Argument over Billy Bear Ham

[Yebbie]

DC had friends over for play date, I provided lunch (baguettes, cucumber, cheese and billy bear ham, apple and yoghurt for pudding)

Yes it's processed and gimmicky, we are all vegetarian in this house apart from my 3 year old, so it was the only meat we had and they asked for ham in their baguettes.

Friend fuming I fed her son Billy bear ham, very dramatic about it, don't you know what's in that? I'm not one for processed food particularly, but my 3yo loves the stuff and has an otherwise balanced vegetarian diet so what's the issue, in my opinion. AIBU?

It’s not something I would feed my children but if someone feed them it I wouldn’t say anything.

It's no worse than other processed food, sausages etc.
What I don't understand is how your house is veggie yet you have this in? At some point someone must've actively chosen to buy this instead of decent ham (which is expensive, I realise).

What is in it?

apart from Billy Bear

YANBU, a bit of processed ham isn't going to hurt the child.

He had it at my mums house a few times and sometimes asks for it when we are shopping. She bought it saying we loved it as kids I didn't remember the stuff, but I'm still alive though I do hate meat now

I occasionally give it to my dd as she likes the shape of it. Wouldn't ever complain to anyone about them providing food for my kid!

Tell her she’s welcome to send her child with his own food in the unlikely event of another invitation.
(But buy decent ham if you buy ham at all)

I wouldn't personally choose to feed it to my DS, but I certainly wouldn't kick up a stink if he ate it at someone else's house - I'd just be grateful they fed him and he'd had a nice time, tbh. Your 'friend' was very rude.

3yo specifically asks for Billy Bear Ham and doesn't like other ham apparently. I don't push as we don't eat meat anyway and it's only a bit in a sandwich sometimes. Is it that much worse than normal ham? He's a stubborn thing I can't see him backing down so it's Billy Ham or no ham!

Was your friend there when you fed child, or fuming after the fact?

YABU to buy billy bear at all its disgusting 😂 I'm 36 and was fed it as a kid and I can still remember how awful it was. It got thrown under the table for the dog to eat.
On the whole YANBU, I wouldn't complain if someone fed my child this.

I wouldn’t worry about the bear ham, OP.
Or just let your mum buy it and don’t have it at your house at all.

Apparently little kids love Billy ham so much it was the first thing he told her when they got in the car.

Yes, YABU… for giving this any headspace.

My DD used to love Billy Bear . Recently I found some in a shop and bought her a packet . She is 35 !!

Its only luncheon meat type stuff not the most nutritious stuff but kids love it so cant see the problem the rest of the meal was good

Yabu to call it ham. It’s a version of luncheon meat/ chopped pork.

Your friend is rude to complain about what you fed the kids, it’s not the end of the world!

Wouldn’t be having their child over again, what a drama lama!

She was very rude!

Eldest used to like it when she was very small.

I will always remember my mother hollering right across Tesco (in her best Queen's voice) at DD ''[DD Name], do you want BILLY BEAR?'' when DD was about 10.

and DD nearly dying of embarrassment when everyone in the shop turned to find out weather indeed DD did want Billy Bear 😂

I wouldn't give it to my children as whenever I see it it turns my stomach, but if someone gave it to one of my children I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

YWNBU to feed him but YABU to buy Billy Bear ham. It's made from the bus if 'meat' hosed off the carcass once the 'poper' meat has been removed. And use much higher in fat than decent ham.

Maybe friends was just surprised given you're all veggie that you had such a processed meat product?

Scrapings

I would love for the sort of life where I could be livid about somebody providing free food and childcare because they fed my kid “face meat”.

Ignore friend.

Wow that's scary looking "meat"!