to wonder what happened to 'proper' mealtimes?

[undercoverPrincess]

Just lately all the kids parties we go to seem to involve serving food (mostly sandwich type buffets but at one McDonalds) at times that are between mealtimes (between 2 and 3pm)?

I just don't get this, I try really hard to get into a good routine and give my children a good attitude regarding what they eat / snack on and when and I don't like them being re-fed between meals?

One party started at 12.30 so I didn't know what to do, I have DD a snack before but the food came out at 2 so the kids that hadn't had lunch like my DD were probably starving. Then come teatime she didn't want her proper dinner.

We have been invited to another party like this next month and I'm sorely tempted to refuse the invite but will feel bad as I know my DD will want to go :(

Tee, do you eat at EXACTLY 7 EVERY SINGLE DAY?
It may be you are not doing it right?

When I was pregnant I ate breakfast at 5:30, again at 7:30 and for a third and final time at 9:30. Am I giving you palpitations OP?

Yes. I. Am
People stop me on the street, they are so amazed

Well, maybe not exactly 7. Sometimes it might be 701 or 702. Actually, this morning it might have been 745 due an ill boy sleeping later than usual...

NO NO NO TEE

It has to be 7am
We don't care if you are tired, not hungry, feeding your children, in hospital, if you want people to constantly ask why you are so slim, it has to be exactly 7am

My previous employer used to insist that lunch was 1.15 to 2.

Very wrong as lunch was actually much earlier than that for everyone, eaten at desk on works time leaving 1.15 to 2 completely free to do whatever we wanted in

Apart from the poor solitary soul left manning the phone for 60 people.

See how dangerous rigidity can be?

::hangs head in shame::

Then again...I'm not slim anyway.

there is also so much waste at these parties

completely agree OP - which is why we are only serving crisps, party rings and chocolate fingers at the Cubs end of term party tonight

Yes we can amend the list for an earlier breakfast. I've made it very early to accommodate early risers. I've also added some flexibility for snacks

breakfast any time between 5.30 and 11
lunch any time between 11 and 4
'afternoon tea' somewhere between 4 and 6 if required
evening meal between 6 and 9 unless eating out when it may stretch to 10
snacks when needed

Jins, we do that to, spend all morning stuffing our faces with "lunch" bought from home, on work time, then an hour to do nothing!

Perfect Jins! Thank you.

I read the first page, which I understood. Then I jumped to here and you are all bonkers.

But to answer OP's question: YABU.

A party is not habit forming. I usually have dinner at 6-7pm with DC. Sometimes when I go out with other adults we don't have dinner til 8:30! I am yet to develop a habit of eating two dinners well not as a result of this anyway

Don't worry about the waste. Go round and collect all the leftovers, put them into a bag and give them to DC for tea if it upsets you.

LeQueen I've only got some strawberry fondant sticks. Will they do?

What are strawberry fondant sticks?
I want one

knowitall, clearly no one will ever ask you why you are so slim if you carry on eating at the wrong time!

However, just follow jins rules, no one will stop you on the street but you will be much more fun

Tantrums, they are like a strawberry liquorice style outer wrapping with a strawberry fondant filling up the middle, about 1cm wide and yummy they are my secret vice.

Oh I know what you mean, 3 for 99p in tesco

Tantrums £1 for 220 grams in Poundland... If I'm not careful the whole lot will go....I've eaten 3 already.

Make that 4 sticks wrapped remainder up for another day.....

LeQ you have been very naughty and scared the OP off her own thread. Don't do it again or I will at you. Funny thread though.

Well we are still eating lunch here, and DS2 (12 months) hasn't had anything because he is still asleep - his nap has overrun by about an hour on his usual time.

OP - you are reminding me of someone who I know through NCT. She has always insisted on rigid mealtimes and is a tupperware-carrier. She used to get them out and insist on monopolising whatever highchair was available so that her PFB could eat on the dot - regardless of whatever else was going on or who might be inconvenienced.

You will not be surprised to hear that none of us see her very often any longer.

I like the general attitude towards mealtimes here. I think flexibility, being open to new ideas, keeping your mouth open at all times in case of passing food (think whale eating plankton) is what has kept me so slim all my life (tho funnily enough people dont think to ask me that much).

OP; you are not necessarily wrong to try and keep to a routine, but routines are just made to be thrown out of the window when something better comes along :)

OP - Are you my SIL? Seriously this is the kind of thing she comes out with all the time.