Page 10 | Toddler pack lunch in cafes

bingandflop · 07/02/2022 18:01

Also agree re 8 year old and childrens meals. I have a 9 Year old and a 10 year old and they both order off the kids menu. One usually ends up with a 2 oz burger, chips and beans and it is plenty- I wouldn't eat more than that. The 10 year old usually has kids pizza which comes with chips (!) and peas...loads of food!

Changechangychange · 07/02/2022 18:01

@jevoudrais

The flip side of this is I ordered my 18 month old a pizza off the kids menu yesterday. It was as if as an adult one, just without basil on top. She didn't eat any. But that's my tea sorted tonight

We ate out a couple of months ago, and my main pasta was noticeably smaller than DS’s kid’s size pasta. But twice the price, and didn’t come with free juice

HardbackWriter · 07/02/2022 18:01

@RealBecca

Depends on the kids option. If all they offer is chicken nuggets or fish fingers and chips and the lunch you make him is healthier then I think its fine.

Again, if you don't think the options they have are good enough then your option is to eat elsewhere (at home, if nothing else could possible be good enough for your child and if that's really the sort of food neuroticism you want to pass onto them). It doesn't stop being rude because it's healthier than their food - you can't take your own salads into Macdonald's!

OfstedOffred · 07/02/2022 18:02

What's wrong with toast? At that age my kids ate loads of toast i eat loads of toast

OfstedOffred · 07/02/2022 18:03

if you don't think the options they have are good enough then your option is to eat elsewhere

This! Why don't you just choose a cafe that sells things you are happy for him to eat?

Gonnagetgoing · 07/02/2022 18:04

@Casheeeew - lots of cafes I’ve been in with children they sell kids yogurts and fruit. So all you’d need to take would be cubed cheese.

Yes satsumas etc bought in cafes are more expensive than bought in a supermarket but if you don’t like it then don’t go!

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 07/02/2022 18:05

I don't want to be a CF. I love the cafes I go to. I also want my son fed well, or else I wouldn't go to a cafe after his toddler groups I'd just to home.

If you don't feel that the café provides "suitable food", the answer is to go elsewhere, not bring a bag full of snacks.

One meal of toast, chips (without salt), a cheese toastie or teacake each week won't do your toddler any damage whatsoever

Obese · 07/02/2022 18:08

I run a casual bistro type place and our lunchtime children's menu is aimed at 4yrs+ so I absolutely would not care if you brought food from home for an 18m old, especially if you are buying food and not just a coffee and sitting there for 2 hours. If he was 3-4yrs then I'd roll my eyes but wouldn't be too bothered. Also I let my kind and cheerful regulars get away with a lot more than someone who will only visit once.

Just tidy up all the worst bits and tip nicely! Maybe leave some nice reviews on google and trip advisor too ;)

cherish123 · 07/02/2022 18:09

Independent cafe - not okay
Chain - okay but buy him something

I used to give DS healthy lunch snack before going to a cafe (at this age) and then buy him a buscuit and water.

Meklk · 07/02/2022 18:10

I'm little bit surprised..... I would never expect coffee owner to be upset about any mum bringing packed lunch/snacks for toddlers.
My local coffee has a perfect play room but food is disaster- even I'm not able to eat whole pancake - it's too much sugar. Pizzas- only oil and mature cheese.No way I would give it to my 2year old.
I'm going there at least 3 times a week and always buying coffee+ croissant or cookie. But I'm trying to buy some"extra" things to help their business- £1 horse ride or small toys, colouring books,etc.
Also, my friend has 2 daughters- one with diabetes, another one with severe allergies- she is always packing all the food and feeding their daughters. Sorry but maybe 1 from 100 coffee shops has dietery menus for kids.

Tumbleweed101 · 07/02/2022 18:12

I think I would do the same if eating out regularly. The cafe food is expensive if the child is unlikely to eat the portion size on offer. I'm sure thsy would rather you do that than not come at all.

CrimbleCrumble1 · 07/02/2022 18:12

The cafe near my mum’s wouldn’t tolerate this. They have a really strict £5 minimum spend per person and tell you this as soon as you enter. I only went the one time.

Gonnagetgoing · 07/02/2022 18:13

I think a lot of people forget a cafe is a business, it’s not like church toddler group where they provide tea, juice and biscuits!

It’ll be interesting to know how stricter cafe owners are once their heating and energy bills go up come April.

I’m really wondering about a local cafe I know - don’t see many kids there though… they have such an array of food, snacks etc and they’re super busy all the time. Their USP is they’re very friendly. My friend and I were comparing them to another cafe found the corner who barely speak to you and almost throw the food at you so we go to the friendlier place now! A chocolate shop cum cafe on Saturday we visited was near closing and we were freezing so asked could we stay inside. If not we might’ve left with hot chocolates or not but we didn’t and bought two chocolates 🍫 and were happy. Another cafe we visited (artisan/very kid friendly) a few weeks back went for lunch and it was late, freezing cold (scrambled eggs with salmon) and both our baileys hot drinks were luke warm and had to be reheated again and were then same! Loads of staff who were standing around chatting… we saw! . We got drinks or something else (cake) free but we weren’t happy and won’t return.

Clarefromwork · 07/02/2022 18:14

Ha mine is nearly 2 years old
now and I still take lunch with me most of the time (I buy lunch for me) I never do it with dinner but I find kids menus are mainly aimed at 5 and over. Some places do have an under 5 and above 5 menu which is a good idea.

I think people here are being way over the top though, so many people sit in a cafe nursing a drink for a few hours taking up space and nothing is said.

Carry on as you are, I’m going to!

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 07/02/2022 18:17

@OfstedOffred

What's wrong with toast? At that age my kids ate loads of toast i eat loads of toast

Now I want some toast...

nettie434 · 07/02/2022 18:18

@Obese

I run a casual bistro type place and our lunchtime children's menu is aimed at 4yrs+ so I absolutely would not care if you brought food from home for an 18m old, especially if you are buying food and not just a coffee and sitting there for 2 hours. If he was 3-4yrs then I'd roll my eyes but wouldn't be too bothered. Also I let my kind and cheerful regulars get away with a lot more than someone who will only visit once.

Just tidy up all the worst bits and tip nicely! Maybe leave some nice reviews on google and trip advisor too ;)

I'm glad Obese has written this because I'd have thought a regular who has lunch would be more welcome than a person who sits at a table working on their laptop, having loud phone conversations, but only buys a coffee which they make last hours.

18 months is still quite little to assume that there will be something suitable on the children's menu. The problem with juice is that it might have a lot of hidden sugar.

Gonnagetgoing · 07/02/2022 18:18

@Clarefromwork

Ha mine is nearly 2 years old now and I still take lunch with me most of the time (I buy lunch for me) I never do it with dinner but I find kids menus are mainly aimed at 5 and over. Some places do have an under 5 and above 5 menu which is a good idea.

I think people here are being way over the top though, so many people sit in a cafe nursing a drink for a few hours taking up space and nothing is said.

Carry on as you are, I’m going to!

@Clarefromwork - I think nursing a hot drink for hours on end is rude!

It’ll be interesting like I said come April with energy heating increases as lots of people will use cafes as working spaces if not in office and may stay there all day. OAPs and homeless I feel more sorry for though.

Viviennemary · 07/02/2022 18:19

I booked a carvery but dont eat any meat and their veg is overcooked. I took my own packed vegan lunch.

Obese · 07/02/2022 18:20

What is absolutely worse than bringing your own food for an 18m old is when someone orders 1 filter coffee and then sits there for 2 hours at peak lunchtime hours! Had a table of 6 do that to me today. They spent £12 total, sat there 12-2pm taking up 2 tables. One of them tried ordering just a pot of hot water and using their own tea bag! Now that's rude :o

AnAverageMum · 07/02/2022 18:20

YANBU! I’m genuinely shocked at these comments. I still take a lunchbox for my 2 year old because she’s fussy & i don’t see the point in paying a fiver to throw a plate of food away! Even if I only have a coffee I whack her lunch box out. Great, something else mumsnet has taken away from me 🤣🤣 Genuinely though no one has ever been pissy about it.

Kidsfortea · 07/02/2022 18:20

As a cafe owner I find this extremely rude. We have it all the time. Not to be horrible but we have staffing and bills to pay. It’s not a picnic area. IMO yrbvvu

KatieKat88 · 07/02/2022 18:20

I do both depending on where it is with DD (2 and a bit) - if I've been there before and I know she'll like the food, I'll order that for her. If I haven't been there I'll bring lunch but would scout out what there is for next time. I'd also definitely get some kind of dessert (because she's likely to steal some of that from me at least) so spending more than I might have otherwise. If there were nothing she'd like I wouldn't go back again with her.

Purple777 · 07/02/2022 18:24

I think at 18m that this is fine. A 4 year old... CF territory. At 18 months I was still taking food for my kids if it was their lunchtime. I think I'd take a homemade sandwich that I know they'd eat, and then buy a few bits from the cafe to top it up.

ThatsGoingToHurt · 07/02/2022 18:24

I buy my 19 month old a kids meal or something else suitable and have done since he’s 12 months old. He also loves a babychino. Eating like mummy makes them feel grown up.

SilverDoe · 07/02/2022 18:28

@Casheeeew

I eat a about 3 cafes near me regularly, but only once per week, occasionally twice. I have always taken my son (18months) a full packed lunch, and I buy myself lunch and a coffee.

Its never occured to me to question this until today. Is he too old to be having home brought food?

They do have a kids menu but I prefer him to have a selection of things to pick at that I know he'll like.

Aibu - or if not, how long before he's too old?

I get you, there is that weird cross over where everyone knows parents get a coffee/lunch in a cafe and then bring baby food and snacks for the little one.

At 18 months I'd say it's still okay. I used to bring mine a smoothie aznd chopped fruit and then buy a pack of vanilla wafers or something like that. I eat like a champion lmao so I don't feel like they're being short changed by my little one having some snacks from home.