I grew up never knowing kids menus were things until I was a pre-teen/teenager. I think I always assumed they might be smaller portions of dishes when I was very young. Somehow in the late 80s and 90s, it became constant chicken fingers/tenders/nuggets and potato tots, or maybe a PBJ thrown in.
Immigrant family - we ate whatever my mom cooked, and we wasted little. Traditional Chinese style helps that even if I didn’t like one thing, there was usually a dish of something else. And if I ever was being particularly bratty and not wanting what we had, my mom might open up a can of fried dace or cook me a fried egg to throw on top of my rice. It didn’t mean I liked everything – I still hate regular mustard greens with a passion (not the pickled or brined kind) and don’t you ever dare put boiled lettuce with oyster sauce in front of me, but I at least tried at everything. My niece and nephew all grew up this same way too.
It sounds more and more like this is, indeed, very specific to the US and its food “culture” (I use that term in the broadest sense here).
You don’t see kids menus at many German restaurants even to this day, but when they do exist, it’s also always the same: plain noodz, fries, nuggets.
Sigh.
2 Likes
Harters
(John Hartley - a culinary patriot, cooking and eating in northwest England)
63
Same in the UK. You really only see them in chain (or wannabee chain) places. My recollection (which may be hazy - forgive me, I’m old) is that I hadnt seen kids menus at all until our first visit to the States in 1980.
I like places, like some gastropub/bistro places, that say that they don’t do a kids menu but will happily serve a half portion of any menu item to an ankle biter.
As someone who prefers smaller portions I’m a huge fan of being able to order 1/2 portions, even as an adult.
Funny story: an ice cream parlor in Berlin offers kid scoops… but only for kids. My mentioning of this in my Google review was taken down TWICE bc that dumbass parlor had their lawyers contact Google. TWICE. For stating the mere fact that you only get a small scoop if you provide proof of offspring. Never mind that my darling daughter might be sick at home, desperately waiting for a sweet treat, locked in the basement , or around the corner playing with friends…
Jamie Oliver isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but the man does make a point about the fact that governments should do more to ensure kids are eating nutritious food.
He has done more than a lot of food personalities to promote home cooking as a way of eating better.
My 10-year-old nephew has been helping Grandpa (my father) bake since he was about 4. He’s starting to help out more in the kitchen too.
He’s a small kid but has been very good about self-regulating, and chooses to graze rather than have big meals. My sister & B-I-L let him eat at his own pace. He loves salmon and other healthy foods, but vegetables continue to be a challenge. At least he doesn’t have a big sweet tooth…yet.
I was raised on formula too (preemie -had to stay in the hospital for weeks until I got up to minimum weight to be allowed to go home) but was never a picky eater. I just didn’t eat much of anything, but it was quantity that was the issue. I was skinny! But healthy! I had some pretty adult likings at an early age.
if he can get in a kitchen to help an engaging [mostly] vegetarian cook then he might naturally develop a taste for vegetables… the whole “look what i did/made/cooked” kind of thingie.
This is much more nuanced than the NYT article. I was on board until the author (Veit) veered into feeding advice. She’s a historian, not a psychologist or parenting expert, and I think it shows.
I actually meant the author of the book. I think it probably would have been better to stick to historical arguments. Veering into feeding advice, many of which are counter to current recommendations, probably weakens her case. I’m curious whether she’s a parent/caretaker.
Things I noted: “the standard guidance was to just let food-refusing children go hungry until the next meal.” - this was a yup - OR you got a PB&J sandwich.
“…a good mother is one who presents a plate of food and sits silently by as her child pokes at it half-heartedly; if he refuses the meal, she offers something else.” Yeah, that’s a NOPE. Mom isn’t running a frickin’ restaurant!
Comments were interesting. One person wrote “the key was that I made dinner every night. We ate together as a family every night, and what was served is what they got.” This was pretty much my household when I was growing up.
, or around the corner playing with friends…
