AIBU - Child friendly kids menu...

[Blearymorningeyes]

Is there such a thing as a "child friendly" kids menu? Surely all kids menus are child friendly?!

I invited my SIL to my favourite Mexican restaurant for my birthday. She has 2 DC, ages 4 and 7.

I sent her the kids menu to look at, which has mini versions of Mexican fare such as fajitas, nachos and enchiladas, plus some "plainer" things too, such as chicken breast with mash. She just messaged me saying "Hi Bleary, can we please choose a different restaurant, because the kids menu doesn't really look very child friendly?". I feel sad as I and was so looking forward to going to this particular restaurant for my birthday and I don't see why her kids wouldn't like at least one thing on the menu - it's pretty standard, isn't it?! By "child friendly" does that translate to "It doesn't have sausages/fish fingers and chips"?

AIBU in thinking that my birthday restaurant choice shouldn't be changed because of this?

I hate confrontation... Help!

I have to say that if I was that worried I wouldn't take them.

Unless it's a one in a million chance to see them & Op will be devastated to not have them there, SIL must realise that it doesn't all revolve around her kids?

I'd be really grateful if the posters who find Mexican food so drearily quotidian could let me know which national supermarkets stock achiote paste, tomatillos, Mexican oregano, or queso fresco, because it's my experience that outside of London it's pretty difficult to get hold of a lot of Mexican ingredients beyond Old El Paso meal kits and you generally have to order online from specialist suppliers. Waitrose now do ancho and chipotle in adobo and the Wahaca kits are good but Mexican ingredients, as distinct from Tex-Mex, are still fairly exotic in most parts of the UK.

She’s pissed off that you haven’t changed your plans for her (let’s face it, when kids whine it’s annoying to the parents, the kids themselves are barely bothered), and she still thinks you should. She’s letting you know what a drag it is for her to bring her kids out to this restaurant.

I suggest that you sit at the opposite end of the table from her, otherwise she’s going to be sighing and dropping sly remarks (“ach, I just knew this would happen”) throughout your lunch.

@Catapultme It's DH's sister. I haven't mentioned it to DH because I know he'd feel bad and I don't want it to escalate - I just wanted to quickly shut it down

My son is really fussy and probably wouldn’t eat anything at a Mexican restaurant, but I wouldn’t ask someone to change their birthday plans for him!
I’d just try to find something he could eat even if of was just a side of tortilla chips

I texted back "OK, see you soon! Xx"... Probably a bit too bright and breezy but I feel so much better about it today and I just want to draw a line!

On a side note... Who is having Mexican food tonight?! 👀🍲

Hope you have a lovely birthday @blearymorningeyes

Most places ive been to are happy to accommodate fussy eaters within reason if you contact them in advance , and remember they want your money and if its a large group its business. Instead of family falling out think of a solution and if she doesnt want to come then she should come out and say instead of causing unnecessary headaches

Your birthday. Your choice. Plus I agree - my DD was super fussy but she'd have been fed before and told to make do with nachos and no complaining. So, yes. I think your SIL's a CF ;-))

Don’t change op, they will have to eat first or find something. But to all those saying it’s ridiculous or boasting about their adventurous toddlers, it really is a special kind of miserable having a fussy eater. Especially when one day they were an adventurous toddler and the next day an eater of beige only...

Just say: it would be lovely to see you all but sadly I will not be changing the restaurant as I've been looking forward to this all year.
You're more than welcome to join us for dessert or we can celebrate with you at a later date.
Much love. X

Leave it at that. It's your birthday and you need to lay the ground rules going forward.... there will be no pandering to her or her fussy kids now or going forward so she needs to understand that now.

Utterly rude of her to request a restaurant change.

I have a frustratingly fussy 6 year old, and even she would find something she likes on any kids menu, even Chiquito's. ( if thats were you are taking about) and she doesn't even always like chips! 😳

Do not change your restaurant choice. My son is a weird eater but I wouldn’t dream of allaying anyone to change their choice

*asking

OMG! This really made me gawp! Is your SIL raising little emperors? Why should you change your birthday plans because her kids are fussy eaters? Does she expect the whole world to bow in front of them too? For all you know, the kids would find something they like on the menu anyway and she is the one who assumes they won’t. Some parents tend to decide what their kids like or not before even trying. That’s how they create fussy eaters in the first place. In the end, if they won’t eat what’s on offer then she can feed them when they get home. I have very little empathy for her tbh. My children always knew they had two choices, eat it or leave it. I think what your SIL means by ´child friendly menu’ is ‘fussy eater friendly menu’.

Maybe she will now realise that other people’s leisure choices don’t have to revolve around her children. I have friends who’ve wanted to turn every meet up into a play date since having children - I don’t have much to do with them anymore!

Good on you for standing your ground :-)

Solange1973 And so say all of us!

I'm being an annoying skim reader so apologies if this has been answered but is this issue the price of the kids menu? As in it's not priced what she's happy to pay for smaller portions??
That aside I'd just express disappointment they're unable to join you, state that you've been looking forward to visiting this particular restaurant for ages and make vague non-committal suggestions of doing something you can all do togethet at a later date.

Enjoy your birthday and meal

I think a child friendly menu should just be smaller portions with a price reflecting this. My children have grown up loving most foods like everyone they have odd things they don't like. In restaurants and pubs I have often asked if they can do a child size portion of a meal on adults menu as kiddies menu is boring.

Just say it's your birthday and you were really looking forward to going there. They gave a kids menu so I'm sure they'll find something lovely. If not perhaps she could find a babysitter and enjoy a child free night ?

I mean, surely she could ask for some wraps and grated cheese? I’ve yet to meet a kid who wouldn’t eat a cheese wrap! (Allergies notwithstanding, of course)

I have a really fussy DS. If he doesn’t like anything on the menu he goes without. What is a child friendly menu anyway? Don’t kids eat the same as adults at home?

I’m just prepared for the stroking myself comments of ‘DD hates chips etc’

Sorry but I do actually have a chip hating child. So very weird. I have never known a kid not to like chips! She doesn't like ice cream either. The little oddball.

Uninvite this person and invite me an my children if you like instead. We eat absolutely everything and particularly like Mexican.

She sounds like a pita.

I really struggle with children's meals in restaurants because my ds has an allergy that is hard to cater for and he won't eat rice so likely there would be nothing there for him but I wouldn't dream of asking you to change restaurants! That is really cheeky. Enjoy your birthday meal