Buffet etiquette with kids

[Anonymous]

Are you from the South? I don't hear about "disrespect" too much 'round these parts. Or buffets for that matter. And I grew up being told to clean my plate, and guess what...I'm now overweight.

I'd have let it slide. He's probably more embarrassed that you chided him in front of family you don't see often. If it's that big a deal, you can talk about it later, but not every meal has to be a lesson (especially for a teenager). Glad to hear you apologized and hope the rest of your trip is good.

[Anonymous]

What odd parenting choices. Criticizing your kid for trying new things and trying to force the to overrate. Win.

[Anonymous]

OP was right to apologize - it just shouldn't be that big of a deal. That his kid gave these foods a try is a good thing.

That said, I am very aware of this as we go to a buffet (Indian) about twice a month. My children are younger, and need much smaller portions, so I am very aware of this when putting food on a plate for a 6 and 3 year old. (My 3 year old DD eats as much as many older bigger children do)

I hate wasting food, so will only put tiny portions of anything on kids' plates to start with. I do not put anything on there I or DH wouldn't be willing or able to finish off ourselves.

This isn't usually a problem, as our kids have learned what they like. Tandoori chicken and catfish curry are big hits that we can count on for the kids, anything new they want to try has to be tried in a bite size portion first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One kid took a lot of new items and didn't like them so he didn't eat them. You told him to try the new foods before putting on his plate. How is he supposed to do that?

On this my suggestion to him would be to take one of an item and try it instead of taking three and deciding he doesn't like it.

On other suggestions for responding, I appreciate them.

Exactly.

OP I find it rude as well to leave half a plate as well. I wouldn't have made a big deal of it though, and I'm sure any teen can actually tell the difference between a half a plate of food and two bites.

How do you salvage this? Tell him to drop the attitude and you all move on. Next time you go to a buffet remind him that if it's something new he should only take enough to taste it. He can go back for more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BTW, I thought your post was going to be about kids touching the food and/or cross-contaminating. I saw two boys stick their hands in the bowl of muffins the other day, ignoring the tongs that were provided. Now that is FAR worse etiquette.

Getting bread from a bread bowl. Yeah, we adults always use those tongs that come with the baskets and an Italian restaurant.

I think you'll survive.

How do you think that bread got there in the first place?

Why is it better for every customer to touch a set of tongs than for each person to reach in a basket and touch one item that they are going to consume themselves? I never get the tongs thing. Seems like a better way to spread germs. (Obviously, if a child is reaching in a basket and touching everything, that's worse.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you from the South? I don't hear about "disrespect" too much 'round these parts. Or buffets for that matter. And I grew up being told to clean my plate, and guess what...I'm now overweight.

I'd have let it slide. He's probably more embarrassed that you chided him in front of family you don't see often. If it's that big a deal, you can talk about it later, but not every meal has to be a lesson (especially for a teenager). Glad to hear you apologized and hope the rest of your trip is good.

I grew up being told to clean my plate, and guess what...I'm now and always have been skinny. Your parents did not force you to become overweight. Have some self control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound annoying.

One kid took a lot of new items and didn't like them so he didn't eat them. You told him to try the new foods before putting on his plate. How is he supposed to do that? You can't just bring your fork up and take bites. Who cares that he didn't eat the food he didn't like? Now he won't take them on his next trip to the buffet.

One kid didn't eat two bites off his plate. Really??

It seems like you have some issues regarding food. I really doubt you are truly concerned with your children disrespecting small businesses.

I think this poster always tells the parent that they have issues with food!

I would just tell your boys if they are trying food to only take a small amount and if they like it they can go back and get more. You can say to the older one, that you did not yell at the younger one as much because the younger one does not have as much experience as the older one.