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?

My eldest loves snails. My friends use it against their children telling them they will have to come to my house for dinner and "AJ's Mum gives her snails" which they don't believe but they have a photo of her tucking in (very outing if anyone's on my Facebook)

I dont do kids and adult food and necer have, except in restaurants because they couldn't manage an adult meal. My eldest eats an adult meal and likely has since about ten when she could manage it.

My children love most foods, including a lot of Japanese, sushi, shahimi, (calamari is often a starter of choice) .They went through a fussy phase but soon grew out of it. Now hate theidea of McDonald’s,they like fresh food, loads of veg, fresh fish of all types. Don’t get me wrong they like cake etc occasionally, but they’re British and like to eat good stuff so not all British kids live on chicken nuggets.

I’m calling BS on this. Been to several countries and have friends of many nationalities and this happens in every country. Personally I don’t know many people who actually do that - but it exists

Hmmmm, my children do eat from children's menus but usually macaroni cheese as we don't eat it at home very often and it comes with garlic bread sometimes that they never eat at home but love out.
I take my children out for sushi quarterly as I have 3 of them and it costs a fortune as they love it.
I am white British and did baby led weaning and love the fact my children all inhale super stinky cheese, salami, olives and black pudding but sometimes request beans on toast.

I got bitched at yet again today by the group I meet with for lunch occasionally

I'm always surprised to read this sort of thing. In my world, you go out for lunch with people you get along with. If they're bitching about food your child is eating 'yet again,' why are you still going out for lunch with them?

I've never encountered though, to be fair. Most people in my experience don't really give many shits about what someone else's child is eating.

Actually, OP, I recognise you from your tattoo thread - I thought it was your OH that was half-Japanese? Maybe I'm remembering it incorrectly.

Aha.

What is a pouch of food?
Also. My youngest had the narrowest diet through his own choice til about 12. Would happily have lived on spag hoops, chicken nuggets and cucumber. Then, through no influence of mine, became a virtual foodie. Now at uni, cooks all sorts of amazing vegan, meatie, god knows what dishes. He’s also healthy, strong and tall, despite his weird younger dietary wishes, So don’t worry, they work it out on their own.

When we meet up with family in Britain the kids get fed early without adults and plain food different to what the adults are having. So it is a thing. 'Only a little bit on the plate so we don't overwhelm them.' Is another favourite of mine. Sometimes it feels like our family members are saying the kids are lesser people and we just want them out of the way so we can have a 'nice meal' without them. We always eat as a family and we always have the same thing on our plates so it's a big culture shock for me.

Yes, roboticmom it is a thing for some people in Britain, just as it is a thing in many countries around the world. Most people don’t do it though, regardless of where they live. The only place I ever experienced this was in the US, however, I am intelligent enough to know this is not all Americans.

I would stop meeting these people for lunch OP, they don’t sound particularly friendly or open minded. I almost started a thread about something very similar the other day. I wondered how many people cook their children a separate dinner at say 5pm then eat their own dinner once the kids have gone to bed? We have always eaten dinner as a family and all eaten the same. Our meals are fairly varied and if anything the kids prefer the less bland foods, they enjoy stir fries, spiced chicken, mild curries etc. I can understand the logic with feeding the kids earlier as by the time our meals are ready (generally around 6pm) the kids have been ready for about an hour. I can’t imagine having to faff about cooking 2 separate meals. I do understand lots of people don’t finish work early enough to eat as a family and think that’s a real shame. If you have the option to eat as a family though, why wouldn’t you?
In answer to your original question, I’m with you. Let them try everything, introduce them to as many different flavours as possible and as I said earlier, ditch this lunch group!

Roboticmom I didn't read your post but obvs I completely agree

First world problem.

I have said already I only meet them because my child miss their kids from babygroup and otherwise don’t see them. It doesn’t bother me, I just wondered why some people separate foods.

We are both have a Japanese parent, to PP

I think this is some kind of a reverse. I am sure the OP bragged at the fact that her child eats off the adult menu so her mates bitched about her. That wouldn't surprise me at all.

We have spent a lot of time in France and Italy and in both cases, there were menus or suggestions for the children. It's not unusual to see things like chicken goujons or plain pasta on those menus, or children's pizza. I have also been to Japan and no children's menus but restaurants happy for kids to share their parents' meals and bring extra plates. I really don't think the UK is unusual, and to be honest it's much cheaper to have a child's meal so that's fine with me.

Omg everyone does not understand. What is a reverse?

Only reason my DS doesn't eat my food, is because I selfishly like eating high salt foods, or stuff that contains allergens. Otherwise he eats what I eat. He's almost 1 year old, and has some baby teeth. I try to use low sodium stock, but it tastes like crap unless I make it myself.

You were probably telling them how good you are with your kids by not serving them separate food, hon.

Though he hates tomato based sauces.

But we would have had separate food if she want it. Why would anyone think it’s special to just eat food?

Our child eats what we eat but if DC wanted such a meal I wouldn't fuss - I would be more concerned about portion control ie. no point them having a massive plate if they are one - in my case

Imo get kids trying everything at a young age and they're more open to trying new! My 4 year old loves sushi, curry, calamari, a lot of food other kids won't eat. I get the same looks when we sit on the bench in town eating sushi in public 😂 it's great

Maybe other countries don't care what their children eat

Yet read the thread and you will see lots of people say when their children were little they would eat a massive range of foods yet now they are older they don’t.

It isn’t as simple as some people like to thing!

seaside yes! That’s what I’m trying to say. It is only in this country I have experienced this feeling.