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Original poster

Kids eat free discrimination

214 replies

BigBaoBun · 21/02/2025 13:50

Some restaurants offer a kids eat free/ kids eat for £1 offer during the half term but this is usually (not always) when one adult buys a main meal the restaurant allows one free kids meal. I have noticed a lot of parents with multiple children complaining that certain restaurants are being unfair as they only get one free kids meal. Particularly single parents saying it's discrimination against them. One woman was complaining that she has 3 kids and it isn't fair because only one can eat free and the restaurant should be giving them all a free meal. Aibu to think that this isn't discrimination and you can't expect all kids to eat for free?

OP posts:
ArtyFartyHippopotamus · 22/02/2025 18:35

As the saying goes, “If you can’t feed them, don’t breed them!” Businesses can’t afford to give out multiple children’s meals and only receive payment for one adult meal. It would have been more sensible for the mother to buy ingredients and cook for her and the three children, rather than buy herself a meal and then expect 3 free meals. I feel sorry for parents who genuinely struggle to manage, but this was a bad plan to try and get free food.

Duechristmas · 22/02/2025 19:10

It's just a marketing ploy, they're not genuinely interested in feeding hungry children.

CosyLemur · 22/02/2025 19:10

RainingRoses · 21/02/2025 13:56

Perhaps if the lady with 3 children can’t afford to feed them, she shouldn’t have had 3. It’s not discrimination, it’s in same category as “human rights” that people complain about when they can’t get what they want.

Should I have known before getting pregnant with child 3 that their dad would be stabbed to death 3 weeks before she was born? That means we now only have 1 income to live on?

I'm really sorry for forgetting to consult my crystal ball!

RaveToTheGrave1 · 22/02/2025 19:15

Don't have so many bloody kids if you can't afford to feed them then, these cafes and restaurants aren't a charity and they don't owe anyone anything.

JohnTheRevelator · 22/02/2025 19:16

So many people are over-entitled nowadays.

Whammyyammy · 22/02/2025 19:20

It's not discrimination at all. These are businesses offering help, help them don't have to offer.
I imagine they will simply stop offering if complaints rise.

Hankunamatata · 22/02/2025 19:21

Some people are super entitled arnt they. If you have 4 kids then buy 2 adult meals and the other two can eat free.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 22/02/2025 19:32

onwardsup4 · 21/02/2025 14:50

Asda is the best deal for this kids eat for £1 and no adult meal needed to be bought. Good deal!

Asda make their money through the supermarket so can afford to do this. A restaurant who’s income comes from the restaurant could not afford that.

Strictlymad · 22/02/2025 19:33

Don’t eat out if you can’t afford it. Imagine someone rocking up with a birthday party of 12 kids- buying one adult jacket potato with beans for a fiver and getting 12 kids meals free, restaurants would be closing down

Danielle9891 · 22/02/2025 19:40

That's ridiculous. They'll be complaining about Jet2 next for their free kid place when booking a holiday. I've got 2 children and when eating out sometimes you get a free child's meal with each paying adult and I'm grateful but if I can't afford a meal for each of my children then I'd use the money to buy a food shop instead.

My parents had 4 children and we never ate out. We would go to the beach with a picnic or get a cooked chicken and fresh bread buns out of Morrisons for sandwiches. Some people have to learn to live within their means.

ShannonBailey · 22/02/2025 19:41

Has anyone got a recipe for free discrimination, and can adults eat it?

DisabledDemon · 22/02/2025 19:41

It's not discrimination, it's entitled drivel.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 22/02/2025 19:41

HelenHywater · 21/02/2025 16:00

Well it isn't fair on single parents if you have 2 children.

Single parent, 2 kids would (if a full price meal costs £5 ) cost that parent £11 - so £3.66 a person - that single parent would only get one kids meal.

Two parents 2 kids would cost £12. so £3 a person. The couple parents get 2 kids meals.

So it does discriminate against single parents particularly since they generally are coping on one income.

Well just because there is a 2 parent household doesn’t mean both parents went. And just because it’s a single parent household doesn’t mean that there isn’t another adult to join.

RainingRoses · 22/02/2025 19:44

CosyLemur · 22/02/2025 19:10

Should I have known before getting pregnant with child 3 that their dad would be stabbed to death 3 weeks before she was born? That means we now only have 1 income to live on?

I'm really sorry for forgetting to consult my crystal ball!

Show quote history

It’s pretty obvious what I meant so your post doesn’t really change that. Parents who find themselves in unfortunate circumstances are very different to those who have more children expecting the state and others to financially support them.

In any event, I’m sorry for your loss.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 22/02/2025 19:45

HelenHywater · 21/02/2025 16:16

It isn't just a legal term at all. And in the example I gave, the pricing does discriminate against single parents. And given that everything costs much more as a single parent (because you only have one salary, or even if you have two, it is funding two homes), and the job market is also tougher for a single parent, then a child's meal becomes even more unaffordable for a single parent. I do think that a restaurant in this case, or a soft play company, or an attraction, could introduce a pricing structure which does not disadvantage the children of single parents.

But yes, they could just have a packed lunch Hmm

Edited
Show quote history

And how would they know that it’s a single parents household?

What if the single parent was a multi-millionaire, should they still get a discount for being single.

it would be impossible to monitor.

XenoBitch · 22/02/2025 19:46

Not discrimination. It is basically a Buy One, Get One Free sort of thing.

Botanybaby · 22/02/2025 19:56

These kids eat free things make no sense to me

By the time adults paid for drinks and food and a £1 or what ever for the child's meal they could have bought some bread butter beans and eggs and had food for a good few days

FriendlyEeyore · 22/02/2025 19:57

The more you give the more people want.

XenoBitch · 22/02/2025 20:00

Botanybaby · 22/02/2025 19:56

These kids eat free things make no sense to me

By the time adults paid for drinks and food and a £1 or what ever for the child's meal they could have bought some bread butter beans and eggs and had food for a good few days

I don't think a parent who is really struggling is going to eat out and use these deals.
People eat out for the experience, not having to wash up etc, convenience because they are out anyway etc.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 22/02/2025 20:07

TomatoSandwiches · 21/02/2025 14:01

It's not discrimination but if I was running a business I would probably allow twins to get free meals with one parent paying.

Why?

niadainud · 22/02/2025 20:08

If anything it's discrimination against people who don't have children. (Joking. Sort of.) Although I did once get a free kid's packed lunch in M&S which I ate later.

BettyBardMacDonald · 22/02/2025 20:14

TomatoSandwiches · 21/02/2025 14:01

It's not discrimination but if I was running a business I would probably allow twins to get free meals with one parent paying.

Why on earth?

You do realize that people dining without kids are the ones subsidizing these free meals, don't you? I have other uses for my money than providing free food for people simply because they have employed their uteri.

JillMW · 22/02/2025 20:21

All children can have a meal for £1 at Asda

Nothatgingerpirate · 22/02/2025 20:22

How ridiculous a statement.
Fortunately, the "half term" is over around here.

cherish123 · 22/02/2025 20:23

YANBU
Nobody forced them to have multiple children, it's a business, not a charity, and it's not obligatory to eat out.