Feeding children 'weird' food

LameWolf

phizzimum wrote: »

I get really annoyed with the concept of "children's food" in restaurants, and even now ready meals in supermarkets. why do people think food should be segregated? ooh it makes me crazy that some people think kids will only eat something with a cartoon character on the pack! :mad: :mad: ok ok, I;ll go and have a lie down (actually I;ll go and cook dinner!)

I think it would be better for restaurants etc to offer "small-sized portions" which would be suitable for children AND for people like me for whom a starter is sufficient for a whole meal.

Also, although it doesn't directly affect me, as like Joolz, I am childfree, but I can't help but notice that a lot of "childrens menus" don't have a veggie option. Just an observation on my part.

Boodle

That's not weird food - that's normal food, isn't it?

I never understand why people think LOs won't like something that we do. My MIL gasped astounded as my toddler daughter munched on one of the redpepper strips I was slicing for dinner. And she agrees they should eatwell (she says so - her theory is a bit confused to be perfectly honest but that's a different story ) yet she exclaimed "I still can't believe that!" "What?" I ask. "That she eats things like that!" she replies. "Pepper?" - me, confused. "Well yeah, she just eats it. Other bairns don't sit and eat peppers!" Me - "They usually will if you give 'em some..." Apparently that side of the family thought I was making a fuss feeding my baby on caviar with a brassica at every meal or something, like I'm manically treating her like a nutrition project, despite telling them on numurous occasion she just eats what we eat. Why would I give my daughter something that I wouldn't touch with a bargepole?

Cafes bug me too. I can't understand children's menus. What's wrong with half portions? Sausages,fishfingers or chicken shapes and chips- if you're lucky spag bol or lasagne too. Sainsburys is good as their children's menu are just smaller portions of a few selective things from their main menu (tho why not everything beats me). We had to leave Asda cafe and find somewhere else. Their canteen hotplates were full of the choices and some of the children's menu were small portions of the main dishes. I asked if the salmon bake was one of them (the menu was dotted all over the place ) but I was told no but the fish shapes were :mad: Why salmon for adults and "fish shapes" for the children??? :mad:

Ishtar

Boodle wrote: »

Cafes bug me too. I can't understand children's menus. What's wrong with half portions?

Makes me wonder, too. I often share what I'm eating with DD when we go out, which means she gets to choose what I eat :rolleyes: - I just ask for an extra plate.

She's more than happy at a Chinese or Indian restaurant where she gets to try loads of different things, and is suitably unimpressed if we go somewhere where she is only offered food of the chips 'n' variety.

Her grandparents insisted they treat us to a McDonalds not long after we moved - DD refused point blank to eat it. I've obviously done something right!

Aril

I gave my son all sorts as a baby and onwards and the only time he had a jar of baby food he spat it out. He's had his moments but generally delights in trying anything new. We went out for a meal a few months ago that my boss paid for and he happily chomped his way through pigeon breast, red mullet and mushroom flavoured chocolates. Last week he went to an open evening as the senior school and they had laid out various WW2 dishes in the history dept...the teacher looked mildly stunned as he tried carrot fudge, porridge, fake banana sarnies [mashed up parsnip with banana flavouring]. He was a joy to take to Canada for a fortnight as he was up for any type of food on offer. I hasten to add he's very slim and eats healthily but also thoroughly enjoys crisps pizza etc but in moderation.
Saves me a fortune at the supermarket!
Aril

belle2008

My DS is now 5, when he was a toddler he used to eat absolutely anything (while I looked on with pride and a slightly smug feeling ). However there came a point when he was about 3 when he started to become fussy, saying he didn't like vegetables etc. However some unusal favourites have remained, such as smoked mackeral with peppercorns! In a restaurant the other day I read out the menu for him to choose something and he immediatly went for the salmon with veg. So his tastes are still quite sophisticated compared to his friends (one of his classmates will only eat chocolate spread sanwiches for lunch!)