Adult and child foods? A British thing?

[StandardRussian66]

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?

I haven't been to France for years, but used to go regularly. There were not kids menus in the past, except in tourist resorts

Yes there were. Have always been there

I agree oblada, but there is always an undercurrent of superiority running in these threads.
Although posters always point out they are lucky, they then go on to explain all the 'right things' they have done, thus hinting it's down to them really.
I have three children.

1. Born in 1993, weaned at three months using some home made food but also jars and powdered baby food, as was the way then. Son are everything until he was three, then was relatively fussy until he was about 12. Now eats everything except eggs, olives, fish and offal.
2. Born in 2004. Weaned at 6 months on an entirely honemade, organic diet. Are anything up to about 2.5, then went mags fussy, and still is at 13. Still will not eat most of the meals I cook (I try to make sure there is at least one element she will eat - usually plain rice, pasta or couscous). Would like on junk and takeaways if she could. Will try nothing new at all.
3. Born 2007. Weaned at 8 months as was not interested in food at all. Then are everything in front of him, although his diet was probably more limited because of his sister's fussiness. They ate alone until he was 2. Now will eat anything at all and will try anything.

Three children, three outcomes. You really are not a better parent because your child will eat olives (incidentally one of the few things my DD will eat!)

I accepted upthread that some said there were children's menus in the past in France, but I honestly don't remember seeing them in the 90's. What I remember was small portions for light eaters or children. Accept that wasn't the case for others in France in the 90's.

EssentialHummus

Russian but semi Japanese? Aha

Because of where these two countries are, there’s a fair amount of migration from one to the other / uni students from eastern Russia specialising in Japanese topics etc. It’s not unheard of.

Erm...yes. I know.

Bet you don’t understand metaphors, either...

I am French and I was eating in restaurants in the 90s lol and there were kids menus :) of course it depends where you go... Like anywhere really :)

Actually, I think a lot of people took issue with the OP’s unfortunate use of the word “bitched” in Post 1.

Agreed cathf! Can't control what the kids eat, only what we put in front of them :)

StandardRussian66

Wtf does diaspora have to do with anything?

Oh charming. Do read back.
HTH

Dont worry Standard im like you,
i feed my kids what ever im making, i make one family meal and everyone eats that, i dont make 6 bloody types of dinner to make sure everyone gets what they want
I also from first foods let them try everything, my now teenaged daughter was eating pate, scallops, mussels and oysters from about 18 months to 2 years old, if she wants to eat it we let her, did the same with my son, and he still likes to try new foods now, and if its something they dont like they still have it served at meals, if im making it, and they still have to give it a ago before saying no, i expect foods to be tried a few times before i stop making it.
I have a friend who would make her child 3 different dinners until she found the "right" one each night... i said fuck that shit!

When we go to our local buffet restaurant i share a plate with my 2yo ds and he eats the bits that he likes and leaves what he doesnt. My friend whos ds is the same age does the same as me

But if my kids go elsewhere I get sneery remarks if I say DD doesn't like British sausages

Have you tried just saying she doesn't like sausages? And take the British out of it, as that would totally change the time of your statement

"Tone" not time

you might have a point, but I don't mean that she doesn't like sausages. Usually I try and laugh it off, she doesn't like the sausages here, yes, it seems odd just not what she's used to. and I always apologise, which seems weird. do people usually apologise for their child's likes/dislikes? she just eats more of what is perceived to be adult food, iyswim. and that, for some people, is an issue requiring explanation - which I think is the op's point, that you feel like you have to justify yourself.

Yes the idea that children should have a separate menu that consists of chicken nuggets, chips, fish fingers, pizza or burger is abhorrent. Children should be served smaller portions of whatever the menu offers. Might be nice if we reverted a little to restaurant and pub meals being adult occasions in the evenings. The idea children accompany adults at all times is very recent.

The problem with half portions vs chicken nuggets, is that the nugget meal includes a drink and ice cream all for less than a fiver.

It’s not necessarily the children that are choosing children’s meals but the adults for the price.

Are Japanese sausages more ‘adult’ and sophisticated than British sausages?

Are Japanese sausages more ‘adult’ and sophisticated than British sausages?

I was over there the other month and the majority of them were essentially American style hotdogs.

I was about to comment similarly. Japanese sausages would be generally more processed and smoother and, in fact, less adult.

Love this thread, anyway

It depends where the chippolata is from I think. Are we talking Asda?