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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not see the need for a kids menu?

108 replies

cheeseandmarmitesandwich · 17/08/2011 18:44

Just been told yet again the 'kids menu' at a wedding we're going to in a few weeks will be nuggets and chips Confused. I just don't get it, that will be the 3rd wedding this year where DD is served a plate of fried crap that she won't eat while the parents get a roast dinner. Last time she just scoffed all my roast potatoes! What's wrong with just a kids portion of the normal meal, it's hardly going to be more expensive.

Same goes with pubs etc- why do they assume kids only eat crap?

I am by no means a food purist with the DC, they get plenty of crap treats, even, god forbid, the odd fruit shoot. But I just don't see why they can't eat the same as us, they do at home!

OP posts:
pointydog · 17/08/2011 19:36

All the food on the smaller boats is disgusting. Terrible microwavable pots. I was hungry but couldn't stomach any of it.

We had a few ok options for children in brittany but must admit the dds tended to go for the savoury crepes.

emsies · 17/08/2011 19:39

My daughter is 2 and a half and up until now we have always asked for an extra plate and split our food.

Now we find when we go places we are being asked if we would like to see the children's menu. (usually rubbish).

At what point is it a bit rude to just ask for an extra plate? I'm a bit worried we've passed that point already so often order a side and then split - curious as to what others think is appropriate for a small child..

DurhamDurham · 17/08/2011 19:40

Well you've said it yourself, three times this year. So look upon it as a treat, not worth getting cross about. Having chicken nuggets and chips every now and again won't do any long term harm. I think at weddings it is down to cost issues and also some children won't eat half portions of an adult meal so the 'kids favourite' choices are a safe bet.

MotherOfSuburbia · 17/08/2011 19:41

There is something to be said, though, in that children in my experience often like simpler food than adults although that doesn't have to be chips, chips and more chips. This is obviously not a general rule, but I presume wedding hosts would just be trying to make sure the kids were kept happy.
I very rarely eat out with my kids (shudder at the thought!) but don;t mind the odd bowl of chips when we do as it's a treat and we don't normally have them. I guess if we did it more, the lack of options would bother me more.

larrygrylls · 17/08/2011 19:42

Completely agree OP. I hate kids menus. They are an excuse for parents to let their kids eat complete crap.

munkiii · 17/08/2011 19:44

When we got married we emailed the parents of all the children to ask if they would prefer a half portion or nuggets/chips.

Out of 15 children, we only provided one portion of nuggets!

And this was before we had DC of our own.

EternalPie · 17/08/2011 19:46

I agree with OP. I find pub meals ridiclously massive anyway and would love to be able to order a child's meal for myself (which I believe is more of a normal portion!) however I simply refuse to sit there eating chicken nuggets, chips and beans.

Smaller portions of adults meals would be ideal for both smaller adult appetites and children.

EternalPie · 17/08/2011 19:46

wow. Ignore my spelling.

thisisyesterday · 17/08/2011 19:51

yanbu at all.

that said, i don't find this a problem with day to day eating out to be honest.

most places DO offer at least one healthy option for kids, or half portions of adult meals.

we're restricted to places that can cater for vegans though so stick to places like
wagamama- fantastic kids menu, or choice of small side dishes

pizza express- happy to leave cheese out or use buffalo mozarella if they have any available (our veganism is forced due to intolerances but buffalo mozarella is ok)

Most pub type places will offer half portions of food

Any pasta place- you can get pasta with tomato sauce usually

we also often order things like jacket potato with beans, then split it between ds2 and ds3

thisisyesterday · 17/08/2011 19:52

oooh giraffe have a great kids menu too

MrsGPotter · 17/08/2011 19:59

Yes just a smaller portion of fat bastard portion should suffice.

tallulah · 17/08/2011 20:00

Chicquitos has a pretty extensive children's menu. We are vegetarian so I don't want a kids menu of burger, sausage or nuggets.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 17/08/2011 20:01

Yes to the Wagamamas children's meals. And I noticed in an email the other day that Pizza Hut seem to have improved their children's menu too and children can get a small pizza plus as much salad as they want.

What annoyed me the most when our dds were small is that the children's menu rarely had a veggie option, even if we had wanted to order the children's meals.

LolaRennt · 17/08/2011 20:02

Many kids won't eat adult food (right or wrong), most will eat fried shit. It's cheaper. If they invited your kids to the wedding you should be happy as most people don't really want to fork out for random children anyway.

Sirzy · 17/08/2011 20:04

I haven't got a problem with the idea of kids menus, my problem is with the lack of selection on them "chicken nuggets and chips" "fish fingers and chips" "pzza and chips" or "burger and chips" seems to be deemed an adequate menu for children in so many places, even those who offer fantastic varied adult menus.

Surely on the normal menu they could mark which are available in half portions? That way not only can children pick them but also adults who dont want a massive plateful they will never finish.

Original poster
cheeseandmarmitesandwich · 17/08/2011 20:05

Yup, we are big fans of Pizza Express, Zizzi and Wagamamas too!

Munkiii, it's not really the fact it's a bit unhealthy that bothers me so much, just that going by past experience it will be massive and she won't eat it! She's had chips before, usually off my plate if we've been out for a pub lunch, but it just seems odd that the adults get a lovely meal while the kids get something that looks pretty cheap and nasty. But obviously not going to make a big deal of it or anything.

On the plus side, at the last wedding we went to the pudding was a tiny lemon tart while the kids got a massive ice cream sundae, which of course DD couldn't possibly eat all by herself... Grin

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 17/08/2011 20:07

Lola.... really? many?

cos i don't know a single child who lives on nuggets and chips and will NOT eat normal food like a shepherds pie, or pasta with tomato sauce or sausage and mash...

and if there are, well their parents can take them to MacDonald's can't they

thisisyesterday · 17/08/2011 20:07

and yes to chiquitos too, ds2 loved it there

sixpinetrees · 17/08/2011 20:07

"I find pub meals ridiclously massive anyway and would love to be able to order a child's meal for myself"

I think this is probably why so many places do have a shite kids menu. It encourages the adults to buy a £9 meal instead of a £4 one and they still make a profit out of the kids with the cheap kids menu.

We tend to get a few starters a few mains and extra plates and all share but its more awkward with smaller families.

The weirdest kids menu I've ever seen was in a quite nice italian restaurant. Sausages, nuggets or fish fingers with chips but no pasta or pizza option and they wouldn't do half portions Confused.

wompoopigeon · 17/08/2011 20:10

Since you mention it Wagamamas is full of MSG and brings DD out in a rash.

When we got married it never ocurred to me to provide a kid's menu. Genuinely never crossed my mind.

Emsie I still ask for an extra plate to share with DD and she is 3.5. Can't see a reason for ever stopping TBH , she won't eat much and it is good for me to eat less! We just end up wasting £7 on kids menus when we go out with others, as she always wants what the other children are having and it seems unfair to say no.

thisisyesterday · 17/08/2011 20:13

really? how did you find that out?
cos i didn't think they published their ingredients? did you contact them and ask?

(sorry for all the questions, genuinely curious)

thisisyesterday · 17/08/2011 20:15

just had a look and found this which has quite a long list of dishes that definitely don't contain MSG

i presume other dishes "may" contain it, but tbh Wagamama are usually incredibly good at subbing ingredients, at least the ones we visit have been as we often have to sub rice noodles and ask for no egg etc for ds2 and ds3

DoMeDon · 17/08/2011 20:17

YANBU - hate them with a passion. I can just imagine DC face if I tucked into a lovely 3 course meal and gave them nuggets and chips. Bit like this [shocked]AngrySad

Had this when we went out for family celebration, they were doing a 3 course meal for adults at £20 with half portion for DC at £10. Was asked ages, when said I DD was 18mo the woman said 'won't she just nibble off your plates'
I explained she likes her food and eats quite a lot for lunch and I don't share', then she said 'you're mad ordering the childrens meal for an 18mo - we do a kids bar meal which is £3.95 - nuggets/chips and a bag of buttons- shall I put you down for that'!!!
I politely declined and stuck with the half portion for a tenner. DD scoffed all the starter (plus a bit of mine and DH's), half the main and half the pud!

Why do some people insist on feeding DC fried shit!?! Maybe I'm baffled as I HATE CHIPS!!!

LolaRennt · 17/08/2011 20:18

IN the RL (not mumsnet) most children I have cared for would prefer mc donalds anyday to a lovely vegetarian lasagna or something. My 18 year old nephew brought a pizza to the dinner where I made about 10,000 different kinds of food. And always eats cold curry (bought from the indian restraunt the day before)on xmas day rather than the lovely food his mum makes.

I know on mumsent the children only eat organic lentils woven from magic and love..but I do sometimes wonder if the kids actually do just eat sausage rolls and fruit shoots on the odd occasion too

crazycatlady · 17/08/2011 20:19

How odd to serve nuggets and chips to children at a wedding! YANBU. I have never met a child who won't eat a roast dinner, especially if they are surrounded by other people all eating the same thing.

Most of the restaurants and pubs round here have a children's menu which is just half portions of the adult menu with a few amendments here and there for more delicate palates. Certainly no frankenburgers or reconstituted crap. Those that don't have a children's menu always seem happy to do small portions for a fiver or so.