To order children’s meals when out

[Babymaybe1]

sometimes when I go out I order of the children’s menu when the food is the same as the adults. I find the portion size for adults food can be way to big for me. I’m a normal size 12 and eat reasonably healthy. It’s not something I do everywhere as some
places can be stingy on portions or don’t allow it. Before now I’ve asked for smaller portions of say a pasta and Been happy to pay the same just hate wasting food. If it’s like pizza I know I can easily take the leftovers home and my partner will eat them. Also the calories can be huge in a meal.

When my grandmother was alive she always wanted fishfingers and chips, usually they accommodated

I suppose a lot of restaurants may feel like they can't win. Their primary objective is to get one adult paying at least one average adult-meal price in, with the cost of the actual food representing only a small amount of their costs.

Therefore, they don't want to deter people with big appetites from coming, if they worry that they might leave still hungry, so they make sure there's enough for the biggest of eaters in each portion (which does of course mean more food waste overall) - but then the adults who can't/don't want to eat that much food end up complaining that they are being overcharged and so want to pay a lot less.

I'm sure I've seen under 12's on kid menus. There was a nice Italian near us that used to do half portions of everything. It was all half price plus £2 per portion. If I'm not hungry I normally have two starters or something.

I've also eaten with friends and family who have made their teenagers order from the kids' meal section (at places with no age restrictions), and seen the hungry teens' crestfallen faces!

There are quite possibly numerous cases of a mum eating out with her teen/tween, where they would cheerfully have an adult meal and a kids' meal between them - but not the way around that you might expect

@JustAMinutePleass If you don’t have the confidence to ask them to box leftovers you shouldn’t really be eating out.

Why? Are the two linked? Is there a minimum threshold for how outgoing or confident you need to be to consume food in a restaurant?

As long as both you and the restaurant are ok with it I’d say it’s fine

This is why I like places that serve ‘lighter bites’ or some such. I can’t think of any places that have a kids’ menus that isn’t er, kid-friendly things like basic pasta or things with chips, so that wouldn’t be for me.

I do often order 2 starters as I just get full ridiculously quickly.

I've had gastric surgery so can only manage small meals. I'm happy to pay the standard price, I just don't want to create waste or feel overfaced. Where it isn't possible I just order a few starters to pick at.

Yes, I've done this often as I've always had a small appetite
If there's no kid's option, I'll order a starter and a side or swap plates with one of my strapping sons!
No one has raised an eyebrow

Cost and value is why ppl have stopped using them. Google Jamie Oliver.

Why? Are the two linked? Is there a minimum threshold for how outgoing or confident you need to be to consume food in a restaurant?

It's probably the same attitude as those bizarre people in the (UK) tipping threads, who claim that, if you can't afford to pay extra than the price stated, asked and agreed for the provision of the meal, you somehow can't afford to eat there.

There's no VAT on children's meals so technically the restaurant is breaking the law serving a children's meal (VAT free) to an adult. This may be why they are reluctant to do it - you are putting them in a difficult position. Just have a starter instead.

This makes a lot of sense.

I’ve lost count of the times that I’ve been refused a child’s portion and it makes me so frustrated (I never take it out on the servers as I know it’s not their fault).

I’d always think why when it’s the same meal but just smaller!

Why can people not read? OP has clearly said the children's menu is the same as the full menu so not fishfingers and beans. And also said she's quite willing to pay the price of the full size dish so it isn't about saving money either.

Not in the part of London where I live. The kids menu, if there is one, is the same price. There used to be a lovely little place near me that would oblige, it’s now Starbucks. Ask for a reduction there , coz you only want half a sarni.

OP, most commonly restaurants have offered to serve me half the meal and box half where they can't just give me a smaller portion. Could that be an option for you?

Yeah, I don't blame you. I mean you don't have to eat the full adult portion if you had one but it does seem a waste of food.

Meanwhile, in the rest of the UK…

There's no VAT on children's meals so technically the restaurant is breaking the law serving a children's meal (VAT free) to an adult.

Meals in a restaurant marketed as kids meals
are not 0% VAT.

Another thread had several posters saying a grown man ordering a Happy Meal gave them the ick.

If they let you then go for it. Even if its because you want nuggets and fish fingers.

And also said she's quite willing to pay the price of the full size dish so it isn't about saving money either.

Most people wouldn't be willing, though - and would leave terrible reviews if the restaurant did charge them full price - and they can't have a different policy for different customers.

Even though OP offered to pay full price, for all the restaurant knows, it could be a social nicety for OP to offer, but one which she would be most offended if they were to actually accept it.

What is with the whole tinkly laugh thing? It just comes across as snidey and disingenuous.

Op, I think that's OK. Though it might be better to go down the small portions route than the kids meals just because children's menus can be quite limited choice wise

It’s what we do when we’re laughing at ourselves or taking the mickey.

I order a cod bites meal instead of regular fish and chips because they're filling enough and cheaper. But I don't feel the need to make a post on Mumsnet about it.

I find the fascination with making posts about how difficult it is to eat adult portions concerning, and they're a dog whistle to everyone with disordered eating to come onto to compete with how full they can get from eating so little.

I had weight loss surgery so I can only eat small portions. Recently DH and I were out for dinner and I asked for the children's menu. The waitress looked around in confusion and asked "Are the children coming later"