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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Adult and child foods? A British thing?

717 replies

StandardRussian66 · 27/01/2018 16:15

I got bitched at yet again today by the group I meet with for lunch occasionally.
They find it very strange that my 3 year old eat “adult food”.
I have lived in 4 countries and have only ever come across this in Britain.
It is very strange?
Why would child’s only eat plain food?
My DD had calamari, for reference, incase that is odd. I am part Japanese so she is no stranger to fish.
Aibu to find it equally strange that some toddlers were still being fed mashed food?

OP posts:
TittyGolightly · 27/01/2018 16:17

Im British and hate the happy meal culture.

BigFatGoalie · 27/01/2018 16:17

Each to their own.
My child eats anything and always has, I just consider myself lucky.
I doubt they “bitched” at you because your child had calamari...Hmm

Original poster
StandardRussian66 · 27/01/2018 16:18

Sorry fat I forgot you were there.

OP posts:
MsGameandWatching · 27/01/2018 16:19

You got bitched at?

Sure.

MagicFajita · 27/01/2018 16:21

I don't think it's necessarily a British thing but I've seen this with more 'traditional' families in England. I've seen people feed the children first (usually chicken something or other) then the adults eat their more complicated meal.

I do find it strange because I think children should have some of what their adults eat and try new foods as soon as they show an interest.

Original poster
StandardRussian66 · 27/01/2018 16:21

Why is that hard to understand?

OP posts:
Sirzy · 27/01/2018 16:21

I wouldn’t get too cocky.

At 3 ds wokld eat anything put in front of him

at 8 he very little and what he eats is very much bland “kiddy” food

CanIGoToBedNow · 27/01/2018 16:22

Would love my kids to eat calamari.... sigh

NannyR · 27/01/2018 16:23

I know plenty of British parents who order off the normal menu for their children, rather than the kids menu. My young nieces love going out for curry or tapas.

Original poster
StandardRussian66 · 27/01/2018 16:24

I know is not ALL British parents. But I have only ever heard these comments or seen this in Britain. Never in any of the other places I have been.

OP posts:
PrincessoftheSea · 27/01/2018 16:25

I am not British. I have 2 children who will eat anything and 1 child who only likes very plain food. They have been parented the same. I think its not unusal for 3 year olds to turn their noses up at Calamari

MsGameandWatching · 27/01/2018 16:25

Bitched at means negative criticism. Did that happen or did they just express surprise that your child eats calamari?

The "criticism" seems to go both ways anyway given that you're surprised that some their toddlers eat mashed up food.

Original poster
StandardRussian66 · 27/01/2018 16:26

princess
That is not what I am saying.
These parents would never even let the kids try it in the first place.
“Totally bizarre you would order that for a child” is what one said.

OP posts:
pallisers · 27/01/2018 16:27

I doubt you'd get comments (maybe "isn't it great she eats everything") but you certainly get the dismal nugget/pizza/pasta childrens' menus in the US too.

I think it is changing though as more parents want normal food for their children just not big portions of it.

DontBuyANewMumCashmere · 27/01/2018 16:28

Why is OP getting disbelieved here when just the other day there was a massive thread about fussy eaters and many posters said they or their family members 'only like British food' ie don't eat that forrin muck... Hmm

OP some people are ignorant. Some people (including me) just go with the easiest option. My daughter will eat lots of things at home but if we're out she'll almost always have pasta as she doesn't (yet) like potatoes.

But I wouldn't mock a parent for allowing their kid to eat a wide range of food!!

Original poster
StandardRussian66 · 27/01/2018 16:28

Yes negative criticism. Very blatant.
I didn’t not say anything about the child eating from the pouch. I just think it’s odd you would give a 3 year old pouches of food wen you’re at a restaurant where all the other children are eating.

OP posts:
RedDogsBeg · 27/01/2018 16:29

I find it odd too, OP. My children never have anything off 'The Children's Menu' they either have some of what we are having or we ask for a small portion of something they want off the Main Menu, same as when I was a child.

Chienrouge · 27/01/2018 16:29

Bitched at how? Did they call you names for ordering your kids calamari?
My DC like calamari. They generally like most of the things we eat (luckily), but not all. They also like chicken dippers. No one has ever commented on what my children eat except maybe in a positive way (I remember a friend being pleasantly surprised that my DC ate paella once).

Chienrouge · 27/01/2018 16:30

A 3 year old had a pouch of food? I’ve never encountered that.

TrinitySquirrel · 27/01/2018 16:30

Because Heinz marketing brainwashed everyone from the 1970s that kids shouldnt eat normal food.

My 8m old eats what we eat for breakfast/lunch/dinner plus milk. But he does also get some snacks like Kiddylicious wafers of veg straws if he needs distracting for 15 minutes.

Blw coming back in to popularity is changing it all 👍

GaryBarlowsTaxReturn · 27/01/2018 16:30

I agree OP and I've experienced similar. I have a toddler, he eats what we eat. People have had some strange reactions. I've been to people's houses for lunch and they'll cook totally different food for the kids. Seems like a lot of extra work to me (caveat for anyone with SEN or textural issues).

Sirzy · 27/01/2018 16:31

When out and paying for a meal I can fully undetsrand why parents would pick something they know their child will eat. Makes much more sense than risking wasting money (and food!) really doesn’t it.

Even when ds would eat trying new foods tended to be at home or trying a bit of what I was having when out.

Original poster
StandardRussian66 · 27/01/2018 16:31

Bitched at yes.
“Bizarr you would order that for your child”
“Ew, wouldn’t she prefer something normal like fish fingers”
“Now my kid will want to try that” followed by big eye roll.

OP posts:
numbereightyone · 27/01/2018 16:31

I think you are right OP. I think it's odd too and I am British!

awankstainonhumanity · 27/01/2018 16:31

I was brought up on 'adult food' and feed my child a smaller portion of whatever we have now. Some of my friends feed their children 'kids food' I think mainly because they know they'll eat it. I'm more of the mind that kids eat when hungry, not necessarily at meal times and want to encourage my son to listen to his body. If he refuses a meal, I don't push it or make something different, I wait until he asks for food, then reheat whatever we had earlier.