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AIBU?

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Original poster

To say no to pizza pasta again?

445 replies

karmakameleon · 12/12/2015 11:57

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...

OP posts:
Gileswithachainsaw · 12/12/2015 14:02

a problem.for her kids to have to notch it fir a change that is

WorraLiberty · 12/12/2015 14:03

He's 3

I'm sure if it was up to him, he'd choose soft play anyway.

Seriously, I don't know why you're all obsessing over a bit of food.

Just eat before you meet up. Easily done if she only lives an hour away.

Original poster
karmakameleon · 12/12/2015 14:03

*"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?*

But it does. Have you missed the bit where I say we go to Italians all the time?

OP posts:
Enjolrass · 12/12/2015 14:04

I mean we often end up in pizza pasta places where DS can't eat. I've often suggested more 'exotic' options when eating out with other families but not stood firm before and ended up at a chain Italian

So yes then. Op it may be that you friends just don't enjoy the same food as you.

Honestly I would be ok with ds being a bit bored with his food, if we are out in exotic places a lot anyway.

MyTeeZone · 12/12/2015 14:04

Oh OP you just don't want to take advice do you

Headofthehive55 · 12/12/2015 14:05

And that just it isn't it, the suggestion that of course there must be something delicious for him on the Italian menu. Often there isn't. You could say go to the Mexican and order something delicious from the side menu there.

The point it you sometimes should get to choose. If they can't see that then they aren't true friends.

Maryz · 12/12/2015 14:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ReggieJones · 12/12/2015 14:06

Its a first world problem if I ever saw one

diddl · 12/12/2015 14:06

But your son doesn't eat pasta?!

OP, I agree that if the only things that your son won't eat are pasta & pizza then there must be loads of places that you can all still go to.

Unless her son only eats pasta & pizza!

ReggieJones · 12/12/2015 14:07

If going out for a meal is too 'traumatic' you could always suggest a bring and share event at your house

Castrovalva · 12/12/2015 14:07

I kind of feel your pain OP

My reception aged Dd hates tomatoes, and isn't keen on cheese. So Italian is pretty much out. We've tried with other stuff of the menus at the Italian but she rejects pretty much all of it. She will however eat industrial quantities of anything on the kids menu at Wagamama.

Luckily I live in the arse end of nowhere and have no social life else I think we'd very much end up with your problem. There is always an assumption kids will happily eat at Pizza Express or similar.

rookiemere · 12/12/2015 14:09

I just spotted this in the OP

The specific places I've mentioned to her all do some mild options in smaller sized portions although not specifically a children's menu

based on that I'd refuse to go with DS. He'd rather knaw off his own elbow than eat a child sized portion of chicken korma. Clearly down 100% to my culinary negligence.

OP I understand what your point is but I think you're being a bit of a pain about it. It must be possible to find a non P&P restaurant that offers a variety of cuisines and has a children's menu offering the standard pizza and chicken nuggets. We found a great Indian the other month when a relative was over and everyone was happy. I get the feeling you actually don't want to find something that works for all, instead you want to force these DCs to try new cuisines and then be all smug when they tuck into pad thai or whatever - which they won't btw.

Headofthehive55 · 12/12/2015 14:09

It's not about one being bored with food, some children just don't like pasta, pizza and should be catered for.

Ragwort · 12/12/2015 14:10

I wouldn't let a 3 year old dictate where we ate Hmm - the whole thing sounds bizarre, just don't meet them if it is really so hard to agree on where you are going to eat.

Headofthehive55 · 12/12/2015 14:11

Exactly rookie. My three would be the same with pasta, or pizza!

RaskolnikovsGarret · 12/12/2015 14:13

My DDs really didn't like bland pasta / pizza either. It was a real pain. They much preferred other cuisines where there was much more choice. And Indian/Chinese doesn't have to mean spicy/hot, just flavoursome.

Not sure why not liking Italian is regarded as a stealth boast though.

Original poster
karmakameleon · 12/12/2015 14:13

I wouldn't let a 3 year old dictate where we ate

Is that her 3yr old shouldn't be allowed to dictate that we all eat pizza/pasta or my 3yr old shouldn't be allowed to dictate that we eat something other than pizza/pasta? Hmm

OP posts:
Headofthehive55 · 12/12/2015 14:15

Giraffe sounds good there is pasta on that menu too for the other little one!

mamapants · 12/12/2015 14:15

Why do people get all uppety about a child liking Thai or Indian or whatever, people seem to take it as a personal affront. And why accuse someone of being smug about it.
I see it simply as normally they all go to a restaurant where one family are happy with the menu and the other family make do. And the op would like it to be the other way round for once. Ops child has to find something that will do normally so can't see why the other family can't find something that would do.
Seems fair to me

myotherusernameisbetter · 12/12/2015 14:17

Could you sit him in the corner with a Greig's sausage roll and a fruit shoot?

I actually do get the point that you are regularly meeting up with people who are prioritising their child over yours, but you are just doing the same and two wrongs don't make a right. Unless you are eating out with people 2 or 3 days a week and never taking your child to places he does like, I really don't see that he is bored or going somewhere where there is nothing to eat.

If he eats noodles then get him angel hair pasta with a spicy tomato sauce or something or risotto or some antipasti.

WorraLiberty · 12/12/2015 14:17

I've never been to a pizza/pasta place that doesn't serve side dishes.

None of which contain pizza or pasta.

This is just a bog standard Pizza Express Menu

I'm quite sure your 3 year old could find something to enjoy.

MyTeeZone · 12/12/2015 14:19

Also Italian places are generally less of an acquired taste than say Japanese. I love Japanese and was an adventurous eater as a child but just saying. This is probably why your friends are suggesting it.

You seem to be attacking their choice on principle rather than because you really really hate the food

WorraLiberty · 12/12/2015 14:19

They even do Calamari...

freespiritsbadattitude · 12/12/2015 14:19

Is anyone else reading this and thinking "world gorn mad"? Pages and pages over which restaurants a 3-year-old likes? Or just me?!

Maryz · 12/12/2015 14:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.