To order off the kids menu?

[Tinyeater]

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?

I always order off the kids menu in Nandos. I'm veggie so not a big chicken eater, and you get one of those nice carton smoothie drinks 😁 I get a few odd looks (mainly from DH) but no one's ever stopped me.

I'm veggie so not a big chicken eater

So, not a chicken eater at all then?

And what "legal right" would that be?!

😂

The legal right of the protected characteristic of entitlement 😂

@amylou8 vegetarians don't eat chicken. HTH

You’re only getting a child size portion so no YANBU.

Mezze / tapas / sharing style menus are increasingly popular, I would head for them, or, as others have said, order sides/starters to come with the other mains. A restaurant wouldn't bat an eyelid at that, but they might be funny about you ordering from the kids menu. And kids menus are often awful, so you'd get to eat something much nicer!

I have a gastric sleeve, so can’t eat a big meal. I often order from the starter menu or take some Tupperware to finish my meal later. Lots of places won’t allow a child’s meal.

Loads and loads of cultures do sharing plates as the standard way for a family to eat- Indian, Chinese, Turkish/middle Eastern (mezze as mentioned), Thai, Malaysian, Ethiopian to name a few. Your solution is to be more adventurous about the places you eat out as a family!

Our idea of each person ordering their own “meal” is seen as really weird to a lot of cultures.

Just ask for a smaller portion of whatever you actually want to eat (you can say that for medical reasons you can't manage a full portion, you don't need to go into detail)

@Whataretheodds but with chains you’d probably still be charged full price.

We order a few starters and a main to share between myself, my husband, and our toddler. Even in decent places often the children’s offering is fish/chicken and chips, pasta with tomato or cheese sauce, etc., not very inspiring! Nobody has ever said anything. You could go somewhere with sharing plates so you can just help yourself to however much you like, I’m sure the others would eat the rest.

Well you could check that, and if you're going to be charged full price I'd ask for half in a takeaway box from the outset.

I thought kids meals were cheaper and they make barely any profit on them because they're specifically for children?

My mum has weight loss surgery so could only eat from the children's menu a few places had a problem with this. She then was issued with a card from the hospital. Problem was solved 😉

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Depends if they let you, I agree it’s wasteful if you don’t want it. Could you have a starter or ask for a small plate?

Aw, a TT last get together before Xmas.

I wouldn’t for a the reasons set out by others.

I have a medical condition which sometimes affects my appetite considerably. As and when that happens my go to is a couple of starters, often making one a veggie soup if available for a bit of balance. No one has ever batted an eyelid.

The other thing I do in places where items are charged separately (e.g. grill type places) is order my own ‘main’ (meat, fish, whatever) then we share sides on the understanding that DH will be eating most of them.

I can't eat big meals, either, OP. And I know what you mean about the waiting staff; asking if there was something wrong, can they bring me something else instead etc. I've ordered from the children's menu before, but I usually order a starter and sometimes add a side. No-one has ever objected and, if they did, we might just leave or not go back in future.

lol,the legal right to order as you please and fhey can’t refuse custom, when did this sterling law get passed then?😂

The thing is, how it's supposed to work as a business model is:

John & Jane routinely treat themselves to a mid range meal out of a weekend. They aren't into fine dining, but enjoy a pizza/steak/lasagne & sharing a bottle of the house red.

John & Jane then have 2 toddlers.

They can't afford 4 meals. So they stay in.

But wait! Local pizza place does a kids' margarita, crayons & a fluffy cup of milk for a fiver.

John & Jane can resume their modest luxury of a weekly dinner out, & take the kids! Everyone wins.

However.

The restaurant is making sod all on those £5 kid meals. It's providing them because the parents will be spending roughly £20 each on a meal & drinks - & they'd just sack the whole thing off otherwise.

So no, the sort of places that do kids' meals may not want your custom as a solitary diner. If you're with adults ordering off the adult menu, you might be ok.

As a standalone customer ordering fishfingers & beans you a) aren't generating profit & b) are likely tying up a table that could be used by a group & c) you aren't the image they want to project.

Op, of you can’t eat much I’d go for lighter things, like fish,seafood, salad etc rather than a burger. Kids meals tends to be very bland as well as small portion. It really is on the menu for children.

however if you really want to eat a child’s meal, usually it’s like fishfingers and chips or plain pasta (not something I’d want to go out for dinner for) then ask first off to thr staff.

to be honest I have seen all sorts in restaurants, from people only eating starters and sides through to one couple who I remember ordering one main between them and then having it in the middle of the table and eating from it.

Sometimes folks need to do what they need to do to make it affordable and I think if the restaurant isn’t busy it’s fine, they will be glad of the custom, but I’d not want to do it at peak times.

@CorvusPurpureus maybe restaurants should start doing adult portions of fish fingers and chips then 🤣