To think that this menu isn’t suitable for children?

[Mummyofabear]

A few months ago I booked to take my children to Matilda in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall this month (October), I had to book hospitality tickets because those were the only tickets left at the time of booking. And then today have been sent an email with the hospitality details and this is the menu! They don’t have a separate children’s menu either even though Matilda is a family event! AIBU to think this menu isn’t suitable for children? My children have autism and are very fussy so the only thing that they will eat on this menu will be the desserts but even then I don’t think there’s much on this menu that most neurotypical children would eat either? In my opinion it’s not suitable for families or children even though it’s supposed to be a family event!

I’ve copied and pasted the menu below incase the image doesn’t work:

Snacks (served pre-show):
Black garlic polenta crackers

Seaweed tapioca crackers

Canapés (served pre-show):
Glazed beef skewer, chimichurri

Parmesan churros, tomato and Parmesan sauce (V)

Cold Bowl (served pre-show):

Pumpkin seed houmous, maple-roast pumpkin, pomegranate, pickled pumpkin ribbons, mint oil

Sliders (served pre-show):
28-day dry-aged beef patty, crispy bacon, tarragon and chive aioli, confit garlic,
served with potato hash puffs, truffle mayo

Moroccan-Spiced lamb slider, grilled onions, sumac mayonnaise & pickled cucumber,
served with buffalo cauliflower

Dessert canapés (served during the interval):
Mango, passion fruit, coconut pavlova

Millionaire's chocolate mousse, salted caramel, vanilla sablé

Milk and Cookies

Drinks:

Trebbiano, Rubicone, Novità
Sangiovese, Rubicone, Novità
Estrella Galicia 4.7%
Ginger bitters (soft cocktail)
Sparkling mineral water
Still mineral water

Some of the best chefs are ND. Plenty of people of all kinds enjoy a variety of food.

But then yay.. eat the menu. The issue doesn’t affect you. For those it does affect.. the menu is not accessible

and my son with a limited diet wouldn't eat any of that.

Which is pp's point.

Genuine question, how do you manage at weddings and parties, and do you never travel abroad?

And adding an option of nuggets and chips wouldn’t be accessible for my autistic son either. So what single option would you add that would suit all autistic children?
Or do you think it might be better to phone ahead, explain your child’s dietary requirements and have something made that will suit your child?

I understand that. But how are you ever going to get a menu that is accessible to everyone, including those with extremely restricted diets.

For what it's worth, I am vegetarian and I think the veggie offering is pretty poor, but I accept that the menu isn't simply designed for my preferences, and if it doesn't suit me, I can choose to either suck it up or go elsewhere.

Isn't that how eating out usually works?

Yes exactly. There is no single option that could be added to the menu that would cater for all ND children.
The menu caters for a wide variety of tastes. If anyone has any dietary requirements outside of that, I’m sure they’d be willing to accommodate those if you contacted them.

Nobody said all ND children are fussy, in fact being fussy isn’t the same.

Some will eat anything, some will eat two or three different foods and some will be somewhere in between.

I agree.

It's rare that I've had any issues when I've asked about dietary needs. Most places are more than happy to accommodate and if not, I just make sure I do a packed lunch/dinner for him.

But that's not a fully inclusive option. It's one your child would like, and other people would dislike or be unable to eat.

There isn't anything that totally inclusive. Even plain water is something a few people dislike.

They've provided a reasonably varied selection to cater to the majority of people likely to buy those tickets. Anyone with a restricted diet for preference or medical reasons can contact them about alternatives. (I include myself in that - there's very little for a vegetarian with a dairy allergy, so I'd ask, or bring my own snacks, or not go.)

Looks like there’s a few things they might like. It’s just fancy language descriptions.

I don’t - it’s very simple.

I went abroad for a weekend about 30 yrs ago. It would be pretty stupid to travel given that I would be unlikely to be able to eat the food, wouldn’t it?

Well, I'm only asking.

I don't think you know neurodivergence!

Its not a 1 size fits all...the complete opposite! My ND child will refuse bland, beige food because they are predominantly sensory seeking and will only eat really spicy/heavily flavoured food. We can never have a quick, something from the freezer bunged in the oven dinner because they won't eat it.

But you don't really think that's typical for children as an age group, do you?

That's a very extreme level of dietary issues restricting your life. It's not a problem if you're happy with it, but you do know that's not average, right? For adults or children?

The OP didn't ask about whether you personally could enjoy this food. She asked whether she was right to think that there wasn't much on the menu that a neurotypical child would like. A lot of people think that wasn't a correct assumption.

Many DC just eat the same as their parents in smaller portions. My DC would have eaten lots of those things and enjoyed them. My foster DC would eat those things. I try to encourage DC to try lots of foods. There must be something they like or do they only like beige food?

My child would eat it happily. However as a kid I was very picky and probably wouldn't habe eaten any of it. I would now of course. Can you contact them and see if perhaps they have other substitute offerings?

I bet you made the classic mistake of trying to eat a whole one.

The main ingredients in tomato ketchup (other than tomatos) are vinegar, garlic and spices.
Most people / kids love it!

It’s just really poshly worded crackers, crisps and hummus and some meat on a stick, with burgers isn’t it?

The other point is that this is supposed to be a fun night out, not a chance to try different and unusual foods

Or a chance to show off about the amazing range of food your precious DC will eat. There’ll be the ones eating nothing but nuggets and chips when they can!

“It’s a very British concept” - and we’re in Britain - so actually a thought process that’s perfecting fitting for the environment

What would you serve?

My kids are fussy and veggie but they would like most of that.

Ask if they have a vegan alternative most likely be given a plate of boils rice and hummus with veg sticks and a few slivers of aubergine (the posher the other food the more bland the vegan option ime)