've been in child menus are only designed for up to 10 years old (most seem to have that as their cut off.) and they are aimed from about 2 years old, often earlier.

Yes I agree, and the portion sizes aimed at the the median age of around 4. Definitely not portioned with teenagers in mind, after all they want you to move on to adult meals and spend more ASAP. I don't think it's unusual that a hungry toddler could finish one at all

Forstarters · 30/07/2021 11:32

@rantymcrantface66 aimed at children of 4! An advised ‘portion’ of pasta for a 4 year old is around 9-11 pieces of pasta. I think a lot of people have no understanding of what portions should be. There’s that great website that advises - will try and find it…..

Couldn’t find that one but here’s another www.nutrition.org.uk/attachments/article/1253/BNF%205532%20Leaflet_2019.pdf

BlueSurfer · 30/07/2021 11:33

[quote Forstarters]@rantymcrantface66 aimed at children of 4! An advised ‘portion’ of pasta for a 4 year old is around 9-11 pieces of pasta. I think a lot of people have no understanding of what portions should be. There’s that great website that advises - will try and find it…..

Couldn’t find that one but here’s another www.nutrition.org.uk/attachments/article/1253/BNF%205532%20Leaflet_2019.pdf[/quote]
But adult portions aren’t usually reflective of what a healthy meal for an adult is either.

user1471538283 · 30/07/2021 11:39

My DS always loved his food and would eat most of an adults meal at 8 especially jacket potato or anything Italian. By 9 he was eating an adults meal, something from my plate (because it was too much meat) and a dessert.

Hardbackwriter · 30/07/2021 11:41

But adult portions aren’t usually reflective of what a healthy meal for an adult is either.

Yes, and I find the insistence that children should be eating a healthy meal at a restaurant a bit weird unless you eat out an awful lot. Most adults I know order what they fancy at a restaurant and it's usually a lot less healthy than what they'd eat at home. The last meal out we had DH and I shared a baked camembert and DS had fish fingers and chips - that isn't what any of us normally eat but I think that's fine!

MizMoonshine · 30/07/2021 12:02

My 9yo has been on the adult menus for a few years, he doesn't tend to love what's on the kids menu.

Original poster
Tiddleztheelephant · 30/07/2021 12:02

@1940s

I'd make sure he was moving and eating decent food instead of allowing smaller portions of rubbish. If his appetite is big enough for more food let him have a large portion of decent food and ensure he's moving enough
If the trade off was that he ate better meals off the adult menu then I'd be happy enough but if he simply wanted bigger portions of the same beige food then that's not something I want to encourage.
OP posts:
Original poster
Tiddleztheelephant · 30/07/2021 12:06

The problem getting used to eating large portions isn’t all that good either. Portion size does matter, not too much for one off meals obviously but it does make a difference over time.

Quite often I'd find the portion size of the children's meal to be a much better size for me and if kids menus were a smaller version of adult dishes I'd order them.

The portion size issue is a problem for a lot of people I think, we've lost touch with what a healthy size portion looks like.

OP posts:
Jumpingintosummer · 30/07/2021 12:10

DD is 10 and a kids meal is still plenty.

Hen2018 · 30/07/2021 12:19

[quote rantymcrantface66]@Hen2018 how did you get them to agree on what to have? Mine would deliberately choose something totally different to the other Hmm[/quote]
It’s one of those weird things that wasn’t a problem. At 18 and 20 they still have to have their own bunk bed and seat in the car Hmm but the choosing of a meal always went ok!

ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 30/07/2021 12:37

Thinking about McDonald’s though.. I’m 38 and still order a happy meal more often than not! It’s the easiest way to get just a cheeseburger, chips, and drink. I do wish you could just order it as a small meal though, save ending up with more plastic tat in landfill.

Forstarters · 30/07/2021 12:48

@Tiddleztheelephant agree. Children’s meals, especially at lunch would be fine for me a lot of the time. And, believe me, I’m not skinny!!

@Hardbackwriter we would usually eat out at least once a week, usually more pre Covid so whilst a meal almost always involves unhealthy food - including ice cream dessert - I still wouldn’t encourage eating massive portions. Small portions of unhealthy food much better!

3WildOnes · 30/07/2021 13:30

I think from about 4 or 5 I have given them the choice, when little if they wanted something off the adult menu I would just ask for a smaller portion or they might just have a starter. My eldest is 10 and probably chooses from the adults menu more often but still occasionally wants the children’s menu.

Nohomemadecandles · 30/07/2021 16:13

If I go out for dinner, I choose something I like. It's a treat not a trial.

My elder child will try lots of things and has never really had nuggets etc. We never cook nuggets at home. Not a stealth brag, I just didn't want to cook different meals and I don't eat nuggets.

DS2 loves fish but isn't very adventurous so unless there's a small fish & chips, he'll choose the fingers as he knows them. (I'm a fan of a fish finger sandwich sometimes!) If it's a treat, I let them choose what they actually like.

Why wouldn't you?

If we want children to sit over dinner, chat nicely and not use devices or run around, you can't also expect them to eat things they don't like. You don't.

Floralnomad · 30/07/2021 16:18

Our eldest generally ate from the adult menu from about 2 as he doesn’t like pizza / pasta and preferred a proper meal with veg or a gammon steak . The younger one could have stayed on kids menus forever as she eats very small portions even as an adult .

RoseMartha · 30/07/2021 16:20

About 11

00100001 · 30/07/2021 16:22

@Forstarters

Kids don’t ‘get chubby’ eating decent food. I’d look at what he’s eating before offering larger meals
Of course they can. If they're eating excess calories, doesn't matter if it came from chocolate or avocado.
AnxiousWeirdo · 30/07/2021 16:28

There's a lot of judgement on this thread to do with portion sizes .."my child can eat this so why does yours only eat that" etc. My DD and DN are basically the same height and weight yet DD is a bin when it comes to food and DN eats like a mouse. Food choices aside, food portions are extremely relative to a person.

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/07/2021 20:26

Hardbackwriter

Mine has eaten the same food as us since weaning and actually eats a more varied diet than any other three year old I know. One of his favourite foods is marinated tofu, another is olives. We try new food at home all the time - sometimes he loves it but he's still very capable of rejecting things seemingly randomly. Last night he wouldn't eat a dish we eat quite often because I'd cut the aubergine up too big. That's fine at home, but I'm not paying for half an adult portion of food that might go untouched. I'd always encourage him to try tastes from our plate but I - and I think the vast majority of parents - would rather he also has a meal that I know he will eat.”

I expect you’re right. We just never ate the kids menu offerings at home so not something ours would have gone for. Nothing wrong with fish fingers, nuggets etc if that’s what they fancy but was always annoying that that was generally all that was on offer, with the occasional sausage and mash. Don’t know why they couldn’t have offered a bit more variety. Ours would much rather have had a chicken curry or a piece of cod.
Years ago though, I hope it’s better now because our nearly toddler grandson wouldn’t go for those things either, he likes something with a bit more taste, he’s a curry fiend too like his mum was Grin

Itstheprinciple · 30/07/2021 20:59

There was a transition phase where DD would look at both and decide what she wanted. She's never really been a massive nuggets and chips type eater anyway so if the kids menu was all that, she'd rather have something off the adult menu, but might not always eat it all.

Intherightplace · 30/07/2021 21:29

DS1 about 7yo because he wanted the real food menu. 18yo DS2 would still prefer to live off chicken nuggets...

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