What do you feed school friends visiting for tea?

[HorseInTheHouse]

A child with no special diet or dietary restrictions.

What in your experience is a safe bet with the majority of children? Do you always do the same thing when your child has a friend for tea or do you have a number of options? Or do you not even think about it?

Have previously done meatballs a la IKEA with boiled potatoes and peas, pizza with carrot sticks, and spaghetti bolognese. There is a much bigger range of meals that I know my own children will eat and are used to but somehow I feel the need to play it very safe with visiting children.

@shinynewapple22

The pizza with different toppings reminds me of one play date where I thought the children would like to make their own pizza's as an activity - kneading the pizza dough, and watching it rise before adding their toppings and me popping in the oven.

One child looked quite disgusted and said 'in our house we buy our pizza ready made'

Come to think of it this wasn't the only thing this child was unimpressed with!

Uh oh, 1 star on Trip Advisor for you.

Normally some form of pizza, pasta, baked potatoes or quorn nuggets and oven chips.

Or, for the fussy ones, I used to do a blanket picnic, either in the living room or outdoors, with sanwiches, pizza slices, chopped peppers/carrots etc. - it's amazing what they'll eat on the floor that they won't eat at a table!

Usually pizza or pasta is go to. Pizza diy style so they can just put on what they like.

Toast, fruit, yogurt, a back up incase

Tbh I would just ask parents now in advance. So many children have allergies ( mine included), or preference ie no pork/ vegetarian it’s just easier to ask.

Pizza is always a safe bet - I used to do a “build your own pizza” which gave them an activity plus dinner - super easy!
Fish fingers or chicken nuggets with chips and some veggies on the side are also a good bet - I’m always surprised when they eat some veggies
Pasta - if in doubt prepare the pasta and have sauce on the side (you can tell I have a fuzzy eater)
Also, a the mum of a fuzzy eater, if she’s invited for tea anywhere, I’m just glad they had her, if she eats, super plus, she may not eat, I honestly don’t expect the other parents to cater for her.
I’ve noticed for snack, they always want a snack, if I give them some chocolate and some fruit, and just leave them to it… they will also eat the fruit

Sausages, oven chips and beans. Not all kids will eat all 3 but all will eat at least 1.

My fussiest child had food allergies when younger and still won't eat anything with dairy in it (so pizza no good unless homemade with no cheese). He also doesn't eat most of what people have listed above and regularly comes home from other people's houses having eaten nothing (I watn peoplehe is fussy and won't eat anything). I suspect it's a bit like the Tolstoy quote 'All unfussy children are alike but each fussy child is fussy in their own way'.

@Goldenbear don't 15 year olds have friends round for food????? (Mine are younger so I don't know teenage protocol!)

Pizza but then I know loads of fussy kids that won't eat it (including my SC) so chicken goujons and chips, a mini roast, pasta...I normally ask the parents for any particular likes or dislikes.

Pizza, always.

I fed little guests whatever I was cooking for us; just told them what was coming with the option that if there was anything they really didn't like they could say no thanks or just leave it.

Not going great this time. It was "too far" to walk from school and the after school snack of cutted up pear and pretzel sticks has not been well received, so I'm relying on the chicken goujons, chips and vegetable sticks to pull up my rating later on.

Oh no, OP.

Children can be ruthless when it comes to sizing up their hosts.

The gujons have to sway the vote. There is still hope.

Individual toad in the hole was always a fave here.
Oh, and I always did a pudding, I got huge brownie points for Angel Delight.

I usually do a mini buffet, chicken drumsticks, cheap pizza..my youngest will only eat supermarket smart priced crap ones, cocktail sausages, cheese squares, pepper and carrot sticks etc. Plus the leftovers can be popped in the fridge.

I always order Dominos.

@Waxonwaxoff0

I always order Dominos.

I bet they like coming to yours!

Always a dominoes when kids have friends round. It's a treat and they can choose their type so you know they like it

I usually ask for a suggestion and I keep a note on my phone of various dc’ preferences. It’s usually some variety of junk balanced with a platter of raw veg and fruit. I always tell them that they only need to eat the ones they like which saves on the gagging noises.

Yy pizza, sometimes something totally outlandish like shepard's pie, macaroni cheese, chicken drumsticks and thighs with honey and lemon glaze, hummus always crudities. The better I know the child the more adventurous I'll be. Still haven't cracked what my nieces will eat.

I usually ask their parent what the child likes to eat when inviting them. Spag Bol, sausages, pizza & fish fingers seem to be favourites.

Fish fingers or sausages with chips and peas. Some cherry tomatoes and cucumber on the side. Madeira cake or swiss roll.

[quote shrunkenhead]@Goldenbear don't 15 year olds have friends round for food????? (Mine are younger so I don't know teenage protocol!)[/quote]
Pizza still fits the bill, and doorstop bacon sarnies.

@HorseInTheHouse haha, yes! DS is an only child so I try hard when his friends come over!

Chicken goujons were a great shout. Everyone happy. Although apparently the child's favourite food is sushi - I don't think I'll be taking that on board for future visits!

[quote shrunkenhead]@Goldenbear don't 15 year olds have friends round for food????? (Mine are younger so I don't know teenage protocol!)[/quote]
In my experience teenagers don’t necessarily come ‘for tea’ but that doesn’t mean they don’t come to your house and consume vast quantities of food! Any food!