Do you insist your children eat a paricular menu item when eating out? 4 January 2021 at 5:39PM in MoneySaving mums 30 replies 2.1K views

Amy97654

I was speaking to my sister in law, I let my children pick themselves from the menu when we go to restaurants etc. But my sister in law chooses for her children even when she knows it’s something they don’t like and insists that they eat it all.

KatrinaWaves

Amy97654 said:

I was speaking to my sister in law, I let my children pick themselves from the menu when we go to restaurants etc. But my sister in law chooses for her children even when she knows it’s something they don’t like and insists that they eat it all.

Your SIL is a sociopath.

es5595

Amy97654 said:

But my sister in law chooses for her children even when she knows it’s something they don’t like and insists that they eat it all.

It partly depends on what she's "forcing" them to have. If its a portion of vegetables when all they want is nuggets and chips, good on her!
When I take my goddaughter and her sister out (5 & 7) I'll normally get a copy of the menu sent to their mum in advance to find out what they don't like/won't eat, and then give them a verbal choice of her recommendations. As in, they get a limited choice. 
I'm not a parent. The first time I took children out, I took them to an all-you-can-eat buffet, and let them go, one came back with a bowl of marshmallows he'd held under the chocolate fountain... I learnt that a limited choice makes it a far better meal out!

clive0510

I dont have my own kids. my ex had two by her ex! if you see what I mean. and she allways used to check and inspect what they were ordering and drinking. but on the odd occasion when it was just me with her kids, I used to kinda just let them have what they wanted, with in reason of course. 
I suppose I spoilt them a bit, but they not grown up any the worse for it.

Mickey666

KatrinaWaves said:

Amy97654 said:

I was speaking to my sister in law, I let my children pick themselves from the menu when we go to restaurants etc. But my sister in law chooses for her children even when she knows it’s something they don’t like and insists that they eat it all.

Your SIL is a sociopath.

I agree. 
However, I would never let them choose from the 'children's menu' because they were usually just lazy options - basically junk food with chips.
The better restaurants would serve small portions of their main menu and I always favoured them when possible.

comeandgo

There are usually items on a menu I would not allow my children to eat either because I knew from previous ventures they would not like it or eat it.  I also preferred my children to have small portions from the main menu rather than what is offered on the child menu.

Grumpy_chap

The OP's sister is very brave.
I totally agree with still encouraging the children to eat healthily when in a restaurant, so guidance and limitation of the menu is sensible in that regard.
To balance that is the need to ensure the children behave and do not scream the place down because, after all, who likes broccoli when a piece of paper says you can have chicken nuggets and ice cream?

MovingForwards

https://www.adoptionukforum.org/topic/99323

https://www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/life-504/family-other-relationships-50/1925671-do-you-insist-your-children-eat-particular-menu-item-when-eating-out.html

Back again?

Spendless

Unless your sister in law has extremely compliant children, which is not always a good thing if they will do whatever an adult (even parent) says without questioning, I can't see how she can 'insist' on them eating something they dislike. If someone 'insisted' I ate a bowl of sprouts, after I forced down the first couple, I would be gagging, retching, going to the toilet afterwards to throw up, and potentially develop issues around food. If it's something I don't actually dislike but just prefer other things then that's a different story. 

Mickey666

Would the parents choose something they don't like from the menu? 
No, thought not, so why force children to do otherwise?

Marvel1

Is there anything your sister in law dislikes? If so make her eat it.