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AIBU?

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Original poster

To give visiting child hotdogs for tea?

444 replies

EssieTregowan · 07/02/2017 09:05

With baked beans, so that counts as healthy, right? Wink

Just an idle ponder really as I know this particular 4yo's mum doesn't mind at all. But when ds2 starts widening his friendship group are the other mums going to judge if the fare on offer is quick stuff like pasta pesto, or nuggets, or plastic sausages?

Tuesdays are really the only day we can have his friends round, but it's also the day the shopping comes and it doesn't come until 4.30 so dinner is very often the quickest option .

Would you judge? Or would it not even cross your mind?

OP posts:
JellyWitch · 07/02/2017 16:28

I wouldn't mind in the slightest. If the kids are fed and happy then it's all good.

Gooseygoosey12345 · 07/02/2017 16:29

If I'm sending my child to your house then you feed them whatever works for you! Whether that's quinoa and kale (which definitely wouldn't get eaten) or hotdogs is up to you. I think it's much easier to do things like hotdogs, some kids are really picky (looking at you DD) so if it's something you know they'll eat at least they're fed!

ProudBadMum · 07/02/2017 16:30

Fed my kids crack for all I care if you are having them for me Grin

pixiehollow · 07/02/2017 16:32

I would not be botherd in the slightest my oldest dosnt like them so we don't eat them much, could think of a few worse things! Absolutely agree as long as agree child is being fed I don't have much problem with what they are being fed,

Basicbrown · 07/02/2017 16:33

DD won't eat plastic sausages. We're posh y'see ;) I have no issue with you trying to feed her whatever you like.

Can't you use proper sausages?

TeethDrama · 07/02/2017 16:36

Trifle - it was clear what you meant. Sometime people like to guilt trips.

Jointhejoyrun75 · 07/02/2017 16:43

I think a lot comes down to what you would eat yourself. I wouldn't eat the plastic sausages therefore I wouldn't feed my DC them, and wouldn't particularly want them eating them at other people's houses. I have also not taken them to a McDonalds because I don't like the food. But I wouldn't 'do' anything if a parent gave my kids hotdogs for tea.

HandsomeDevil · 07/02/2017 16:51

i am a pretty decent cook, and my DC are adventurous eaters.
however, I want visiting DC to feel comfortable at my house, so tend to serve from a narrow range of "safe", school dinner-esque, often somewhat processed foods. Most often I serve plain pizza, with a big selection of crudites and salad.

the way I see it, either these DC have a great, healthy diet at home, so one sub-optimal meal doesn't really matter. Or they have a diet in which these foods feature from time to time, in which case it doesn't really matter.

we've yet to have a child turn his/her nose up at what's offered. not even the kid whose mum I later discovered to my horror runs an organic deli Wink.

Giddyaunt18 · 07/02/2017 17:04

I wouldn't judge. Going to a friend's house for tea is a special tea time, all rules are off as far as I'm concerned as long as any allergies etc are catered for.

Esspee · 07/02/2017 17:09

I know this is going off thread but why do people assume that disgusting stuff like hotdogs, chicken nuggets and pizza are cheaper than healthy stuff? I cook more or less from scratch and spend far less than others who give their families processed food.

ChocolateWombat · 07/02/2017 17:14

I agree that the parents who would judge hot dogs or be sniffy about them must be those with tiny children and be control freaks.

Once your kids are a bit older, you will have to unclench because you won't be able to control every bite they eat and they will increasingly have choice .....and shock, horror, often choose things you wouldn't provide or like. And guess what....you'll get to the point where you really don't give that one meal or snack or glass of coke a second thought, because you'll realise there are lots of other things to worry about.

Children in primary schools often have crap food as part of their school dinner. They often have sponge pudding and custard every day which could hardly be considered healthy. At parties they often gorge on sweets or crisps. When they a a bit older they might eat copious amounts of very salty popcorn or drink a vat of coke and later still they will be drinking booze in the park or at parties. You will realise that the hot dog they had on the playmate really didn't matter at all.......and hopefully laugh at yourself.....but unfortunately I think some people lack the self knowledge to do that.

Somehowsomewhere · 07/02/2017 17:16

disgusting stuff like hotdogs, chicken nuggets and pizza

Why is pizza 'disgusting'?? We make bases, add passata, mozzarella and veg. Hardly disgusting.

EssentialHummus · 07/02/2017 17:19

I know this is going off thread but why do people assume that disgusting stuff like hotdogs, chicken nuggets and pizza are cheaper than healthy stuff?

I think it is, genuinely. 2 margharita pizzas at Aldi are £1.50(ish), ready in 15 minutes. Now if I make a (genuinely tasty) lentil stew with veg and chorizo in, I can probably get it down to about 60p a portion, but that's assuming I have stock, veg, all the ingredients and an hour to cook and simmer. I do eat healthily, but I think it takes more time and usually a bit more money/ingredients. If you factor in fuel poverty/limited cooking facilities, a lot of less healthy options start looking like good options.

Tom12Anna · 07/02/2017 17:28

Wouldn't mind at all. I'd be grateful you'd fed my child.

Original poster
EssieTregowan · 07/02/2017 17:32

Well the shopping has only just arrived and dinner is ON.

I'll let you know if anyone keels over from malnutrition.

By the way, those suggesting real sausages are blatantly missing the point of a dirty hotdog Grin

To give visiting child hotdogs for tea?
OP posts:
Trifleorbust · 07/02/2017 17:35

I know this is going off thread but why do people assume that disgusting stuff like hotdogs, chicken nuggets and pizza are cheaper than healthy stuff? I cook more or less from scratch and spend far less than others who give their families processed food.

Per portion this is true, BUT the barriers to entry:

  • Fuel poverty (as pointed out above) - it costs far less to oven cook a pizza for 10 mins than it does to slowly cook a healthy stew
  • Repeat ingredients - basil, thyme, pepper, olive oil, flour, stock: your basic veg is going to be tasteless in the extreme without any supplementary ingredients
  • Fussiness - if you KNOW your DC will eat the hot dog, you know they won't be asking for yoghurt/biscuits/other treats you might not have in or be able to afford, whereas the lovely, healthy stew you just cooked and froze eighteen portions of might well be chucked on the floor.
ShowMePotatoSalad · 07/02/2017 17:37

I wouldn't mind at all. I would thank you for feeding them.

I tend to cook quite healthily on the whole but one day a week for a tea like this is fine in my eyes. If I knew DS was having hot dogs and beans that night I would just do them a healthier tea next night. It's not a problem.

PleasantPhesant · 07/02/2017 17:39

You've commuted a culinary crime there op....red onion on a hot dog!!!Angry

zeeboo · 07/02/2017 17:43

My kids would love it and want to come over again. There is nothing at all wrong with a wiener!

bumsexatthebingo · 07/02/2017 17:45

I'm assuming as the thread is so long (not read it all) that some parents WOULD mind their kids having hot dogs and beans. I can't understand that. Unless your kids are eating elsewhere several nights a week why would it bother anyone as a one off?
We tend to eat quite healthily but I often go for nuggets, pizza, hotdogs etc when the kids have friends over because it seems to be the kind of thing most kids like. Also having friends around for tea is a bit of a treat so I tend to have puddings like ice cream and cake rather than fruit and also let them eat sweets. It hadn't occurred to me that I would be responsible for contributing to other kids 5 a day.

Serialweightwatcher · 07/02/2017 17:50

My youngest used to eat herta frankfurters - sure it will be fine ...... every time I have read the title of this thread when it pops up, I keep seeing would it be all right to give child hostages tea Hmm

ShowMePotatoSalad · 07/02/2017 17:56

Now I'm craving:

M&S frankfurters
Fried onions cooked in tomato sauce, a pinch of brown sugar and cinnamon
A massive bread roll

ONOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOM

Woolyheads · 07/02/2017 18:03

My hotdogs are vegetarian, so no gross stuff in them. The kids love them. Ditto Quorn chicken nuggets. They can't tell. Both just as easy as the meat versions to cook too.

Sallystyle · 07/02/2017 18:09

How many of the Hertz-hotdog-horrified wouldn't baulk at giving their child chorizo, which contains pork salivary glands and lymph nodes?!

I could have gone the rest of my life not knowing that Grin I just ate some for tea as well.

I hate hotdogs in a tin because for some odd reason when I had hyperemesis it was the only thing I kept down and now it reminds me of that time. I would not give two shits if my kids had hotdogs.

SaorAlbaGuBrath · 07/02/2017 18:11

I don't like tinned ones because they smell funny, it's the brine they come in I think. But I'm not precious about what my kids eat, they have a good diet most of the time, I'm not going to freak out if they have something that's a bit crap sometimes.

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