The idea of sending a 3YO with prawns in a lemon grass skewer must make even the most MNy MNer balk. Surely
I just think it's daft. You can't be sure it's going to be kept at the required safe temperature for a few hours. I always sent in pretty 'safe' food in lunchboxes. At 3, my dc had probably never eaten prawns, because at the time I didn't often buy prawns.
They'd had all sorts of other food that they loved. Asparagus was a particular favourite because dh grows it. Mild curries in the Indian restaurant that we still frequent. Broccoli made lovely trees in a dollop of mash with a gravy oasis. Avocado mashed up on toast was a breakfast here 25 years before its time, apparently. It's everywhere now. We were awash at weekends with fried whitebait, cos dh loves it. The kids saw us eating it so they ate it too. Turkey gizzard in France, has been eaten by my 3 and 4 year olds (before I knew what it actually was!) They've eaten tripe with grandad (yuk)
junket with their other grandma (double yuk) and tons of strawberries during the PYO (pick your own) fad. They have been introduced to, and eaten, a huge variety of food since toddlerhood.
But they never met a prawn Halibut. Yes. Kippers. Yes. Sardines on toast (I love that) yes.
Somebody upthread said that her kids loved going down to the harbour to get fresh shellfish. Well, that's because she lives near a harbour that lands shellfish. I don't doubt that anybody who lives thereabouts will be doing the same thing if it's a 10 minute walk.
It's there for the taking.
Mine hadn't eaten prawns by 3yrs because 3 yrs isn't long enough to introduce your child to every possible source of nutrition that exists.
Oh yes. And coconuts and lemons fresh from the tree. We had them.
All the things that me and dh like, in fact. Licquorice sticks. Liver and onions. Celeriac. Sweet potato. Artichokes! My 4 year old loved peeling artichokes! Dad grows them as well. They are on our doorstep, much like the person who lives near a harbour has shellfish on their doorstep.
So I'm pretty shocked that so many people on MN are shocked that a 3 year old hasn't eaten prawns. All in good time, me dears, all in good time. In precis, I'd never send prawns in a lunchbox. It's far too risky, from an allergen pov and a safe temperature pov. You really don't have to prove anything to anybody. If you really want to impress other parents, send them in with cherry tomatoes and cubes of Comte cheese.
I think it's not sensible to send prawns in a lunchbox, and also that folks are being dead judgey about some 3 year olds having never eaten a prawn. That 3 year old might have a really massively varied diet. Who are we to know that?