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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
jayne1976 · 08/02/2017 18:06

Sorry Pesto pesto or tomato based sauce fine, pizza fine, but not hotdogs

pollymere · 08/02/2017 18:08

I'd be happier if they contained no reclaimed meat and had a bun with some salad instead.

Hulababy · 08/02/2017 18:11

Over the past 10+ years i have had lots of children come round to eat. Not a single parent has ever commented on there child not being allowed xyz due to it being good/bad food. No one has ever complained about the odd processed cheat meal, nor take away, nor fast food meal. Likewise I have never done the same. Occasionally had some likes and dislikes told (and again nothing to do with whether it is organic or processed -free etc) and had allergies discussed - nothing more.

In real life, ime, the vast majority people really don't make so much of a fuss as they do on MN.

I would simple not invite a child again if their parent was rude enough to complain or judge me over one simple after school meal.

MuseumOfCurry · 08/02/2017 18:17

I wouldn't care, but I certainly know people who would.

One of my friend's children has not yet had McDonalds (he's 11). Some people are not laid back about this kind of thing.

WhateverNameIsStillAvailable · 08/02/2017 18:18

I'm one of these health freaks when it comes to food! I only make stuff from scratch and hate any additives.
BUT if my kids go to someone else's house I'd be grateful if they were fed at all. It's a once off and I'm just happy you took them and they're not hungry. However I hate when they come back all hyped up on sugar 😁

QueenOfAllBiscuitsandMuffins · 08/02/2017 18:29

Loving all these "but my child hates x,y,z" I don't know if anyone else gets this but my children mysteriously wolf down food at other people's house that they wouldn't touch with a barge pole if I cooked it for them.

If anyone judged me for giving their children hot dogs I would be judging them for having a stick up their butt.

OhLaVache · 08/02/2017 18:32

My philosophy is my kids eat whatever is on offer at friend's houses - I'm just grateful they have been invited! Equally, I expect visiting kids to have whatever we're having... don't mind if they choose to leave it but I'm not up for getting into endless texting about 'what's little Johnny's favourite food' etc.

RedBugMug · 08/02/2017 18:34

not the best meal, but if it's an occassional thing why not. just have better food next time.

Booboo66 · 08/02/2017 18:40

I buy the German style brockwurst in a jar from lidl/aldi for very occasional emergency meals. I pick them as they seem to have a high pork percentage and 'reconstituted' is not mentioned in the labelling. I hope that hasn't just been omitted! I don't ever buy anything labelled hot dog and served in a tin but I wouldn't care if they were fed it elsewhere as a once off! I always make pasta pesto or pizza with veg sticks for visiting children!

SlankyBodger · 08/02/2017 18:46

Been there, done that. Grin

Often because that's the oly thing one particular child would eat of what we had, but sometimes because I had nothing else.

Did you know that Frankenfurters (we called them that too) are nicer when grilled? It was a surprise to me too; barbecued, even better (almost proper food!).

Pandamonium · 08/02/2017 18:53

My children are allergic to dairy and egg. Not everyone is happy/confident feeding them so when they are fed on a play date I think it's great. And hotdogs would be fine (so long as there's no milk in them - and if anyone's interested some hotdogs do have milk, some don't!).

Sara107 · 08/02/2017 19:17

This would be fine. One meal isn't going to kill anyone's healthy eating regime. And hot dogs are my DDS favourite thing in the world. Other children's fads are an unknown quantity so I always stick to something that I think they might possibly eat, sausages for dinner or ham sandwiches for lunch is basically my guest menu. With white bread so as not to scare them off with the brown linseedy stuff I make. Complete headache when non pork eating child came. I got beef sausages, but they weren't very nice!

Leanin15yearsmaybe · 08/02/2017 19:24

Panda I'm a foody and the thought of your children not being fed makes me anxious Wink I would be pissed off if someone didn't feed my child as they didn't feel confident with allergies!! That is what text is for, if they can communicate to invite they can ask what your dc can eat! Mine don't have any but I had one girl over who is no dairy, wheat, gluten, onion, soy etc etc.. I googled and checked with the mum! bought some appropriate dry pasta that catered to her allergies, made an allergy appropriate veg Sauce from scratch. When she told me it was the first play date her dd could eat at it made me cry! Like I say...food makes me emotional Grin

MsJudgemental · 08/02/2017 19:30

Just wondering why they have to have tea before 4.30 when the food arrives?

Pandamonium · 08/02/2017 19:44

Lean- you sound like a v good cook (and I think catering for allergies is mostly just about understanding ingredients and how to cook with them really) but some people aren't happy with the responsibility - so I always offer to send them with packed food. Some people are great though and do what you would and ask by text etc

caringcarer · 08/02/2017 19:47

Hotdogs would be fine with a few carrot sticks. It would not hurt them for once. I'd just be happy you had fed my kid and would reciprocate.

Onceuponatartanshoelace · 08/02/2017 19:52

Meat free hotdogs are a big hit in our household, cheap from Tesco freezer section and only take 5 minutes in boiling water..

OpenYourEyesAndSee · 08/02/2017 19:55

As long as dietary requirements are accounted for, (vegetarian, allergies etc), I think you should cook whatever you like for children's friends. I used to eat things I didn't eat at home when I was at a friend's house. Even things I didn't like I'd eat out of politeness. If someone was cooking for my child I'd be grateful that they did so, not looking to pick apart the nutritional value. I know some people are dicks about that kind of thing though.

Mrsderekshepard · 08/02/2017 20:05

Dd3 won't eat pasta......

corythatwas · 08/02/2017 20:24

polymere, why would it matter if your dc had some salad during the few hours that a playdate is going to last. Can't they just eat some when they get home?

kateandme · 08/02/2017 20:26

no way! what is wrong with our world.going round to 'play' tea was the time we got to go for it!have treats.we always order ham and pinaple from the same pizza place all through my childhood.
or egg and micro chips.
or anything treated tea when we went to a mates.
if its a regular thing not so much.
pesto pasta is healthy.
half of looking forward to going to play was thinking of what wwe would have for tea.

Daydream007 · 08/02/2017 21:09

It's a once in a blue moon treat, no harm!

Badhairday1001 · 08/02/2017 21:14

I wouldn't mind at all. My kids love hotdogs! It's not everyday and won't cause any harm as an occasional meal.

GogoGobo · 08/02/2017 21:57

I wouldn't like it if you served food that looks less appetising than tinned dog food. Just the colour of hotdogs is repulsive. Just but some decent sausages or meatballs instead.

BabychamSocialist · 08/02/2017 22:12

Christ, if a hot dog is the worst thing they'll eat that week then they're clearly some sort of perfect children because they clearly don't have sweets/crisps/pop etc.

Honestly, as a tea at a friend's house it's fine. Isn't it a sort of unspoken rule that when you have friends over you can sort of have a bit of a rubbish tea as it's not an ordinary day?

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