Why do children's menus exist?

[TankFlyBossWalk]

Why don't restaurants provide smaller portions of the grub on the main menu?

I always refuse the childrens menu and ask for half a plate. If your going for a nice meal why would you want your child to eat cardboard food (is it food - as it has no nutri, vits)? When did this come about anyway, didnt exist when I was a child and who decided that children dont like tasty food? Funny that now children have health problems from food against say 30 yrs ago????

I've never given my boys the option of chips etc when out for a meal. Never had any problems with fussy either both hubby and I have stamped out. I am really of the opinion that its the parents input (oh, they want like that) over the children being given it and there is no other option - I understand with texture etc with older toddlers can be off putting and they will have opionins then but starting babies on a varied, good home cooked diet is a positive way forward. Unfortunately there are the odd few children that wont eat much but the attitude of childerns menu of h-fat, chicken from any dodgy country and fish fingers that contain little fish.

Think its all down to food marketing companies - these people seem to have decided what our children like.

We recently founs a pub near us that has soft play and does an amazing kids menu. My daghter likes having her own, small 'dinner book'.. The reason we like it is that the food is a mixture of sausage, fish sticks (which have seemed nice and not fried) but also a mild spaggetti, baked spud, etc.

But also, and most importantly for DD is that it is pick and mix and has pictures!

So i can say what main thing would you like (DD points at bolagnase sauce (has purees veg in too!) then what rice/spuds/pasta she wants then what veg/salad she wants, then what pudding and its £2.99 for small kids and £3.99 for large kidsportion. Also come swith choice of drinks (milk, fruit juice or water) and clouring pack.

We heart hte 'Shuttle and Loom" in Darlington.

Usually DD shares with me and Daddy...

loathe chicken nuggets

There was a big discussion on a related subject last week, so I've been thinking about it, and I'm sure it's to do with safety and familiarity, rather than an inherent preference for junk. My friends and I feed each others' DCs all the time, and although their normal diets are really varied and healthy they all become rigidly conservative when confronted with the house style of another mother who might instinctively reach for the Schwartz Season All, or the garam masala, instead of the Lea and Perrins like me.
It applies especially to any "mucked about" or mixed up food, so we've all learned from bitter experience to stick to solid, separate, unmistakeable ingredients, and the restaurants are just the same.

Had family meal out at a nice hotel recently to celebrate the dedication (like a Christening) of DD2. 14 people (yes, we need a 2nd mortgage afterwards) included a 3 yr old used to sitting at table for hours in France. Shocked to find we were charged full price for him. We did stress child portion but not sure how much was given since was at other end of table.

When we were in France the children's menu was appreciably cheaper, but ds was interested to find that it involved real fish with a grown-up sauce and salad, rather than fish shapes and chips. Ime a child being a fussy eater is no guarantee that they are going to like junk food, or indeed find it familiar. Ds only discovered junk food when he started school. Dd has never really taken to it.

Remember when I was a school child in Sweden and the school introduced this newfangled foreign food- baked beans! We thought they did it to torture us, as some kind of disciplinary measure. I remember my amazement when I found out years later that this is something children in the UK are supposed to like.

IME most non-chain places that cook their own food will do you a half-portion of some dishes even if this is not advertised.

Otherwise, we often order starters for DD's main, or pitch in and share together, adding a few extra side dishes.

And tapas and mezze are perfect for DC.

Well, Brasserie Blanc came through for us - yes, DD did ask for ketchup, yes, they provided. They also served her up a small portion of a dessert on the specials board, incorporating it into the children's menu even though it wasn't 'officially' on there. Funnily enough, she's not nearly so fussy when it comes to puddings ... although she doesn't actually much like ice cream, the kids' menu staple.