Children's Menus of the World

[liuzhou]

Recent mentions of children’s menus and children-friendly meals on other threads have got me thinking. I know that this concept is not universal - kid’s menus I mean. Maybe not thinking, either. I’m now wondering what the kids’ menus situation is around the world.

 

I don’t recall ever seeing a kids’ menu in Asia although they may may well exist some places. I haven’t particularly been looking for them (until now). I certainly haven’t seen one ever in mainland China or Vietnam, the two countries I’ve spent most time in in the last three decades. Don’t recall any in India or Thailand. Hong Kong has them, but then it is very westernised.

 

It has been suggested on the internet that this is because dining out in China is a communal event with the food served family style and shared. While this is true to an extent, it isn’t the whole picture. Many restaurants do not serve food this way and they don’t have kids’ menus either. My younger friends with children have never heard of the concept.

 

Similarly, little if any provision is made for child-friendly meals at home. Children eat what their parents eat – even in the chilli heavy parts of China such as Hunan and Sichuan, etc. Restaurants may be willing to reduce portion size but I doubt many parents would even think to ask. The bland, clichéd, patronising choices on so many kids’ menus* wouldn’t wash here. Do we spoil or kids too much in the west? That could explain the number of fussy eaters (which are not found nearly so much here – I’ve only ever heard of one among friends). Also, childhood allergies are not so common here.

 

When my kids were growing up in London (a long time ago – they are in their early fifties now), there were no kid’s menus and I certainly didn’t prepare separate ‘friendly’ dishes for them. They are now still both very adventurous eaters as are my grand-children. Not sure about the great-grand-ones. They are only just-turned-3-year-old twins whom I've never met.

 

So, we have members here from around the world and we have members who travel widely. I’d love to know your experience and thoughts in different places. And what foods are offered if any.

 

* eg Macaroni and Cheese, Bangers and Mash, Meatball Pasta with Tomato Sauce. Burger and Chips from Ramsay Plane Food restaurant, London Heathrow Airport.

 

 

Edited yesterday at 03:21 AM by liuzhou (log)

[ElsieD]

I've often wondered when I see a kid's menu, why healthier choices aren't available.  Mostly, it seems to be all about chicken nuggets, burgers and fries.

[Margaret Pilgrim]

I would think one could order simply in most cultures.    Rice, pasta, veggies, simple meats.   

Our young son lived on roast chicken (kotópoulo psitó and pollo arrosto) during a month in Greece and Italy, and learned how to neatly bone out bird parts neatly as well.

[Shel_B]

@ElsieD I think it's because kids almost universally like the meals you mention. Parents usually want their young children to eat without complaining or making a fuss. That enhances the parents' dining experience.

 

That said, when our family would go out to eat we kids would eat what mom and dad would eat (and make our own choices} not from a special kids menu. I don't recall seeing a kids' menu until fast food became a more common dining choice, especially for families.

Edited yesterday at 05:35 PM by Shel_B (log)

[rotuts]

I imagine children's menus are offered in places where children are chronically exposed to 

 

' cartoons ' connected with food, and the like.

 

the are not meant to educate parents nor their children to new food experiences 

 

but to keep the children occupied and quiet .

Edited yesterday at 05:40 PM by rotuts (log)

[liuzhou]

I don't see any connection to cartoons. Children's menu-free China has just as many if not more cartoons which are food related. 

[Maison Rustique]

When I was a child, we did not go out to eat often but when we did, I don't recall ever even seeing a children's menu. At home Mom cooked all sorts of food and we ate what we were given so to order from a menu, we were familiar with and liked most anything on that menu. It was generally at lunch time in a department store restaurant so often it was a sandwich of some sort--maybe a Monte Cristo or something a bit fancy. We ate it whatever it was and loved the experience. We were in our hats and gloves and wouldn't have dreamt of throwing a fit because there were no chicken nuggets.

 

Different times, for sure. I just saw someone post about Oreos cereal. OMG! I can't recall Mom ever giving me a bowl of cold cereal for breakfast. Yuck!

[ElsieD]

6 hours ago, Maison Rustique said:

I can't recall Mom ever giving me a bowl of cold cereal for breakfast. Yuck!

We only ever had corn flakes.  I hated how they got soggy.  Double yuck.