To say no to pizza pasta again?

[karmakameleon]

So I'm trying to arrange dinner with a friend and her family and she's suggested a pizza pasta place. Fairly standard kid food but my problem is that DS (3yrs old) doesn't like it. DS will happily eat Indian, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Mexican amongst other things, so I don't think he can be described as fussy, but just not pizza and pasta.

As you imagine this comes up regularly when we eat out with friends and in the past I've taken the view that DS can have some bread and fill up on ice cream after. But this time I've had enough and put my foot down as I just feel it's not fair on DS to always be the one that can't eat and ends up going home hungry. Also I know that DS really doesn't like pizza pasta as I've offered it to him a hundred times but I'm guessing that my friend's child hasn't tried half the options I've suggested. (The specific places I've mentioned to her all do some mild options in smaller sized portions although not specifically a children's menu.) And if the worst came to the worst, surely her DS could pick at his main and then have lots of ice cream for pudding like mine has had to in the past?

Anyway, the whole thing is proving quite traumatic, she's not taking up any of my suggestions and sticking fairly rigidly to her original choice and I'm getting the feeling that the whole thing is off unless I do as I'm told compromise. So now I'm starting to feel guilty and think maybe I'm being a bit unreasonable as it is a fairly standard choice. But then it's not DS's fault he doesn't like it...

Shopping mall foodhall - lots of different outlets. John Lewis - lots of options.

A café that serves soup and sandwiches perhaps.

Pret a manger does noodle pots as well as other things.

Why do you have to eat at all when you go out?

There are plenty of other things you could do.

Whete are you going OP????

Can you at least share the menu with us?

We're all going in circles here!

Pizza pasta chains usually also do starters. Could your DS have a starter perhaps?

What's wrong with a chain Italian though? There will be lots and lots of option for your DS. It's not practical to go to a spicy restaurant all the time.

Well tbh, its a nightmare to take a child where nothing is liked on the menu so in that way I can relate. I was on holiday in Italy and the menu's in some places were too sophisticated for my children!!!
But surely to goodness there is a place that does something for everyone? and child friendly too?

We live reasonably far from each other, maybe an hour, so would be better part of a day trip and need to eat something at some point. Compromise will probably be that we do an activity with the boys and eat separately.

Just grab a sandwich then and get on with doing something fun, that you all enjoy?

What's wrong with a chain Italian though? There will be lots and lots of option for your DS. It's not practical to go to a spicy restaurant all the time.

Nothing wrong with them but as I say we go all the time. No one is suggesting spicy food all the time

You at not on your own op. Three of my four just don't like pasta, pizza.
Everyone expects they will of course. And yes mine too will express delight at curries, Mexican etc. Oh but they all like noodles...

I think it's only right that you pick this time. People are aghast when you mention pizza doesn't work for your family, she perhaps doesn't realuse

and he gets bored of having the same thing time and time again. how often is it that you are eating out in places with food that isn't his favourite then?

I don't get this bit as surely this is an odd occasion that you are meeting up and if you are going out otherwise you'd be at the Japanese, indian etc. so how is getting bored with sausages, chicken and chips?

Realise!

Karma - have you got one of those World Buffet places anywhere near you? I think they do all sorts - a bit of Indian, Chinese, Italian etc, etc - so hopefully everyone could have something they liked.

Mine just don't like tomatoes, so Italian is rather a bad choice!

Sorry OP but can't you just focus on those places when you go out as a family, and then just go for something a bit less adventurous when you see friends? It sounds either competitive like you have a point to prove about your ds's eating or rather than you don't like these friends very much.

You could do the following:

1. Insist friends back down (and prob lose the friendship)

1. Cook for them or bring a picnic

1. Go to a world buffet or chain restaurant like giraffe or nandos as suggested

1. Order your DS delicious non pizza/pasta starters or sides from the menu

Christ on a fecking bike. Really?

Just take a packed lunch, or don't meet up, or get street food or something.

I mean making a three year old eat a boring meal must be avoided at all cost.

And I don't believe for a nanosecond that you're truly naffed off with his preference for Asian inspired cuisine. You're chuffed to bits.

As far as the adults go DH and I eat pretty much anything. My friend and her DH are more limited but eat more than just Italian.

Generally speaking I do think that often it is adult tastes overruling. So the grown ups want to eat something 'plain' and use the children as an excuse but I still don't think it should always be the 3yr old that loses out.

Loads of my friends are fussy eaters though. Because I like most things im happy to go where they choose, it really doesn't bother me. Do you feel like your friend and her dh override your opinions a lot?

In summer there is no issue as we take picnics. Over the last couple of months it's become a problem. And yes, we as a family eat out quite a lot.

I've nearly died of the smug here OP! It's suffocating.

Best stealth boast for ages

DS was a fussy soul when younger - still is age 9, so yes we used to frequent a lot of pizza/pasta places, but I'd have been happy to go anywhere different that had a children's menu so most chain pubs and restaurants.

Personallly I love Mexican,Thai and Japanese food, but just wouldn't go with DS as he'd be a pain as there is nothing particular for him to eat - apart from our free meal to Yo sushi where he managed to push around some sauce free katsu chicken and the chocolate donut things ( although how they're meant to be Japanese I'm not too sure).

How about a non chain Italian - they would do not only the dreaded P&P but also risotto dishes, chicken, seafood and steak? That should keep everyone happy.

Yanbu.

you should all just alternate so it's not just your ds that has to go without a decent meal.

when there's such a difference in what people eat or enjoy then surely the only fair solution is that you all take turns so the same person doesn't have to fill up on.bread.

it's just one meal. so equally it shouldn't be a problem.for her kids either.

"Can we flip this round? Surely if her DS can eat pasta, he can eat noodles?"

Why should it apply to her son when it doesn't to yours?