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AIBU?

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Original poster

Children's meals -how old is too old?

51 replies

popmimiboo · 27/04/2015 16:31

Obviously depends on the child, but when do you think it becomes unreasonable to order a children's meal in a restaurant?
(I live abroad and not many places do children's menus as such so I was just wondering!)

OP posts:
ProfYaffle · 27/04/2015 18:10

Why don't you ask if they can do a larger portion of a kids option if that's what he wants? We often do it the other way round, ie ask for a half portion of an adult option so it could work in reverse?

Notso · 27/04/2015 18:23

It depends on the place. Lots I've seen say 10 or 12, and the Chinese buffet in town goes by height.

m0therofdragons · 27/04/2015 19:13

Depends, at lego land the portions are so massive dh and I got children's meals. We dont have small appetites either!

Original poster
popmimiboo · 27/04/2015 19:16

I'm bemused by the height thing! Is it to avoid people lying about their DCs' ages? Or do tall children have bigger appetites? What is the maximum height for the children's meal in these places?

OP posts:
Original poster
popmimiboo · 27/04/2015 19:18

Profyaffle -that's an idea I might try Smile

OP posts:
Nonie241419 · 27/04/2015 19:26

My 10 year old is agitating a lot about eating from the adult menu now, but most of the places we eat at do huge portions and he has no 'off' switch. It's a difficult line to walk.

Pengweng · 27/04/2015 19:30

I think most of them say on the menu that they are for under 8's. My twins are nearly three but still share one kids meal between them as they never finish them. I just ask for an extra plate. I assume they will want their own soon though and if kids meals aren't available they will just have a normal adults one between them and i'd scoff the leftovers
I wouldn't flinch if an adult ordered a kids meal though, some people just have smaller appetites.

SaucyJack · 27/04/2015 19:46

My 8 and 10 year olds still have children's meals.

I prefer places where we can get a smaller portion of adult meals for them, but they always go for the mechanically recovered meat, chips and beans given half a chance.

I don't cook that sort of thing at home, so I suppose it's what passes as a treat to them.

Iwasbornin1993 · 27/04/2015 19:46

Like a PP I often ordered from the children's menu at my University's SU bar (not sure why they even had one?!) to save some cash when I was a student!??

LostInChilli · 27/04/2015 19:50

I've always asked for child sized portions of the adult meal or asked them to divide one adult meal between two plates.

pastizzi · 27/04/2015 20:15

Dd is 11 and still eats kids meals, which seem to fill her up!

Nearly everywhere we've ever been says the kids' menu is up to age 12. Although we were going to go to Byron at the weekend, until I saw their kids' menu goes up to age 6. That's taking things a bit far! I'm not happy at the thought of paying full whack for my 8yr old..

windchime · 27/04/2015 20:19

My DD(9) has just moved onto the adult menus. She was unimpressed by the choice of fish fingers or nuggets. DS(14) orders two items from the kids' menu because he loves junk.

slithytove · 27/04/2015 20:21

I order off the kids meals fairly often, I'm 28

WidowofBrid · 27/04/2015 20:27

My 11 year old now needs an adult portion. The 8 year olds appetite is still small enough for a kid's meal, but he'd often rather have something from the adult menu because the children choices are crap but he mostly doesn't get to cos I'm stingy

BathshebaDarkstone · 27/04/2015 20:31

I think it depends on the appetite of the child. I don't know what staff would do if it stated on the menu that it was for 10 and under and they found out that a 14-year-old was eating it. Grin

laughingcow13 · 27/04/2015 20:35

About 13

applesareredandgreen · 27/04/2015 20:39

Depends on the establishment and size of meal. Some places DS ate off main menu at 9 but there are other places we go where he has a child's meal at 13 although this is generally where the adults menu is more upmarket but the children's menu still offers a burger! !

myusernameisusername · 28/04/2015 02:45

id order a normal meal and accept some of it won't be eaten i always glance at the children's menu in restaurants it's always ..... and chips with beans Angry nuggets, fingers, burgers etc do they think children have no taste buds

fairyfuckwings · 28/04/2015 08:08

I think it depends on the restaurant but my 14 year old daughter still orders a child's portion in our local Italian.

Songofsixpence · 28/04/2015 08:28

Depends on the restaurant, but my 13 year old still orders children's portions - I do sometimes as well.

None of our local pubs/restaurants really do nuggets/chips/beans type children's menu, usually it's just a smaller portion off the normal menu. Our local pub does lovely homemade burgers, and even I order a children's size, the normal ones are massive

dustarr73 · 28/04/2015 10:07

Im finding my 7 year old doesnt feel full after the kids dinners.In certain places i would order an adult meal and split it.

I found the opposite problem when i was away on holiday last year.The kids dinners were massive ,much to big for my youngest.I think it would be better to split the kids meals like have a smaller one up till 5 or 6 and a bigger dinner up till 12 or 13.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 28/04/2015 10:16

Most places we go to don't specify, we've always let them choose from either children's or adults, but at 9 and 11 they still won't eat adult portions, so we might order three adult meals between 4 of us and extra chips or bread if needed. If they have children's meals we also order garlic bread or whatever. Generally the only children's meals they eat are pizza or pasta, definitely grown out of fish fingers etc.

glittertits · 28/04/2015 10:20

I don't think it is age. I think it is appetite/taste.

So when they are still hungry after a kids meal, they should be looking at the adult menu. Likewise, if the kids find the food boring and bland, let them eat off the adult menu.

Or alternatively, if you are a grown up and not very hungry - kids' menu away!

BarbarianMum · 28/04/2015 10:39

Mine are 7 and 9 and we have pretty much given up with the children's menu, which in most places is pretty dire anyway. If adult portions are large we sometimes split with them and order a starter/pudding too so everyone gets enough.

In Italy they will just serve a smaller portion of anything on the menu (rather than fish fingers etc). That was ace.

Dellla · 28/04/2015 10:41

it depends, my youngest who can hardly say it would eat a chicken caesar salad, but the eldest who is my height exactly now would prefer the bland offerings from the children's menu

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