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?

So they eat normal food too, and it’s always the ‘rude white British’ crowd who feel the need to comment about it - my stock answer is that eating flavoursome food with the family is the reason my kids aren’t obese like theirs. Causes an argument but I don’t care

So many things wrong with this post.

Actually I think kids eating separately and different types of food from adults has been around for a long time in the upper class. And that was the result of nannies. It was not around for the working class. Mum made 1 meal and everyone ate the same thing.

I was thinking this. There was a name for it "nursery food" - used as a shorthand for "comfort food" when an adult.

I posted that thread and it was about an adult who would only eat "English" food.

Oops my mistake then. I thought it was the kids fussy eaters one.

I do wish my DD would eat chips though. Would make quick dinners easier for me!

My DS love’s sushi and falafel but he has a dairy allergy. so he has always eaten adult type food. He’s also eats a lot of vegan stuff but he does like a fish finger every so often. As long as they like it what’s the problem ? :)

I do think that generally kids will eat what they have been used to at home. My children will eat most things although they do have some personal preferences like adults do. One loves mussels and the other doesn’t. They both like calamari though, which isn’t particularly surprising since it’s really a fried food.

I do think it is a British thing to have kids foods adult food. You only have to look at most restaurant menus to see that. If most kids ate the same as adults there wouldn’t be separate menus, just smaller portions.

I also see a stronger emphasis on 'kid food' in Britain than in other countries. Not everyone gives it any thought, but it's definitely a bigger market and concept than in the other countries I know.

No big deal, just different. Although too much of a faff for me personally.

Smile, tilt head and pass your DC another piece of seaweed.

My ds ate so well, loved vegetables, fruit, all manner of supposedly exotic foods...then he got a little older. Now he prefers fish sticks, chicken tenders, and crackers. He doesn’t even like potatoes. Who doesn’t like potatoes? However, he still loves broccoli and salad like it’s candy so I guess that’s something.

banyan

Thankyou for giving my a crispy seaweed craving (pregnant and craving)

Our first invite to a meal at friends in the UK, I was flabbergasted when the adults were served steaks & prawn skewers on the bbq & the kids had pork sausages.

The emphasis on kid food in this country though means an emphasis on fairly unhealthy meals, and leads as well to parents cooking at least 2 lots of meals. Way easier to just cook the same for everyone. That used to be normal in working class families. What changed it was when convenience food became very common.

StandardRussian66 I’m English and have never noticed this so I don’t think it’s an English thing..... Perhaps it’s just a few shitty parents that feed their kids chicken nuggets for every meal.

Unfortunately my twins always have separate meals from me. This isn't by choice though. They have a dairy and soy allergy, while I have anaphylaxis to nuts and seeds, and issues with egg. It basically makes it impossible to have the same food most of the time. And then in restaurants I can't just give them some of what I'm having, and I'm not about to order a huge meal they won't eat most of so I'm stuck with the small plates / kids menu options.

I don't think it's a British thing. I would say its a very-unsuitable-for-you company thing? I've never heard the like. I have eaten 'grown up' food since a child. It's frustrating when you find out 'friends' aren't of the same way of thinking.

helenoftroyville my 4 year old would be distraught! Her favourite food is rare fillet steak. She also loves beef carpaccio!

We are all just going out for a curry...don't lump us Brits all together, think it's just individual families do different things!

fancy

It is hard. My DD was dairy free for a while.

I rarely bought the children's menu for my two because even with their favourite foods they would leave half of it when we were out.

Adult food and a spare side plate is the way to go imo

And my 18yr old is a very fussy eater despite eating everything put in front of him till the age of 10

I well remember the tensions and tears round the dinner table when the kids didn't like or couldn't eat what was being served. Somehow it was always what my Dad liked - Bread Winner don't you know. I don't actually think the Everyone Eats The Same gold standard works out as well as people think it does quite often.

My dd eats separately from us during the week cause my dh doesn't get home till 7ish so we eat after she goes to bed. When she gets older she will eat with us. She eats a mixture of 'kid' food and adult food. When she decides to eat that is. I ate with my parents as that is what worked for them. I think kid menus are there to make it easier to find something you know a child will eat.

It worked fine in my house. But then we didn't put the man first.

I am not against kids eating processed food ever.I eat rubbish sometimes. But I am not against to make several different meals unless someone has actual allergies.

You're lucky then crunchy because many families did and still do.

Oh ffs I have a severly autistic child who will only eat what he chooses to eat and another very pickey child I feed them what they will eat what else do you suggest i do starve them?