Anonymous wrote:He may have deipnophobia, be kind.

I had to look that up and that might be more plausible. My first concern was some sort of eating disorder.

Anonymous wrote:My teen is really picky. If you went somewhere he didn't like or wasn't sure about, he might have ordered and tried it. Which would be a HUGE step for him. But if he didn't like it, he wouldn't eat it and then would have felt stupid and embarrassed. And then I feel weird because it is so unusual and I know that you were trying but I know he was trying too.

So just let go. Assume good intentions all around. Because the situation on our side is so much more awkward and uncomfortable than you know.

+1, this is my 10 year old. She would politely agree to order something wherever people were stopping, but it's 50-50 (at best) if she'd like it. OP said the child ordered a plain cheeseburger - McDonald's frequently gets this wrong (one of the many reasons my family doesn't eat there anymore), so it's possible he bit into the burger and found it full of unwanted toppings. Ditto with Panera - maybe he's had the specific sandwich before but modified (e.g., no mayo) and didn't know to request the modifications. I'd feel bad the child didn't get food he could eat and would probably phrase it to the other child's parents as, "I'm afraid we missed the mark with meals for Larlo on this trip - if we do this again, is there a safer bet for takeout, or can we pack something he'd happily eat?".

McDonald’s burgers are grim. Maybe an egg McMuffin is serviceable but even that can taste like cardboard if the muffin isn’t buttered and toasted properly. McDonald’s in 2025 is truly absolute bottom of the barrel “food.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please do not feed my kids McDonald’s when you’re carpooling. I honestly thought that went without saying.

+100 this. I don’t expect my kid to be provided food when carpooling unless we discuss beforehand and I send money. I don’t like when people buy my kids junk without my consent.

I really don't care either way but don't be an @ss and pick on a kid who didn't like the food you provided. Just let it be, for gods sake.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please do not feed my kids McDonald’s when you’re carpooling. I honestly thought that went without saying.

+100 this. I don’t expect my kid to be provided food when carpooling unless we discuss beforehand and I send money. I don’t like when people buy my kids junk without my consent.

My twins are seniors in high school and I can honestly say that I’ve never fed any of their friends McDonalds, but this is crazy. Even fragile snowflakes can survive one meal of junk food, given they don’t have serious issues with any foods, i.e., food allergies, intolerances, celiac, diabetes, metabolic disorder. I could understand your attitude when it comes to a toddler or preschooler, but by age 11, I’m pretty sure junk food has passed through your child’s lips before. If the family who was kind enough to provide transportation for your child decides to eat at McDonalds because they’re hungry and that’s what’s available and in their budget, it would be rude of them not to offer your child anything.

Anonymous wrote:Please do not feed my kids McDonald’s when you’re carpooling. I honestly thought that went without saying.

+100 this. I don’t expect my kid to be provided food when carpooling unless we discuss beforehand and I send money. I don’t like when people buy my kids junk without my consent.

Anonymous wrote:He was trying to conceal because the one bite didn’t work out. You were rude to point it out.

That's what I was thinking. My kids would have done the same thing bc I told her it's rude to not eat the food so at least pretend you did. As long as he says thank you then nbd. Kids are kids

Anonymous wrote:He was trying to conceal because the one bite didn’t work out. You were rude to point it out.

Yeah, you should have just said we stopped at McDonalds on the way back, he had a “cheeseburger.” Leave it up to the kid to tell the mom exactly how much he ate. Hopefully, the kid said “Thank you.”

Anonymous wrote:I think the mom was just saying her kid is a picky eater and is used to shake shake. I wouldn’t take it as a flex but more just truth.

+1

OP, you are mental. He didn't want to eat the food. Get over it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She was taken aback. Next time, discuss food plans in advance, or at least text with the mom or dad before announcing plans to kids. That would give her a chance to say, “Please go ahead and get Billy a drink and small fries, but tell him I have dinner for him at home. Can I Venmo you?”

Yeah no I’m not doing this. Teach your child not to order food they don’t want, or at least not to ball it up like a vulture.

The good news is that you won’t know about it if you don’t rat around in trash like a rabid raccoon.

Guessing the kids left the trash on a table for OP to pick up.

Why would you being this up to his parent? Kids are weird and picky eaters. That is life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She was taken aback. Next time, discuss food plans in advance, or at least text with the mom or dad before announcing plans to kids. That would give her a chance to say, “Please go ahead and get Billy a drink and small fries, but tell him I have dinner for him at home. Can I Venmo you?”

Yeah no I’m not doing this. Teach your child not to order food they don’t want, or at least not to ball it up like a vulture.

The good news is that you won’t know about it if you don’t rat around in trash like a rabid raccoon.

Anonymous wrote:She was taken aback. Next time, discuss food plans in advance, or at least text with the mom or dad before announcing plans to kids. That would give her a chance to say, “Please go ahead and get Billy a drink and small fries, but tell him I have dinner for him at home. Can I Venmo you?”

Yeah no I’m not doing this. Teach your child not to order food they don’t want, or at least not to ball it up like a vulture.

I think the mom was just saying her kid is a picky eater and is used to shake shake. I wouldn’t take it as a flex but more just truth.

WHY would you bring this up to his parents?

“Glad he could ride along with us. Looked like the kids had a lot of fun at (extracurricular).” Leave it at that. I can’t imagine bringing up what an 11yo did or did not eat. He’s not 6yo.