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?

Exactly taskmaster.

she must have an endless supply of rude white Brits with obese children to invite round and insult...I mean they certainly wouldn't come back again after one visit would they?

I think children are not a different species, they just eat less so there should always be the option of a small portion of anything on the menu. Not all children need it but some adults would like it. Quite a few should have it!

Yes, to me there is not difference between calamari and fish finger.
But apparently it’s “not for kids”.
She had the choice of both, she wanted calamari. I did not see what the problem was. I am an adult, I love fish fingers

We’ve never really done “children’s food” at home, as DH was usually home around 6pm when the DC were little, so we all ate together. There is no way I would cook separate meals, so we all ate the same.

It’s always tricky in restaurants as it is substantially cheaper to have a child’s meals with its dessert and drink included. I can’t remember now, but we had our list of places that had decent children’s meals, or would be happy to serve half portions.

The only reason, IMO , to cave in to children’s meals is the price.

anyway can I agree that calamari is possibly one of the blandest, beigest foods available..

Calamari has a very different texture to fishfingers. Even I struggle with the calamari texture.

My DS will only order very plain main meals when we are out, but stuff his face with olives before the meals. Kids are odd.

I am happy I did not order sausage egg and chips (my favourite meal)! I would’ve been very told off for that!

I believe op. My ds is 18 months old and people think it's weird that he likes curry. Don't worry I've not given him the real spicy ones. Most people I know would order nuggets and chips etc for their kids, mine will just eat some of whatever I'm having, curry, fish pie, salmon etc and people think it's odd. He still likes 'normal' children food too

In Germany the children's menu includes just smaller portions of the adult menu. I don't like the junk food offered on some UK children's menus. However, ther are plenty of UK parents who order off th adult's menu for children.

I find calamari quite difficult at times - funnily enough I had it yesterday - sometimes it's tender and perfect and then sometimes really tough but slippery at the same time, so a bit of a choking hazard.

I don’t find it fascinating I find it weird and sheltered. Don’t you eat out? This week I have been to Wagamama’s, Miller and carter, pizza express, a local Japanese and a local Italian. All offer a children’s menu. All regular, high street restaurants. Are you all in the brewers fayre or something?

My DC had calamari before they had fishfingers (we lived in Spain) so they probably think fishfingers are the ones with a weird texture!

There are kids options in Germany too. And in Italy, and in France, and in Thailand and America and Australia and Spain.

The kids options in the countries I’ve lived have just been half portions of the main menu. Not separate foods for children.

It is a british thing. Whenever I took my children to visit my parents, they have to eat from the normal menu. There is only a single one. (Unless we go to American or European restaurants). The expectation is certainly kids eat the same food.

I always order a sweet and sour pork for them. It’s something they like and seldom contain surprises. But they sometimes surprise me on what they would eat.

Calamari can be hit and miss; even otherwise decent places overcook it.

But kids menus in France are often just ham and fries, burger and fries, even in the nicest harbourside seafood restaurants.

What countries have you lived in?

Surely it also depends on what reataurant you go to?

Why would I be smug about a fucking battered squid ring? Is not exactly healthy is it.

FFS.

Russia, Japan, China, Germany and Iceland.

The plates are shared so there isn’t a concept of half size either. 2 adults will usually get 3 dishes and you scale up depending on appetites.

I don't know why there seem to be so many people criticising the way we raise children in this country ie bedtimes and eating habits. We've never done 'children's food' in our family and children in our family have always been expected to sit and eat with the grown ups from the very beginning. Dh is from the Middle East and kids in his family never sit at the table nor eat the same food. The dcs in his family seem to exist on breaded chicken or kofta and rice. Often they're not expected to sit at all and some grown up, often a nanny, feeds them while they're playing and running around.

Main issue is people giving negative criticism. These people are not your friends

No they are not my friends. But my DD doesn’t get to see their children much so I do try meet with them when I can when they for their “mums lunch”.

I'm British and glad to say that all 5 of our DC have always enjoyed the more adult menus than the children's.

I'm glad that lots of restaurants will now offer a child sized portion of of they're main meal but I hate that so many places offer pretty much everything with chips on they're children's menu's.

I can't ever remember eating of the children's menu when I went out for dinner with my Mum and Dad they always let me order of of the regular menu.