Has afternoon tea food for a child changed significantly?

[DeepBalonz]

I’ve just moved back to the UK. DS (4) has a play date with the neighbour’s son. As a 90s kid I was given fish fingers and beans, dinosaurs and peas etc as tea at friends’ houses.

Is that kind of food still the done thing or has it all gone a bit posh along with most other things?

Too early for dinner but still a decent time since lunch so fruit and peanut butter probably won’t be enough.

An odd post, why are you choosing to add additional items when you know its two fish fingers and 1-2 tablespoons of beans.

If they’re having dinner later, I’d just offer fruit and a yoghurt.

I think the problem is that while logically FF amd beans may well be the same calories as some of the ogjer suggestions, they are firmly 'dinner/ meal foods' in most peoples minds. So if the kids mum asked you not to give him dinner I think she'd be legitimately put out if she hears you have given him a hot dinner, even if it is early.

I'd also maybe pull it back to late lunchtime, eg. 2.30/3.
Longer gap to get hungry again then.

I don't know why, but cheese on toast or cheese toasties would feel OK to me, more snack than meal somehow.
Or maybe the snack bits of fruit amd veg snacks with some straps of mini pizza or something if you want sth hot.

I live in Asia OP, so I think I understand more where you are coming from. I personally think fish fingers are a great snack. I would serve at 2pm though as then it's a bit longer until dinner.

I would serve two fish fingers and some cucumber and carrot sticks. Ditch the beans and then you have a happy medium.

People in all countries have quite rigid ideas about food and even though something may be the same calorie wise, they won't hear of it being served unless at their deemed correct time.

I’m talking probably 1-2 bread sticks, a couple of cubes of cheese and a couple of grapes. My DC would have eaten on the walk home TBF. OP is talking 2 fish fingers and 3-4 tablespoons of beans-that’s nearly half a tin and is very filling.

I think it’s the perception of cooking that will also have a negative effect.

Not that it matters, as the OP is going to do it anyway 🤷‍♀️

No-I’m talking 2 bread sticks at most, a couple of cubes of cheese and a few grapes or half an apple. OP said 2 fish fingers and 3-4 tablespoons of beans-that’s nearly half a can!

That's still not significantly fewer calories than 2 fishfingers and 3 scoops of beans. Cheese is very calorie dense. You can add it all up if you want.

So reducing slightly means your offering would have a near identical amount of calories, 45ml is nowhere near half a can, unless you’re referring to the halfsize cans.

This thread is full of orthorexic control freak parents who see a banana as a treat. Wait till your kids are at secondary school- they'll be spending money on sweets and crisps every single day and you won't have any choice

Ok those pancakes..we don’t have ready made ones like those ones to buy. But otherwise toaster was a good idea for it!

I took those quantities directly from the OP's posts. Take a look for yourself, it is there.

Also can’t find the comment but to the person who said four year olds don’t need four meals… 1) OP isn’t suggesting a full meal, 2) My 4yo will sometimes eat two breakfasts, lunch, a second lunch when in from school, then tea. Very healthy and active, would rather five meals a day than a billion snacks

yeah it was me.

1. 3 fishfingers and baked beans is a whole meal. This is the issue
2. You do understand that 5 meals a day (bloody hell) isn’t better than 3 and some healthy snacks don’t you? The whole point of ‘snacks’ is that they’re, well, snacky. Healthy small bites to tide you over. As I say, 25% of kids are obese by 4/5 and it’s not hard to see how by this thread

Mine doesn't normally eat much after school, maybe a banana or an apple. If I offered hot food at 4pm he would eat just not as much as he would at 6pm.

He'd then not eat at dinner time and would then wake in the night hungry. I know this as this happens when he goes to parties/ playdates with food. I don't want to be making toast at 2am for a 4yr old.