When is a toddler/child too old....

[staci]

to eat off of an adult's plate at a restaurant?

DS is now 28 months old. On the rare occassion where we eat out, he usually just eats from our plates (places like applebees, outback, mexican sit down places, etc). Occasionally, if we are eating something he wont like, we do order him a kids meal or side item. But generally he eats little, if any, of it.

We do always tip very generously to account for ds's presence at the table.

At what age do you feel it is inappropriate to NOT buy food for your dc?

 

[Beth76]

I never really thought about it. My sons are 4-1/2 and 1-1/2. The older one always gets his own meal and the younger one sometimes does and sometimes shares with us or with his brother. I don't really think it matters what age you should stop. I'm sure there are adults who split plates.

 

[jme829]

My ds is going to be 5 and sometimes (though not always) he will either eat off of our plate or share a meal with his sister (6)..He is not a picky eater but he doesn't eat a lot and I can't see spending $ 3-4 for him to take one or two bites and waste the rest. Sometimes I will order him a kids meal, sometimes he shares and sometimes I will order him a side dish only (like baked potato or cottage cheese etc..) It all depends on what we have done that day and how much he has eaten. If we have been busy and ate a early bfast, then I will order him his own food, but hes eaten a big bfast or lunch, I know that he usually just will not eat a large dinner. We have never encountered a problem, we will just tell the waitress that he is going to share and they say no problem and bring him extra plate without us even needing to ask.

 

[mickeyboat]

I also don't think it really matters. I would probably start ordering from the kids' menu when he can / wants to eat that food. We eat out way too often, and my kids started asking their own meals at around 3 or so.

Denae

 

[Cindy's Mom]

put me in the "I don't think it matter" column. Its what ever is best for your child. DS4 usually gets his own meal while DD5 is a light eater and will pick off all of our plates - I've never gotten a glance from a server, and frankly, never thought about it.

 

[MoniqueU]

Well I am one of those weird people who do not like other people even my kids eating off my plate. So from the time they were old enough for solids they got their own meal. I never would have thought to do it different but that is just me.

 

[PaulaSue]

For myslef, I started buying the girls their own meal at 3ish instead of them eating off my plate. But even now if it is something bigger I will only buy 1 or 2 meals for the 3 of them to share.

 

[icebrat001]

I don't think it really matters. If I had to say something though, I'd say 8.

 

[kbkids]

I say when you need more food to satisfy them than simply sharing with you gives them. DD always was and still is (she's 8) a very light eater. I didn't start buying her her own meals until DS came along and was ready for table food too. She was about 4 then. Then they usually just shared a kids meal together. Even now, he's 4, she's 8, they will share a kids meal sometimes. DH and I share a meal sometimes. It really just depends on how hungry we all are. I don't see the point in buying food that you're just going to throw away.

 

[staci]

I don't think it really matters. If I had to say something though, I'd say 8.

Yeah!!! That gives me 6 more years of cheaper eatin'!

Just kidding. I do want to thank everyone for your input.

I was raised in an enviroment without many money concerns, and never remember NOT getting my own food anywhere. ( I was one of those kids who would go to a nice brunch buffet at the sheraton after church and eat one peice of plain white toast ).

Now that I am an adult, and must be much more money concious, I have to worry about these things. OF COURSE if ds is hungry I will buy him all the food he would ever want, but it just seems like such a waste at this point to begin buying him food that will be thrown away.

I am glad to see that it is still considered acceptable to do this. I never thought about it when he was younger, but now that he is making that transition from the high chair to the booth/booster, it just got me thinking about it.

THANKS AGAIN everyone!! I love the DIS!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Whatever works out for you and your family. For us it depends on the type of food it is, if our food is something the young child would want to share, if there would be enough, etc.

Often we'll eat at Chinese, Indian, etc and we'll get food that goes into the middle of the table that we all share. If we're at Italian, Mexican, etc and we're not doing that I suppose that we tended to get the kiddie meals starting when my kids were around 3yo, but it really depended on the restaurant, the particular child, their appetite, etc. No hard and fast rule.

Even now with our 6yo sometimes he prefers some side dishes if we're eating at Mexican restaurants. Give him rice and beans and throw in some flour tortillas and he's happy. He then mooches from us. Often he'll order the kiddie meal, but still mooch from us since he likes a variety of food.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

when they are old enough to not pick at a plate (at home or elsewhere).

Adults plate share all the time and that is no different.

We have gotten burned by too many wasted kids meals. I have even had my girls share a meal b/c I know they won't eat it.

Do what is best for your family and do not worry about it.

We do tip well to take into consideration the sharing.

ETA: My girls are 5.5 and 3.5

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yeah!!! That gives me 6 more years of cheaper eatin'!

Just kidding. I do want to thank everyone for your input.

I was raised in an enviroment without many money concerns, and never remember NOT getting my own food anywhere. ( I was one of those kids who would go to a nice brunch buffet at the sheraton after church and eat one peice of plain white toast ).

Now that I am an adult, and must be much more money concious, I have to worry about these things. OF COURSE if ds is hungry I will buy him all the food he would ever want, but it just seems like such a waste at this point to begin buying him food that will be thrown away.

I am glad to see that it is still considered acceptable to do this. I never thought about it when he was younger, but now that he is making that transition from the high chair to the booth/booster, it just got me thinking about it.

THANKS AGAIN everyone!! I love the DIS!

I understand. I was raised in an order the cheapest thing from the menu. WE only go out to eat when we can afford it so it is not a stipulation. Funny going to my dad's house for the summer. I always asked if I had to order the cheapest thing and he thougt it to be a silly question.


And remember--ADULTS DO IT AS WELL WITH ONE ANOTHER! Anyone who frowns upon sharing with a child...needs to go to the naughty corner.

 

[staci]

And remember--ADULTS DO IT AS WELL WITH ONE ANOTHER! Anyone who frowns upon sharing with a child...needs to go to the naughty corner.

Thanks! I guess I never thought of it that way.

 

[Talking Hands]

My daughters 27 and 23 will still sometimes share a meal depending on the restaurant as they are both small eaters. DH and I often share breakfast at IHOP. Much too big for either of us. I don't think it matters. Use your own judgement.

 

[paigevz]

Well, we did that until about age 3 with both of ours, when they began to express wanting kids' menu stuff of their own.

However, now ds 10 wants adult menu stuff, but can't eat it all. Now we are back to sharing again. My dh gets a meal, ds age 3 gets a kid's meal, and Ds age 10 and I share an entree.

I don't ever think it's inappropriate as long as you are paying per entree. If you are paying for a 9 oz. steak, then what difference does it make who eats it or when?

When you pay buffet, though, I think you should just follow the policy of the restaurant and pay accordingly.

 

[janet715]

to eat off of an adult's plate at a restaurant?

DS is now 28 months old. On the rare occassion where we eat out, he usually just eats from our plates (places like applebees, outback, mexican sit down places, etc). Occasionally, if we are eating something he wont like, we do order him a kids meal or side item. But generally he eats little, if any, of it.

We do always tip very generously to account for ds's presence at the table.

At what age do you feel it is inappropriate to NOT buy food for your dc?

Are you kidding?? My 8 year old STILL eats off my plate!!!!

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

My answer: When there isn't enough food for all with this method! I can't imagine any restaurant minding what your kid ate, so long as you paid for what was put in front of you. Buffets, of course you have to pay the child rate, but they're frequently free for under 3yo's.

I have a DD10 who eats like a bird, but will be an "adult" at Disney this summer. Meanwhile, her brother will be 9--technically a "child", who eats like every meal is the last time he'll see food! I figure it'll balance out, so long as one of them pays adult price--we may alternate which one gets the kid's meal and which one the adult.

 

[Mermaid02]

My 9 year old and I split a meal Monday night at Smokey Bones.

 

[Disney Doll]

I would say probably 3 or 4, depending on the eating habits of the child.

As far as wasting food...why not bring home what they don't eat in a dogie bag?

I assume, of course, that if a restaurant charged those of you who share a meal a plate charge, you would be willing to pay it, right?