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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To order off the kids menu?

87 replies

Tinyeater · 17/12/2023 14:31

As a 35 yr old woman?
Long story short due to medical issues I can’t eat a full size meal so eating out I find it embarrassing leaving loads of food uneaten (example if I ordered a burger,
Id only manage half of it) and worry that the servers will think I didn’t enjoy it, so typically I avoid eating out.
Some places offer smaller plates which usually works out well, however not everywhere does.
AIBU to order from the kids menu as I don’t see the point in paying for an adult one when I can’t eat it?
DH has pointed out some places have an age limit which seems unfair because surely your paying proportionately for the smaller portion.

Also to add I have 4 teenagers who order from the adult menu so it’s not like we are buying one adult meal and 5 children’s meals but if it’s just me and DH would it be weird?

OP posts:
coldcallerbaiter · 17/12/2023 15:43

It’s their establishment, there is no legal right, they can refuse!

Original poster
Tinyeater · 17/12/2023 15:46

Ooh that’s a good idea a new meze place has recently opened nearby so that might be worth a try

OP posts:
startquitting · 17/12/2023 15:55

5thCommandment · 17/12/2023 15:06

Just order what you like, it's your legal right. I've ordered two kids portions for myself before because I prefer the food offered. Got a weird look but they can't refuse.

It’s not your legal right ffs.

5thCommandment · 17/12/2023 16:04

Ok so I looked this up as it interested me and I deal with property law from time to time. Surprisingly It is lawful.
Article 4 of the Equality Act 2010 (Age Exceptions) Order 20122 amends Part 7 of Schedule 3 Equality Act 20100.
This allows organisations to offer age-related discounts, concessions or benefits. It is intended to ensure that 'special offers' such as cheap haircuts for pensioners or student railcards are lawful.
So there you go folks. Have good evenings.

Ilovehersomuch · 17/12/2023 16:06

I always order a kids meal for same reason as you and have never, ever had anyone decline or comment.

Sirzy · 17/12/2023 16:18

Just quietly explain to them, or my dad always asks for the smallest portion - so if he orders fish and chips will make it clear he is quite happy with the piece that would normally be too small the send out!

or get something like lasagne and ask for the left overs to be boxed for someone to eat at home

ActDottie · 17/12/2023 16:24

Just been out for Sunday lunch and kids meal was age 11 and under. So they probably wouldn’t let you order from the kids menu.

If they don’t do small plates can you not just order a starter as a main?

caringcarer · 17/12/2023 16:27

Girasoli · 17/12/2023 14:34

You could just order a starter when everyone orders a main? It would probably be nicer than something from the kids menu.

This. Some starters are really nice.

TurnthePotatoes · 17/12/2023 16:27

As a similar small eater (I just got into the small frequent meals habit during Covid and cant' stomach a large one anymore). Every restaurant has sides and starters!
I normally order a full main and take the rest home. Win-win. Unless you're in a Michelin star/posh place most places do takeaways too and will happily give you a box to take it home.

I do tend to order food which will keep

sunshinesupermum · 17/12/2023 16:58

I often order just a starter and dessert or even only two starters.

Prinnny · 17/12/2023 17:01

Yeah it’s not that uncommon, lots of people do it, like if they’ve had bariatric surgery for example.

Heyhoherewegoagain · 17/12/2023 17:08

I’ve had weightloss surgery and if eating out will either have a starter or order off the kids menu if they have proper food rather than beige “kids food”
There was only one place had an issue with it, and they’ve since gone out of business…

melj1213 · 17/12/2023 17:08

I have had bariatric surgery so I physically can't eat a full portion of food when I go out for a meal and I also hate how much food I inevitably waste - I know many places will happily box up any left overs but often it's stuff that just doesn't reheat well or isn't suited to being eaten cold later on - and the awkward conversation that ensues when the waiting staff come for the plates and see mine is at most half eaten and I can see that they never really believe me when I say "No, it was genuinely wonderful I just physically couldn't eat any more" when I've eaten less than half of the meal and everything is just a bit "picked at" unless I go through the whole explanation of having had stomach surgery and then they get all flustered/apologetic. It's nobody's fault and nobody has ever been rude but it does put me off going out to eat sometimes as I just can't face the whole rigamarole.

I personally either have a starter as a main or just quietly ask them to give me a smaller portion due to having had surgery. Sometimes places offer the same dish as a starter and as a main where the only difference is the size of the portion so I'll ask for the starter portion instead of the main.

I have never had anywhere have an issue when I've said something like "Can I order the burger, please? I've had stomach surgery, I can't eat much bread so can I have it without the bun please?" or in a place where I know they serve large portions of chips/rice/pasta as a side I ask "Can you please make half a portion of chips/rice/pasta for me? I've had surgery so I know I can't eat the full portion and hate to waste food I know I won't eat."

I also find that if you ask and make it's clear you're doing it because you know you won't eat it all and don't want to waste the food as opposed to because you're angling for a discount then most places are very accommodating. I have one place where I'm a regular and I know a lot of the staff who now automatically plate up half of my dish and keep the other half in the kitchen, then give it to me in a to-go box when I leave. That way I get my full meal but the portion I take home is a prepared takeaway portion as opposed to "leftovers" scraped off my plate into a box.

I don't order from the children's menu because 9 times out of 10 it's plain, beige food like nuggets/burgers/mac&cheese and whilst I have a child's appetite I don't have a child's palate.

SocksAndTheCity · 17/12/2023 17:14

Can the PP who mentioned fat bastard chips please post where we can get them? I would very much like some Xmas Smile

SallyWD · 17/12/2023 17:15

Would you really want to eat something from the kids menu?! The choices always look so uninspiring - chicken nuggets and chips, pasta with tomato sauce etc.
I'd rather order a starter.

Frabbits · 17/12/2023 17:25

I mean, you can ask but I would expect a lot of places to say no. Why don't you just ask for a smaller adult portion instead? That way you get a proper meal rather than just chicken nuggets or macaroni cheese.

modgepodge · 17/12/2023 17:34

I would have thought in most places they’d make more profit on kids meals than starters. They seem to be similarly priced (is it me or have kids meals got really expensive recently?? Generally about £7-8) but surely something like calamari, garlic prawns or whatever must cost more to make than fish fingers or chicken nuggets and chips and beans, or pizza?

OP I think it’s fine to ask, but also accept some places may say no, they have an age limit.

CaineRaine · 17/12/2023 17:44

I’d order a starter or sides if I fancied them more than the kids meals, or a kids meal if there was one I wanted.

I’m not seeing the logic of it being poor form to order a kids meal but ok to just order a starter - financially for the restaurant it’s not going to be much different. Both are fine IMO if there’s no age limit stated.

DoorPath · 17/12/2023 17:51

Just order a starter. Has this really never occurred to you? It is mortifying for an adult to order from the kids' menu (goujons and chips Grin) - surely you would be worried more about what the waiting staff thought of you in that situation.

RampantIvy · 17/12/2023 17:53

Sometimes I order two starters instead of a main. It isn't that unusual and everywhere I have eaten has been very accommodating.

Silverfoxlady · 17/12/2023 17:54

I do like these answers - will start ordering two starters instead of mains. Such a good idea.

tescocreditcard · 17/12/2023 17:56

I've had weight loss surgery I order a full adult meal because restaurants suffered badly during Covid and I want to support them. I take a tupperware container with me though and put anything I don't eat in there.

BarbaraofSeville · 17/12/2023 17:58

Maybe the OP is eating at decent places that serve proper meals to DC? Not everywhere offers them beige and chips.

I tend to take home what I don't eat and always make it clear that I enjoyed the food but am full, but if I can't save the food I'll just order less. Never been a problem.

Turneas · 17/12/2023 18:00

Could you get a meal you can share with one of your teens (as an extra for them)

ANightingale · 17/12/2023 18:05

Turneas · 17/12/2023 18:00

Could you get a meal you can share with one of your teens (as an extra for them)

Not a bad idea. My husband is a small eater whereas I have the appetite of a gannet, and he often will say to me "If I order this, will you eat my chips/garlic bread etc." (that would be a 'yes please' 😄)

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