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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think kids menus are pointless?

101 replies

Pyjamaramadrama · 14/12/2015 10:59

And that half portions of the regular menu would be a much better idea.

Usually when we eat out we just let ds order from the kids menu without thinking about it. It's almost always boring, burger and chips, chicken nuggets and chips.

Like a lot of 7 year olds ds does like that sort of food but when at home he will at least eat most things.

Saturday we went to a place without a children's menu but still family friendly, a Mediterranean place.

Dh looked blankly over the menu and asked what an earth ds could have. Ds asked the waiter where the children's menu was BlushI rolled my eyes and said its just food.

We ended up having sharing platters and tapas dishes and ds loved it, couldn't get enough of the food.

Such ashame most food places don't adopt this.

OP posts:
RaspberrySwitchblade · 14/12/2015 11:36

Saucy I think that about all food, 'how much did that cost and how much am I paying for it', but then i remember the shopping, cooking, washing up and then order a dessert Grin

arf at 'performance eating' Wink

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 14/12/2015 11:37

I'm definitely not a food snob.

I might look like a complete nob if I started asking for half size portions of the menu while ds protests that he wants the fish fingers. Which he would.

I just found it nice to see him joining in eating what we were eating as there was no other option.

Nothing fancy and we even ordered side chips.

OP posts:
skyeskyeskye · 14/12/2015 11:38

I think they are great! DD 7yo loves them. You usually get a colouring sheet and crayons, or activity book. We rarely go into town, so she hardly ever has McDonalds or anything like that. The ones in Pizza Hut are great.

Her favourite meal is a carvery. But I am happy for her to tuck into fishfingers or chicken nuggets and chips, as I never cook that at home.

RaspberrySwitchblade · 14/12/2015 11:38

do you eat out a lot, Pyjama

Gileswithachainsaw · 14/12/2015 11:39

they aren't pointless..they are however shit. the standard is terrible.

Kids menus (for those who want them) should contain proper burgers and "homemade" nuggets and higher quality sausages.

not this iceland shit that's currently served

and smaller portions of the main menu should be available.

skyeskyeskye · 14/12/2015 11:39

plus I meant to say, you often get a main course, drink, sweet (and sometimes a side) all for anywhere between £5-£7. it is great value.

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 14/12/2015 11:41

It probably averages once every couple of months. Sometimes with dc sometimes without.

OP posts:
RaspberrySwitchblade · 14/12/2015 11:42

so, it's a treat then..?

Alastrante · 14/12/2015 11:43

lol at 'middle class performance eating'
I'd love a bit of that tbh

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 14/12/2015 11:46

Of course but it can still be a treat without a kids menu no?

OP posts:
MagicalMrsMistoffelees · 14/12/2015 11:46

Loads of restaurants would be happy to do half portions for half price if you asked. They're there to make money and they do that by keeping the customer happy!

I for one am grateful for children's menus. Keeps it simple and ensures my children actually eat something they like.

Enb76 · 14/12/2015 11:46

I don't see a problem with children's menus - they're often quite good value but I don't make my child eat from them unless she wants something off them (i.e. rarely except in pizza places) and often we will share a starter and main course in a really nice restaurant and she'll have a pudding while I have a coffee. I've not come across a restaurant which isn't happy to do this. I like to go out and eat really good food and as I am on my own, I take my 7 year old.

However, you have to be prepared to share your food with your child.

Inertia · 14/12/2015 11:46

They aren't pointless, because some children prefer to eat the blander/ more familiar food on offer . Others are quite happy to eat a smaller portion of an adult's meal, and actually most places will offer this if you ask, even if they have a children's menu too.

If your DS prefers other options to the food you've decided he'll have, then it's then your parenting issue to either tell him what he'll have or let him choose. Alternatively, send one adult in first to hide the kids menu / brief the waiter that you don't want your child to see it. But it isn't reasonable for you to think that other families shouldn't have the choice just because you don't want your child to have that option.

NotdeadyetBOING · 14/12/2015 11:47

OP, I agree with you wholeheartedly. I disapprove of the whole idea of 'kids' food'. In my view, there is just 'food'. Our DCs have always eaten with us and been encouraged to try all sorts of things.

witsender · 14/12/2015 11:49

Agreed. I don't want them just eating nuggets and other assorted fried food which seems to be what many restaurants think kids should eat. Mine will eat pretty much anything so often just share an adult dish (they're 5 and 3) if places don't do half portions.

Gileswithachainsaw · 14/12/2015 11:50

5-7 pounds isn't great value though Confused

a bag of turkey dinosaurs is a quid in Iceland. less in aldi. factor in the bulk buy discount from the likes of 3663 and what you get costs literally pennies. throw on a plate with Costco beans and the left over chips from the mixed grill they just made job done.

even the chops turn up dried and blatantly re cooked most days.no where near value

Artandco · 14/12/2015 11:50

We eat our regularly ( kids probably eat at least one breakfast, one lunch and one dinner a week in a restaurant). Therefore no I wouldn't want them eating the general 'kids' type food if I can help it as that's fairly often to me. To me fast food is something you eat once/ twice a year not once/ twice a a week.

We find the easiest places to eat out with kids are generally ' foreign' food ie Greek/ Spanish/ Indian as there we usually order a load of dishes tapas style for all to share so they can pick and choose. English restaurants are more one large meal eat type places, and like I said would just order starters / sides.

Gileswithachainsaw · 14/12/2015 11:51

chips

not chops

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 14/12/2015 11:52

I suppose my thought was if there's just one menu available with perhaps a half portion for children, they'll just happily have that.

It's absolutely nothing to do with performance parenting or snobbery it was nice to see ds enjoying something he wouldn't choose usually.

I've already said we order from them without a second thought as there's usually one available. I thought it was funny that ds was lost without the kids menu.

OP posts:
MorrisZapp · 14/12/2015 11:52

What if you encourage your kid to eat lots of things but he refuses, and eats from a limited beige repertoire? I'd guess that's reality for many, it certainly is for us.

We don't eat out very often but I love the kids menu when we do because it means we can all eat what we fancy.

RaspberrySwitchblade · 14/12/2015 11:53

which restaurants serve this, btw?

PassiveAgressiveQueen · 14/12/2015 11:54

We do tend to eat in chain pub type places if we go out with ds and have been looked at like I'm from Mars if I've asked for anything like.

often their food comes bagged in portions for them to reheat, so if they sold your kid a half portion they would be throwing away half a portion.
My fav was somewhere had run out of cooked carrot, but offered my friend raw carrot sticks, but they couldn't be converted.

multivac · 14/12/2015 11:56

They're pretty pointless if you have a coeliac child. Nuggets - no. Fish fingers - no. Sausages and burgers - no. Pizza - no. Pasta - no. Chips - yay! Oh, hang on, you bung 'em in the same fryer as all the rest of it? That'll be a no, then.

SheHasAWildHeart · 14/12/2015 11:58

I also wonder where these restaurants that serve 'chicken nuggets and chips'. DD loves Pizza Express, their kids menu is similar to adult menu, she usually has dough balls, pizza and a choc fudge cake. Is that acceptable?! Yes I realise none of the things that I've mentioned are healthy but they are smaller portions of the adult menu.

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 14/12/2015 11:59

Woah I didn't say if your kid eats beige food it's your fault.

I've already said ds will choose burger and chips if it's there. I like a burger and chips myself.

The food we had wasn't scary even for a picky eater. There was bread, cheese, omelette, meat, pasta nothing fancy.

OP posts: