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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think pasta pesto isn't a universal kid friendly meal?

258 replies

IHaveBrilloHair · 13/02/2017 18:16

I often see this stated as a meal that all kids like, up there with pizza/nuggets/fishfishfingers, but I honestly don't know many kids who like it, and know more who wouldn't know what it is.
Dd's too old for playdates now but I'd never have served it, not in a million years, is it really universal kid food?
Admittedly we live in a small Scottish town but we have a Waitrose, and a Private school, it's not some weird backwater.

OP posts:
FurryLittleTwerp · 14/02/2017 19:35

DS would eat it as a little one but by the age of about 7-8 started to think it "boring", as the whole bowlful is the same - he likes a few lumps, a bit of variety pieces of bacon!

Jux · 14/02/2017 19:48

I only learnt how to make it when dd had a friend who would eat nothing else. Personally, I think it's pretty vile. DD's not keen. I don't know many who like it. Just that one.

BeakyFlapdoodle · 14/02/2017 19:49

There's a 'with' or an 'and' missing.
Pasta WITH pesto.

You wouldn't say 'I don't like toast jam' or 'My kids won't eat fish chips' would you?!

PASTA WITH PESTO!

Lovingit81 · 14/02/2017 19:51

No pesto here my DS1 is hugely allergic to pine nuts amongst other nuts and dairy! I love it!! I'd say tomato pasta is more child friendly.

CremeEggThief · 14/02/2017 19:53

My DS, now 14, would have happily eaten it every day since he was a baby! He didn't like pizza until he was 4 and he's never been keen on nuggets or sausages, chips and beans style food.

Hulababy · 14/02/2017 19:55

DD loved it when small (still does as a teen) - often with chicken and red pepper. A fair few of her friends liked it too - I did ask first before serving though as I wouldn't assume.

reuset · 14/02/2017 19:59

I'd have thought it was

Ifitquackslikeaduck · 14/02/2017 20:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AlexanderHamilton · 14/02/2017 20:02

Ds who has an asd with sensory food issues surprisingly loves it (but only the green pesto)

Dd who usually eats anything hates it.

Strange.

confuugled1 · 14/02/2017 20:10

DS1 would eat pasta pesto for every meal if he could. Ds2 won't touch it with a bargepole. Both introduced to food in the same way...

Janeybobs · 14/02/2017 20:23

I have 3 Dd, one likes pasta pesto, one pasta & tomato sauce and the youngest pasta and cheese sauce - argh!

arlene123 · 14/02/2017 20:35

My kids all love it (9,11&16years old)x

SherbrookeFosterer · 14/02/2017 20:44

It's quite fun for kids to make pesto from scratch, as they get to bash all the ingredients up with a pestle and mortar.

They are instinctively attracted to the noise and the violence of the process!

DarkLikeVader · 14/02/2017 20:52

DD (4) loves the stuff but won't touch the muck out of a jar (to be fair to her jarred pesto tastes like scratchings from satan's bum). But pop her in front of a blender with the ingredients and she'll make it for you (she likes lots of cheese and more garlic when she makes it) and she'll also loudly announce that it 'needs' red wine with it anytime she talks about it Blush

With a little chicken or pancetta in, and some cherry tomatoes on the plate it's not too unhealthy. Plus we use wholewheat pasta. And you can make 'dirty pesto' depending on what you have in - spinach instead of basil, or almonds instead of pine nuts, or pecorino instead of Parmesan. Chestnuts work beautifully in it...

MrsPringles · 14/02/2017 20:55

DS won't eat pesto and nor do I because it's grim

Any other pasta is go though Grin

Booboo66 · 14/02/2017 20:57

It's the go to meal here for both my DD and a lot of their friends. As you say others haven't heard of it. I think it depends if it's been introduced at an early age as older kids seeing it for the first time would be put off by the greenness of it.

SquidgeyMidgey · 14/02/2017 21:42

DD loves it, any kind of pesto. DS won't touch it.

WheresYouWheelieBin · 14/02/2017 21:46

None of my kids would eat pesto pasta. Pasta, yes. Pesto, no.

AnotherUsedName13 · 14/02/2017 21:56

Absolute standard in our house. One of my lazy kid meals.

Booboo66 · 14/02/2017 21:59

I add mackerel and sweetcorn to ours and top with buffalo mozzerella to make it less boring. Also a good side salad with cherry tomatoes. Makes it semi edible for me...kids would have it any old way!

ivykaty44 · 14/02/2017 22:02

DD loves pasta and pesto, cherry tomato & bacon with it and cheese, has done since small

Athrawes · 14/02/2017 22:02

Red pasta is a maybe on a good day, green pasta is a never ever. Why would I torment him with pasta in a restaurant when he doesn't best like it at home. Mine would rather have a good steak and chips, curry, fish, mezze plate etc.

ivykaty44 · 14/02/2017 22:04

DD also lives pasta & bakebeans with cheese, as does OH. No thanks to that ine

Huldra · 14/02/2017 22:09

I was a student in the 90s when the supermarkets brought out their value ranges with asta and baked beans for silly prices. Spaghetti With baked beans poured over was a standard meal Blush

MusicToMyEars800 · 14/02/2017 22:31

my kids love pasta.. but if I put pesto in with it I would be looked at with some very unimpressed faces lol they don't like it I think the flavour is too strong, but I also know kids who love it.. so it's a case of some will like it some will not.