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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

For not sharing my food or giving my kid at 7 year old a taste of my food at restaurant?

148 replies

melindarra · 25/06/2026 04:12

To say it clearly i let her choose from the menu what she wants. My kid is a very hungry kid😆 and eats faster than me and i need to sometimes buy her adult menu bcs kid menus here are literally portions for a tiny mouse😆 but me my self i dont like the tough Of others spit in my food or fork and yea.. including my own kid, pluss i think its nice to learn her that not everyone wants to share their food and that u should eat from your own plate because if she likes it then she wants another bite and start looking at your plate like she hasn’t been feed even if she has food on her plate, because its not nice to ask for someone else's plate. Especially since i let her choose whatever she wants from menu’s besides from very expensive dishes 😆

OP posts:
cannynotsay · 25/06/2026 04:18

Erm you don’t talk about her nicely.

melindarra · 25/06/2026 04:21

@cannynotsay maybe it came out a bit harsher than i tought idk

OP posts:
Sirzy · 25/06/2026 04:28

surely you just cut a bit off and put it on her plate? That’s one way children learn to expand their palates

LBFseBrom · 25/06/2026 04:28

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sunnydayhereandnow · 25/06/2026 04:29

I do get teaching your kid that some things are yours and they are not automatically entitled to them, but with my 6yo I absolutely encourage him to try anything I order. That’s how he is exposed to new tastes. Yes, it does sometimes end up with me switching dishes with him but for me that’s kind of a win - he learned to like something more interesting than whatever he chose first. Do I sometimes not agree to swap? Absolutely.

Thepossibility · 25/06/2026 04:41

I just cut a bit off for them or get it with my fork onto their plate. I enjoy that they are enjoying the meal and trying things out.
I don't like sharing with other adults though.

B1anche · 25/06/2026 04:42

Yes I always let my 8 year old try food off my plate at restaurants. It's how he learns to like new foods without having to order (and potentially waste) a whole dish to himself. I'm his parent, it's my job to give him new experiences.

menopausequeen · 25/06/2026 04:46

Is she obese for her age?
Otherwise this is about manners and also about encouraging her palate to develop.
Agree she should not pester for food but having a little taste of yours is a good thing.
Does she eat very fast? Maybe teach her some mindful eating e.g tasting each mouthful, chewing it properly, taking a drink in between and resting her knife and fork.

Zanatdy · 25/06/2026 04:52

Why not just put a small forkful on her plate, for her to try. But agree, it is rude and bad table manners to sit watching someone waiting for your chance to seize their food! That’s my son when he’s waiting for his sister to finish what she wants! They are 21 and 18 now but this happened last night, he is still finishing off his sister’s food. But he doesn’t stare at her, and she always offers as she knows he always finishes off her food. He has always had a big appetite but as an adult is learning to manage his weight and keep in a healthy range. He eats big portions, but doesn’t snack.

Mightymighty · 25/06/2026 05:09

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blubberball · 25/06/2026 05:09

You do you. Personally I don't mind sharing my food with others, and just cut a bit off and put on their plate to try. But everyone is different and it doesn't matter

ResidentialWorth · 25/06/2026 05:20

YABU. Mainly. I think. Fair enough if you don't want her picking food off your plate, this is not ok, especially in a restaurant. But as others have said, you could cut a bit of yours and place it on her plate. She eats from her plate. Really don't see the issue with that.
If there was something the DC were interested in but didn't know what it was, we would either let them taste some of ours or we would let them order it, but one of us would order something they liked so if they really didn't like it we could swap.

BrushClean · 25/06/2026 05:22

That’s a bit mean. I can’t imagine not allowing my child to taste my food. Even now they are in their early 20s!

JohnnieFedora · 25/06/2026 05:26

Imagine being such an utter dickhead to a 7 year old.

Just put some of yours in her plate.

DavidStopActingLikeADisgruntledPelican · 25/06/2026 05:33

I really don’t want to sound like a bitch but I can barely understand your post. What I can decipher though, you’re being unreasonable- I share with my kids so they try new things. They’re all really good eaters. They’re all really good about sharing too.

MyballsareSandy2015 · 25/06/2026 05:37

Are you pissed?

martha79 · 25/06/2026 05:51

How is she getting spit in your food?

HoppingPavlova · 25/06/2026 06:02

It’s nowhere as difficult as you make out. You take a small piece of something from your plate and put it on their plate. This means they are not eating off your plate, spitting in your food or eating from your cutlery as you seem to make out is a consequence of a small child tasting your food. If you don’t do this, how will they know what they like/don’t like with new and different foods to order in future, other than you ordering something new for them that neither you nor they will know if they will like, which may lead to waste of a whole dish?

Gonedeaf · 25/06/2026 06:04

I share food with my child so they can experience new flavours, know that it's nice and normal to share with others, and they get to feel loved and cared for by their parent.

bigsoftcocks · 25/06/2026 06:07

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Moobear1420 · 25/06/2026 06:11

100% agree with this. One of my children used to not eat their meal as they wanted mine or my husbands. We used to say that you need to eat what you asked for and we will eat what we asked for and remind them its rude to ask for food of others plates If it was a new food (as we always encourage trying new things, and eating out is a great time to try new flavours) we kept a small bit aside that they could have once they had finished their food. We tried to focus on that you could try a bit as well as your plate of food, but not instead of. It did help, if they wanted some, their plate had to be empty first so they generally ate quickly and without fuss

Lentilcakes · 25/06/2026 06:26

Why can’t she have a bit of your food - keep a bit aside We’ve often shared like this w our children - plus tapas:sharing meals are a thing. I agree kids’ meal portions are tiny - and often crap food.
Also she’s eating fast so her brain isn’t keeping up w her stomach - wait 20 mins and she’ll feel fuller.

IStillHearTheWaves · 25/06/2026 06:35

Sirzy · 25/06/2026 04:28

surely you just cut a bit off and put it on her plate? That’s one way children learn to expand their palates

Precisely what I was going to say.

My DC will play it safe with their own order, but if they show interest in what I have, I always let them try a bit.

It sounds like there is an issue around food though in your household.

Nursemumma92 · 25/06/2026 06:37

I just put some on my kid's plate. I can't imagining not sharing at all with them, and actively discouraging them not to try different things.

SweetnsourNZ · 25/06/2026 06:42

Teach your child to eat slower and enjoy her meal first.

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