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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think only buying teenagers a children’s meal is crap?

132 replies

BinG0wings123 · 16/06/2018 18:11

Ds (15) out with his dad, step mum and her two young teens for lunch today. Again, as soon as he can home his nose was in the fridge as he was only allowed a child’s portion.

He’s 5 foot ten.

They aren’t allowed the adult menu until they are 16.

Bloody bonkers.

OP posts:
Candyflip · 16/06/2018 18:35

Wtf? 15 year old boys are massive and always always hungry. I don’t know anyone who buys off the kids menu, it is crap food and too small even for 4 year olds.

BlankTimes · 16/06/2018 18:35

I think that's horrendous behaviour from OP's son's father.

Would be better if restaurants offered ordinary sized portions and smaller sized portions of each item.

I struggle with a normal adult sized 3 course meal at the best of times and usually only have a starter and a main, but sometimes I would like to have all three, so a smaller sized one of everything would be great for me.

It may also help some kids to try different foods earlier if they could have a small portion of ordinary food, rather than their choice being only fish in crumb/batter, chicken nuggets or burger with chips, peas or beans. Sad

Pengggwn · 16/06/2018 18:35

What did he actually get? Some kids' meals fill me up easily, others don't.

LuMarie · 16/06/2018 18:36

Growing young men though who are immediately hungry afterwards, that's not ok! Teenagers need so many more calories as they are growing, plus would be nice to treat them like young adults too!

FatCow2018 · 16/06/2018 18:37

Poor kid! All mine (18 months, 3 and 11)eat off the normal menu as kids meals are shit, the little ones obviously don't finish them but they have a good go bless them!

pinkmagic1 · 16/06/2018 18:37

That's ridiculous. My 14 year old is taller than me and would be horrified if I made him order off the kids menu.
Sort of thing my df would do if he took the kids out though , but he can be a right penny pincher. Tell your ex to stop being a tight wad!

kateandme · 16/06/2018 18:37

i don get the kid menus to start with.hald portion of adult menu maybe but the difference in items on each menu is ridiculous.bringing them up to have all foods on the menu and a choice of the other if not is far better.

mrsFruitLoops · 16/06/2018 18:38

That's ridiculous. My 9 yr old eats a full adults meal. We went to frankie and bennys and he had half a rack of ribs and ate it all as well as fries and then had a pudding and helped his sister eat her free birthday cake...he isnt overweight.
My 6 yrs old finishes all her kids meals and a pudding.

PandaPieForTea · 16/06/2018 18:39

That’s really odd. He obviously isn’t going to the restaurants we go to as the kids meals seem to be 3 courses and enough food for an adult.

OliviaStabler · 16/06/2018 18:41

How ridiculous and tight! No wonder he is an ex.

So when the boys ask for an adult meal, what does your ex say?

Armchairanarchist · 16/06/2018 18:45

My very petite 11 year old has a large child's meal with extra sides. It's certainly not enough for a 5'10 growing lad.

upsideup · 16/06/2018 18:45

YANBU
I dont really get kids menus anyway, I guess they're useful for really fussy little kids but in most restaurants we just ask for a smaller portion of the adult meals or get an adult meal and some of it ends up wasted if no one else wants it.

Original poster
BinG0wings123 · 16/06/2018 18:48

They went to a local garden centre/small festering he said he had pasta and it was TINY.

He eats a lot, he’s growing so much.

If I sent him with his own money, it would cause way too many problems!

They are like it at home too. Small portions for the ‘kids’ and fruit if they are still hungry afterwards, where as I give ds as much lunch/dinner as he likes, he’s a tall boy.

His whole family are odd like that about food and having to be treated like a small child until they are 16.

OP posts:
DextroDependant · 16/06/2018 18:49

My son would point blank refuse to come with us if I offered him a child meal he is 13 and has been eating from the adult menu since at most 10.
DD is 10 but very fussy so she chooses from ether menu depending where we go.

x2boys · 16/06/2018 18:49

i agree its ridiculous my 11 yr old son is alaways hungry its for the last year or so he eats loads we dont do childs meals anymore

Original poster
BinG0wings123 · 16/06/2018 18:50

Small resteraunt even

OP posts:
Original poster
BinG0wings123 · 16/06/2018 18:54

I’ve tried talking to ex h before about it as ds always says he’s hungry when he stays at his house, but it falls on deaf ears, when ds goes to stay at his dads he packs loads of flapjacks/nuts/olives/crisps to keep in his room.

OP posts:
kateandme · 16/06/2018 18:55

as long as your dc know it UR and can get past it then its ok.just make sure he knows its not his issue and he should be allowed a proper portion

crazymumofthree · 16/06/2018 19:07

My 8 year old eats a full size 3 course adults meal when we go out now and has more than me (and no he is not overweight he actually has a 6 pack not kidding!!) No wonder your poor DC is starving!!

quizqueen · 16/06/2018 19:09

Perhaps your son should just tell his dad that he'll wait and go out for a meal with him when he's 16 and he can have the adult meal! A 5ft 10" lad needs more than a kids meal.

I8toys · 16/06/2018 19:10

YANBU. Unreasonable, tight and restricted choice. If we go anywhere the teen wants hunters chicken, mixed grill or a huge plate of fish and chips!!

YearOfYouRemember · 16/06/2018 19:11

Send the money. Let there be problems. Your dc is being treated badly.

TheFirstMrsOsmond · 16/06/2018 19:11

If his lunch was not only small but also festering I'm surprised he ate any at all! Grin

Slartybartfast · 16/06/2018 19:13

nothing wrong with fruit for afters, but a child's portion at 15 is cruel

Fullofthought · 16/06/2018 19:14

My dd is 6 and had more than me at meal times.