What do you cook your dc's friends when they come to visit?

[mrsruffallo]

Need inspiration- anything that is always a hit?

Always little pizzas that I buy from the supermarket, then they can decorate them with peppers, onion etc if they want.

Pizza
Jacket pots
corn on the cobs

crumble/fruit salad for pudding

ice lollies if it's hot

I don't cook them no, i find the parents don't like it, but i do cook for them, if i have loads of kids then its usally homemade fishfingers that i keep in batches in the freezer with mash and peas.

If its only a couple of kids then they have whatever were having, shepards pie, pasta bake ect or i make up a load of pizza bases and let them create thier own.

I always put the food in smiley face shapes to make it more fun, my kids are only 2 and 4 though.

Unless I know for definite that the child likes a range of foods I keep it simple. This also makes me more on hand to intervene/supervise if necessary. (dd is only 5)

Pasta with a basic tomato sauce. Serve with garlic bread or bread and butter. Salad-y type veg, cucumber sticks etc. Yogurt and fruit for pudding.

Fish fingers. Serve with what you want depending on how "healthy" you want to seem. Oven chips and peas. Baked potatoes and beans.

Sorry miss read the title. Thought it said 'Do you cook you dc's frinds when they come to visit'

I di wonder Charlie.
This particular friend is quite fussy- he likes chicken
I have two breasts here (oo-er)
Any ideas?

Definitely pizzas so they can put their own topping on - activity and meal in one, can't go wrong

You could make some chicken nuggets. There's a recipe in MN recipes.

If the friend likes chinese style food you could do a stir fry with noodles? Slice the chicken up thinly with some veg.

If at all possible I arrange with their mum that both dcs will have school dinners that day, and give them sandwiches for tea. . Otherwise, fishfingers chips & peas.

They're way to busy to eat, they've got playing to do.

Tend to do a lasagne ( they help with the pasta machine LOL).. or home made pizza or home made burgers.. again they help if they want to.. and a big bowl of salad and garlic bread.

fruit salad or ice cream for pud

Aah, chicken.

Jacket spud, roasted chicken, gravy, some veg?

I try to do stuff that is "separate" for kids I don't know - I've met so many that can't handle having their food mixed up (my ds1 included).

sausage & mash with broccoli and gravy

I try to check with the child or parents if there is anything they really do/dont like, and try to fit that in around the family meal.
Dont have the time or the energy to be cooking different meals for everyone.
If they dont like what we're having, they get beans on toast.

I've had children who won't eat pizza, chicken nuggests, pasta, ice cream - all the kinds of foods that would normally expect children to like.

Now I ask them what they would like in advance, and sod any ideas about healthy eating! I choose the easiest option as it makes me very irate when children won't eat what is put in front of them if I've spent ages preparing it! I'd def recommend not faffing about with homemade pizzas or nuggets, save that for when you don't have guests. They get water or milk to drink.

fruitfal- I know what you mean about seperate foods- my ds is the same!
Thanks so much for your replies, keep em coming
(feeling hungry now)

In desperation (same 'playdate' every Monday this term to help his mother out) after everything else I had cooked had been rejected over the last few weeks, I decided they were having pasta, tuna & sweetcorn last night (his mother says he's not fussy ).

When told of this in the car, visitor pulled faces which I chose to ignore.

When actually presented with it, he said "Stealthsquiggle?" "Thank you very much for this, it is delicious"

He can have that again next week then!

I tend to cook lasagne, pizza or something with Sausages. It depends on the child (some are really fussy and there was one boy who whilst round a friends house, burst into tears when offered lasagne because he didn't know what it was

We also do the pizzas where they can stick their own toppings on. Usually with peppers, sweetcorn, prawns & tuna.

Fishfingers or sausages with jacket spud and baked beans.

Meatballs & spaghetti.

Spag bow1.

Macroni cheese & garlic bread.

Picnic tea - sandwiches, little sausages, salad & crisps.

For pudding usually banana & custard or muffins & yoghurt.

Mac cheese

Sausages with potatoes and then ask them what veg they like. Some are broccoli monsters, others will choose beans. I tend to have both in at all times .

Spag Bol.

Sandwiches or "snack plate" as DD calls it. Cobbled together from all kinds of bits - bit like Forever's picnic idea.

Beyond this, I feel there are few guarantees in the fickle world of children's taste

My DD will only eat Pizza express pizza....and only in the actual restaurant. If I buy them to cook at home - forgettaboutit!

They get asked if they want@

Pizza and salad
Sausage and mash
Fishfingers peas and chips
Chicken nuggets and beans

If they don't like any of that they get a slice of bread and butter .

Pizza, chips and raw carrot!
Pork chops, waffles, peas and carrots (cooked!)
Sausages, mash, carrots and peas

Always ice cream for pud or ice cream 'cake' (artic roll)