Opinions on Children's Menu @ Wedding :)

[Lynday]

Hello,

I am trying to sort out my wedding menu and I was wondering if I could get some opinions please.

I have a few children coming all of whom are under the age of 6. I'm not sure if our main dish is very child-friendly and I thought it might be nice to offer a separate menu for the kids. My caterer suggested having plain pasta in a tomato and basil sauce, topped with cheese, and jelly or crumble for dessert.

Do you think most kids would go for this? Do you have any other (budget) ideas?

Thank you

What is your main?

I would always prefer the children eat the same as the adults do - what is it/why don't you think it's child friendly?

We had boxes of food for children.

Chicken nuggets
Sausages
Cucumber
Carrot sticks
Crisps
Box juice
Colouring book and pens

Cake and ice cream later

For under 6 this is ideal and so much cheaper

Pasta with tomato and basil sauce is going to make one heck of a mess! I'd be cross if I'd spent money on a special outfit for a LO only for it to be stained by that!

Our main is pork in a cider sauce with veg and new potatoes. It's an autumn wedding.

the boxes above sound ideal

Sounds fine for kids to me can I come, I love pork

Ok, I know all children are different but I can't see many objecting to pork, potatoes and veg. 10 month old DS would gobble it down.

Maybe serve the sauce separately if it's practical? Just to limit mess really but also for flexibility. I understand that the pork is probably cooked in the cider but presumably the sauce/gravy is thickened afterwards and then poured back onto the pork before serving - if you could put it in a jug for the kiddies I think it'd be perfect!

I like the box idea. The last thing I want to do as a parent is supervise hyperactive children who've already been bored to tears at the ceremony etc with neat eating using cutlery and everything, picky food is much better idea.

I think pork is better tbh-all mine would eat that. If veg separate then they'll eat that too. If not they'lll fill up on pudding and parents of any fussy kids will usually bring a few snacks anyway. Just serve them half portions?

I'd happily give my 2 (both under 4) your main. I agree with the poster who said that tomato sauce will be MESSY! Or at least has the potential to be. DD would have a fine time trashing all her and my clothes with that even with her wearing one of those bibs with sleeves etc.

DS might consider eating the potato. If there was ketchup.

Trust me.... Do the boxes!!

If you think the main is good for kids then that is great, I'm never sure if I am over thinking things and making life harder for myself!

I know my LO would love it, but he eats anything and I wanted to see what other mums/dads thought.

I'm also going to have favours made up of games/snacks to keep noise to a minimum ;)

Have to agree that - although my dc would all enjoy pasta in a tomato sauce, it is going to stain the new wedding clothes.
I know I'll probably be banned from MN for ever, but, in all my years of experience of feeding other people's children, you really can't go wrong with some nuggets or pizza.
Yes, mine all liked a 'Sunday dinner' type meal, but there will be quite a few parents that will worry about the fact it's cooked in cider.

Mine would eat te main

Def not tomato sauce! Crazy idea with probably pale/ white clothes.

Pesto pasta or cheesy pasta, and some desert

With a little box with snacks like chedders/ flump marshmallows/ a drink etc etc . That they can eat before if long wait or after/ whenever.

Also I find most kids like nice fruit. Mixed berries, some grapes, melon, kiwi etc all cut up that they can pick at

I think you should allow children the option of the adult main course or the children's food. You could include a slip in with the invite for catering. My two have always had what we eat but there would be others who like children's food. I would go for cheesy pasta .

Chicken nuggets / lunchbox type snacks - DS eats a wide variety but his tastes are so various and random day to day that it's best to do a variety and one that doesn't require much adult supervision.

I think the tomato & basil sauce is a TERRIBLE idea! but then i got chocolate sauce down my wedding dress

Pork in cider sauce sounds lovely. The alcohol will be cooked off so no worries there.

I'd prefer smaller portions of main course . Are you offering a veggie option as that may suit younger palates ? Icecream always good as a dessert , maybe with dish of mini marshmallows, sprinkles, wafer, fruit etc so they can personalise.

Ask the parents: 1/2 portion of a pork dinner or chix nuggets and chips.

Id pick the 1/2 portion.

Maybe go for fresh fruit salad with a dollop or ice cream for pud

Pork and veg with new potato sound fine for dc under 6, I don't see that serving a half or third portion would be a problem?

Mine wouldn't have eaten the pork. The boxes sound ideal.

I offered children the choice of half an adult meal (meat or veggie) or the kids nuggets and chips and just told the caterer when informing them of other dietary requirements.

Our veggie option is mushroom stroganoff. I'm glad I asked about the pasta as I was just going to say 'oh yeah that will be fine' without a second thought. I now have an image of tomato sauce stains everywhere!!

I like the idea of having some sweeties to personalise your ice cream - I could put them in with the favours with a little note so I don't get charged a bomb by the caterer :-D