children's menus - tell me what are their favorite things to eat ?

[banshee]

I will soon be opening a new tea shop and i am just costing a menu for kids. i would be interested to know what mums would like to see on the menu and what kind of price you are willing to pay. the emphasis of the tea shop is fresh cooked to order food as well as yummy cakes and traybakes.

i'd need to charge sep for veg as not all children would want it and there would be wastage. could include it on set menu tho' i'll have a look at the costings again.
drinks so far are; orange juice
apple juice
milk
ribena
chocolate milkshake
icecream soda
fizzy water
available in smll and large glass or by jug
filtered tap water will be free

also will have a small kids pick and mix 3 for £1.00
carrot sticks
cheddar cheese cubes
mashed or sliced banana
fruit fromage frais
baby rice cakes
cherry tomatoes
3 rolls of ham
raisin box
bowl of Cheerios
apple sauce or slices
bunch of grapes
plain uniced fairy cakes
mini breadsticks
toast soldiers
mini pancakes
warm cocktail sausages

will provide bottle warming as well

its fab, i go there most weeks to meet up with a couple of friends- its brilliant. They have a loyalty card which they stamp every time you buy an adult hot drink, then after 6 stamps you get a free hot drink and cake. Bargain!

OOh wish theyd out one in Enfield, fed up with costa and starbucks. VV rarely go in those now, not fair to keep dd couped up in chair to keep other people happy,would be amAZING TO HAV A PLAY CAFE

soz bout caps dd playing with mouse

was thinking of having lockers at the door for pushchairs and shopping-good idea?

Do remember those cursed with fussy children though and have something really plain on the menu, even if its just plain chicken breast/ham sandwich. My younger ones would eat most of your proposed menu but my older one wouldnt and I would look at your menu, sigh a deep sigh as I would love to eat there, and go elsewhere!
Also perhaps fruit option for 50p along with the veg option?
And ketchup-even if you hate it (and I do!)
Sounds really lovely-good luck.

thanks miggy! yes there will be plain food as I know i have kids who will eat anything and alot of my friends just look at them in awe- really why i came and asked the mumsnetters as i want to be sure i am not being all jamie Oliver about it!
Cheese toastie
cocktail suasages and mash
French toast
macaroni cheese
Scrambled egg on toast
many types of plain sandwich including ham on white bread with no butter
ketchup of course- i'm not that proud!

you MUST have pasta...

how about macaroni cheese (maybe add some veg_ Most children eat that

also things like cottage pie / spag bol, in kid size portions!

Also PLEASE at least offer some Veg with sauasages / chips (if you MUST have that on your menu!). would also be nice to be offered a jacket potatoe instead of chips...

as for veg i think carrots peas broccolli and sweetcorn are generally popular with all but the fussiest of children!

Goos luck!

sorry hadnt read thread properly!

So please you DONT intend to offer nuggets and chips!!!!

thanks nannyl- hadn't thought of baked potatoes- they would be quite good i think with different fillings- oh that's brill actually thanks!

sorry foe stealing kids tea ideas from this thread BTW banshee! hope you don't mind

Thanks NannyL!
Baked potatoes and other suggestions gratefully recieved.

Banshee - I dont have anything to add as all the ideas have been fab (especially drink being healthy ones)

Just want to say that your teashop is going to be great and it is so nice when somebody takes an interest in families like this!!

thanks so much for good wishes emily.Fingers crossed for a successful opening party!
Many thanks for all the ideas from everyone. I just hope i'm on the right track.

DD enjoys...

Big meals:

• Pasta - with pesto, with olive oil and cheese, with tomato sauce and meatballs, with bolognaise, etc.
• roast meat, with veggies
• chicken or fish, with rice and veggies/salad
• casseroles
• home made burgers
• home made pizza
• fish pie
• shepherd's pie

Smaller meals/snacks:

• omelette (with various fillings)
• plate of sliced peppers, carrot, cucumber, sweetcorn, tomatoes, with cooked meat/fish or cheese
• prawns
• fresh sandwiches

desserts:

• yogurt
• fruit salad
• nice ice cream

Drinks:

• smoothies/milkshakes
• water
• nice juices

Hmmm, probably loads more!

I'd like to see various different portion sizes offered, as a huge plateful can be a bit off putting for some children. Something like tddler portions, child portions and adult portions.

Also child and toddler sized cutlery, plates and cups.

For a child portion of food I would be willing to pay up to about £5 a meal, maybe more depending on what it was.

Agree with whoever said it earlier - include veg or salad WITH the meal, rather than having it as an extra. And a variety of veggies - maybe rotated each day. Include more than just peas and carrots - baby corn, green "squeaky" beans, etc.

I don't buy children's meals, not yet, anyway, maybe once DS can read the menu & say what he wants I will have to.
Am I the only one? We just order an extra side dish or a main course of the main courses are small portions, share out different things from our plates with the 3 kids.
Wonder how much longer I will manage to avoid chicken nuggetville...

Message withdrawn

hulababy - what a post!! Bullet pointed and in sections as well! You put me to shame x

Zebra - I do order children's meals for DD (or half portions) as she eats somuch! But not chicken nugget type meals.

LOL emily - something I feel quite strongly about I think. We have always eaten out with DD, but still get frustrated in some places where they have such rubbish options for children. She has only very recently decided she likes chips, and in some places we were looked at as if mad for asking for an alternative option or simply no chips!

Hulababy

Likewise - I must the the only person who goes to McDonalds and orders two Happy Meals - one with carrot sticks instead of fries and the other with a fruit bag instead of fries.

The staff NEVER remember and always give me fries and the customers look at me like some snobby cow whose too posh to buy chips!

Sounds great banshee. I would like to see as others have said, pasta dishes, maybe mini shepherd?s pie or fish pie, with vegetables on offer too. Salads for children with cherry tomatoes and carrot sticks; maybe even a sandwich platter for a child with some veg sticks as well.
Basically like others I get fed up with children?s menus offering just chicken nuggets and chips. We went to a pub the other day and ds2 had a chicken salad and ate the lot.
I?d be happy to pay £3 a head for a good child?s portion. DS2?s salad was £3.50 iirc. Sandwiches maybe £1.50-£2.
Also drinks; please offer water or milk, mine hate fizzy pop (and so do i)

Oh I see I should read the thread, you are going to do water or milk etc.
Good point nopearls (did you used to be twinsetandpealrs btw?) makes about drinks and big glasses high up on the table. We've all been there!

Think posters have covered pretty much what I'd like to see - but I'd add (if not already mentioned)
Jacket pots - ds loves these well mashed with butter and cheese
Samosas, pakora that kind of snack finger food
mini pasties - cheese and onion/veggie etc
chucky soups (ie more like stews - Delias tuscan bean is a fav...)