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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is it acceptable to order a kids meal as an adult ?

175 replies

ThePunnyPeachDuck · 02/05/2025 18:25

DH went out for lunch with his father to a pub his mate runs
He proudly came home and told me he ordered a junior pork meal and only drank tap water—because, you know, it was free.
I just stared at him and asked if he was being serious, because that is some next-level CF energy right there. He shrugged and said the kids meal was massive and why pay adult prices when you can get a solid meal for half the cost?
And to top it off, he actually phoned his friend afterwards to check if it was okay. As if the guy running the pub is going to say, "Actually mate, could you not fleece me next time?"
This isn’t about money—they’re both doing fine. So AIBU to think DH was being a proper cheeky f*?

OP posts:
starfishmummy · 02/05/2025 20:40

intrepidpanda · 02/05/2025 18:54

They should do away with kids meals and have small and large portions. Give everyone a choice. A 7 stone 70 year old may very well want less than a 15 stone 30 year old, so why do they need to order the same portion.

We've been to a few places that do this. When DS was younger he didn't like the standard kids meals (tbh he still doesnt) so it was useful for that reason.

TortolaParadise · 02/05/2025 20:42

Well...he was dining with daddy dearest so I guess he reverted to being a child. I declare his choice of meal very reasonable.🙄

fiveIsNewOne · 02/05/2025 20:50

There's nothing wrong with wanting a smaller portion.

In my area the half portions cost 3/4 price so the restaurants don't care who orders them, they are fine anyway.

If it is commercially priced smaller portion, it should be available for anyone to order.
If the kid's meal is discounted/favour for the parents, they should clearly write it

OccasionalHope · 02/05/2025 20:51

I sometimes buy children’s sandwiches in a cafe bc they don’t have mayonnaise in.

Justfreedom · 02/05/2025 21:07

I order kids meals and dont care what others think either.
On the plus side i sometimes get a free toy.

BlossomMoon · 02/05/2025 21:08

Our local markets their smaller meals as "Small plates" these are smaller than an adults portion, but not children's meals.
You look a bit of a prat sat there with a kids meal and a Fruit Shoot. So I go for the Small plate option

JANEY205 · 02/05/2025 21:16

hydriotaphia · 02/05/2025 18:35

Ehh no you can’t do this. They are offered restaurant at a discount for kids - ie on the understanding that they will be ordered alongside the full price adult food. It is CF-ery to order one as an adult imho - particularly at a small business and particularly at one run by someone you know.

Well he was with his Dad so I guess he did nothing wrong 😆

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 02/05/2025 21:18

I used to do it years ago when I was doing weight watchers - kids meal and a side salad. It’s no different to people just having a starter ? Some places do smaller meals aimed at over 60s, or just ‘light bites’, being smaller portions for lunch time. Probably they should do smaller portions of a set range of meals available to all, eg like they will do a salad or a pasta and you can have a starter or main dish size of it as you choose.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 02/05/2025 21:18

Only in a takeaway or fast food place.
Most restaurants have notices up "half portions are for children or OAP's".

HappyMuma · 02/05/2025 21:23

I always get a kids meal from the chippy (I could never eat an adult portion and it seems wasteful) but I wouldn’t do it in a restaurant

ruethewhirl · 02/05/2025 21:26

I would do this without a qualm if the adult size portion was very big, as I physically can’t eat very large portions of food at one sitting. Some places serve obscenely huge platefuls of food these days, far bigger than anyone needs, and although I’m far from being a disciplined eater, overflowing platefuls put me off.

Agree bit stingy to drink tap water though, I would at least order one drink.

Edenmum2 · 02/05/2025 21:27

Most places I go stipulate that kids meals are for kids only…so I guess it depends whether there was any such notice? I mean it’s defo not attractive, but kids portions are often massive so I do understand from a practical perspective

ruethewhirl · 02/05/2025 21:32

EmeraldShamrock000 · 02/05/2025 21:18

Only in a takeaway or fast food place.
Most restaurants have notices up "half portions are for children or OAP's".

I’ve never seen this but I think it’s really wrong. It puts adults who just happen not to be able to manage a full portion at a disadvantage, which actually feels quite exclusionary. I’d go so far as to say a restaurant would lose my custom if they had this policy and the full-sized portions were too much for me.

What I’d really like to see instead is ‘full size’ and ‘smaller’ portions on offer as standard, minus the restrictions around who could order the smaller. I’d have thought it would cut food waste too.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 02/05/2025 21:38

but I think it’s really wrong. It puts adults who just happen not to be able to manage a full portion at a disadvantage, which actually feels quite exclusionary. I’d go so far as to say a restaurant would lose my custom if they had this policy and the full-sized portions were too much for me.
You can request a smaller portion but you pay full price.
I wouldn't expect the restaurant to provide child portions at a knock down price to adults.
They need to make a living too.
Funnily enough a few members of the group where disgruntled at it, then they all cleared the adult portion, no problem.
I was laughing inside.

ruethewhirl · 02/05/2025 21:46

EmeraldShamrock000 · 02/05/2025 21:38

but I think it’s really wrong. It puts adults who just happen not to be able to manage a full portion at a disadvantage, which actually feels quite exclusionary. I’d go so far as to say a restaurant would lose my custom if they had this policy and the full-sized portions were too much for me.
You can request a smaller portion but you pay full price.
I wouldn't expect the restaurant to provide child portions at a knock down price to adults.
They need to make a living too.
Funnily enough a few members of the group where disgruntled at it, then they all cleared the adult portion, no problem.
I was laughing inside.

In my case I definitely wouldn’t be able to manage a huge portion. And I don’t agree that’s a half portion should be full price unless someone is a child or an OAP. Yes, they have to make a profit, but the way to do that is to encourage repeat business by showing flexibility, not ripping people off just because they don’t have a massive appetite.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 02/05/2025 22:04

I never would when not with my son, but I often order two kids meals when out with him as I'm not sure which one he'll be willing to eat /he always wants what's on my plate and it's not going to be too salty for him (also sometimes the kids deal comes with juice and an ice lolly which I'll happily take!)

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 02/05/2025 22:05

@intrepidpanda because little kids can't have lots of salt and generally prefer their food to be more plant when it comes to spices and textures and garnishes

caringcarer · 02/05/2025 22:06

A lot of places do a lite bite meal which is smaller.

GiveDogBone · 03/05/2025 18:24

Ricky Gervais did a sketch on it. It’s on YouTube and hilarious. Sure that’s where he’d have got the idea from.

Willowweb · 03/05/2025 18:49

Me too. I have a hiatus hernia, acid reflux and food insensitivities. If I go off my plan I'm ill for three days. So I don't eat out anymore.

Laura95167 · 03/05/2025 19:10

Tbh I don't see the issue. Child portions are cheaper because they're smaller. You pay less but get less and if you have a small appetite why should you pay the adult size potion and leave it.

My grandma when she got older always got child portions just because it was a more appropriate amount of food for her and no one complained

Sennelier1 · 03/05/2025 19:18

I've been in lots of restaurants where the kid's menu is exclusively for children under 12 (sometimes even younger) and often only served if the adult(s) order a meal at full price. On the other hand, if you're not a big eater, you often can ask for only a starter.

StClabberts · 03/05/2025 19:23

I think it's ok if there was no stipulation. Most places would let you go in and just order a starter, after all. If it's somewhere they expect a minimum spend then he shouldn't do it.

Agree with posters who've said it's a good idea to have larger and smaller portions as an option if possible. I've been to some places that do a pensioner portion, which we used as my elderly aunt still liked eating out but got overfaced easily.

Now and then I'll order a kids dessert if I just fancy a taste of something sweet after a main meal rather than a full pudding. Never had anything said to me about it.

YearlySubscriptionRenewal · 03/05/2025 19:24

A pub where he could have been sitting with a drink only anyway?
I don't think it's so bad. He would have been using that table with or without food, the pub is not actually losing money.

A real restaurant, where the kids menu is only offered as a gesture to encourage parents to attend? That would be a no.

iamnotalemon · 03/05/2025 20:09

I sometimes order a kids meal. I’ve had weight loss surgery and can only eat small portions. (The cheaper prices are a bonus).