Best Friday night picky tea

[Whatsoccuringthen]

Sorry to those who cringe at the *Picky tea thing 😂but can’t think of how else to describe it.
Want to do an easy, fun tea night for Dd, 5 (and us) tonight, mainly because I cba properly cooking and we’ve had too many takeaways over summer holidays and cutting back money wise.
It can be a complete mish mash of bits, any ideas?
My main one for myself is always nachos and dips, I like cheese & crackers too
What else?

I had pitta bread with sundried tomatoes, ham, feta and a bit of salad for lunch. That was nice.

Can we rename it British Tapas?

Oh @Hyperion100 that’s a much better way of naming it!!
I’d just go with some sort of sliced meats, olives, bread and cheeses. Pickled onions and cornichons to go with it all.

AKA a buffet !

Mine like French bread, olives, cheese, sliced salad veg, sausage rolls, chicken, hummus, salmon, hot cheesy things (haloumi fries etc)

We tend to just do cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, babybel, and something like a mini pizza or cold cooked chicken maybe with some pasta on the side (plain pasta).

Well I'd say no as most of the food suggested isn't of British origin, but at least it's better than current TikTok favourite 'girl dinner'

OP maybe retro party food. Cheese and pineapple on sticks, or even as a hedgehog Then mini hot dogs (cocktail sausages in dinky little rolls). Crisps and party rings or ice cream?

All great ideas…but all too nice, I’m thinking fairly crappy treat stuff 😂We eat salad, veg, chicken, salmon all week long

2 fish fingers, a chicken breast with herby crust, a sausage roll, 3 potato croquettes, a handful of chips and chopped up cucumber.

If you're middle class it's called "picky bits". And you're Northern or working class it's called "a freezer picnic".

Party rings - make it a party.

Mozzarella sticks? Cheeses if your kids are likely to enjoy other cheeses.

My DD11 calls it “plate” and had it last night. Hers had cucumber, strawberries, about 5 pieces of ham, a little pot of feta, two spoonfuls of hummus and a granola bar.

Other things she sometimes picks: cut up pepper, Ritz crackers, any kind of cheddar, pepperami (if it’s been on sale!), or any other fruit available.

Halloumi fries.

Pizza cut up into tiny little squares is always popular.

To me though the whole point is it's just whatever's in the fridge or cupboard. I usually include a handful of raisins, maybe popcorn or tinned fruit.

We call it "if it's" as in, if it's in the house you can have it. Usually based around an indoor picnic.

Love this 🤣🤣🤣🤣

We call it a freezer tea - anything that can just be bunged in the oven, so usually sausage rolls, fish fingers, chicken nuggets, pizza, garlic bread, little sausages, chips etc. Then maybe some crusty bread or plain old bread and butter for those that want it. And any fruit or veg that's in the fridge. Usually a total random combo (think strawberries and pizza, mmm!) but the kids love it! And I love cooking an easy tea!

Hummus, crudités, homemade potato salad and homemade coleslaw, sausages - just had this for my lunch and was lovely!

Cold meats, a variety of cheeses, French stick, breaded mushrooms, sausages rolls, mini pizzas, mini burgers, just raid Tesco freezer section im sure all the Xmas buffet stuff is starting to come in!

Called fridge tapas in our house. Consists of hummus, olives, gherkins, hard boiled eggs if I have them, pitta or wraps, crudités, any quorn things like the sausages/eggs/slices, any leftover pasta pesto, cooked beetroot or any other salad. Depends what’s in the fridge and cold tinned sweetcorn can also make an appearance sometimes.

Growing up, we always called it a 'choosy' tea in our house. It wasn't until I once went to a friend's house (aged about 18!) and said "oh, you're having a choosy tea" that I realised not everyone called it that 😂.

A picky plate requires no cooking - hummus, crackers, veg sticks, crisps, salami, etc. All fridge based, work your way down the shelves, grab a bit of each.

A beige dinner is freezer food. Nugs, waffles / chips, cheese & bean bake, beans. Too hot for this weather!

Gyoza, onion rings, breaded prawns, breadsticks and veg sticks with dips

When it’s hot, I usually do a big plate of carrot sticks, cucumber, hummus, beetroots, avocado, halloumi (grilled in honey!) and then a bowl of cous cous. Leave some mini wraps on the side and we pick away at that.
DD is really into chicken nuggets right now, so I make a few for her to dip in hummus

I’m Northern!

Like the idea of calling it a choosy tea