Anonymous
Post 02/24/2022 14:27     Subject: what do you feed kids for lunch on playdates?
Anonymous wrote:I haven't read the comments, and I tend to go very bland food universally understood to be liked by kids - cheese pizza, chicken nuggets, etc.

However, I have a picky eater and I appreciate when other parents force him beyond his comfort zone. With me, he has to be forced to try new foods. But he understands that it is rude not to try new foods offered at other people's houses and, in his words, "try to eat at least half of it." Because he's more wiling to try new things with other people, he is more likely to discover he actually likes something. He decided he liked asparagus after another mom served it to him. I LOVE THAT MOM.


I inadvertently omitted the bolded words above.

Anonymous
Post 02/24/2022 14:26     Subject: what do you feed kids for lunch on playdates?
I haven't read the comments, and I tend to go very bland food universally understood to be liked by kids - cheese pizza, chicken nuggets, etc.

However, I have a picky eater and I appreciate when other parents force him beyond his comfort zone. With me, he has to be forced to try new foods. But he understands that it is rude not to try new foods and, in his words, "try to eat at least half of it." Because he's more wiling to try new things with other people, he is more likely to discover he actually likes something. He decided he liked asparagus after another mom served it to him. I LOVE THAT MOM.
Anonymous
Post 02/24/2022 14:22     Subject: what do you feed kids for lunch on playdates?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, you have to know that kodiak pancakes and veggie pizza are not going to be a universal crowd pleaser with kids.


+1 WTF are Kodak pancakes anyway?! Hey OP, why didn’t you try a kale smoothie? Lol.

They are pancakes with protein powder mixed in. I don’t mind them, but my kids don’t like the artificial vanilla aftertaste and grainy texture :/

I usually offer the visiting kid a few choices and make that for all of the kids - dinosaur nuggets, mini hot dogs, Mac n cheese; sometimes the kids just want some dry cheerios and fruit though. I always have an assortment of fruit around. That’s good enough for the few hours they are here.
Anonymous
Post 02/24/2022 14:22     Subject: what do you feed kids for lunch on playdates?
I feel it’s very important to teach kids to appreciate the food their friends’ parents offered at play dates, they don’t have to eat and they may not like it but no need to say anything rude like some adults do here. No one wants to offer something bad to kids at playdates. OP just asked for suggestions here and people can simply say kids are picky they may prefer something else instead say thing like what OP wants to serve is bad or disgusting. It’s sounded heathy and maybe delicious but may not be suitable for play date food.
Anonymous
Post 02/24/2022 09:04     Subject: what do you feed kids for lunch on playdates?
My kid has a bento box-style lunch at school every day (a homemade lunchable, if you will) and I do the same for playdates: deli meat roll-ups or salami, cheese sticks or cheese cubes, a few cut fruits or veggies, and crackers.
Anonymous
Post 02/24/2022 08:44     Subject: Re:what do you feed kids for lunch on playdates?
Why can’t you just serve normal kid food?

We don’t eat fast food either. Why couldn’t you take the veggies off the pizza?

I can’t think of a time when kids didn’t eat at my house.
Anonymous
Post 02/23/2022 19:54     Subject: what do you feed kids for lunch on playdates?
Anonymous wrote:OP, you have to know that kodiak pancakes and veggie pizza are not going to be a universal crowd pleaser with kids.


+1 WTF are Kodak pancakes anyway?! Hey OP, why didn’t you try a kale smoothie? Lol.
Anonymous
Post 02/23/2022 17:29     Subject: what do you feed kids for lunch on playdates?
Anonymous wrote:It never occurred to me to think or stress about this. Don’t you all just have staples in your house to fix a children’s lunch? Or just fruit, cheese, some carrot sticks, pretzels, crackers, nuts, eggs, lunch meats. Something? I’m shocked this is an issue


I'm shocked (not) that you didn't read the OP, just the subject line.
Anonymous
Post 02/23/2022 17:29     Subject: what do you feed kids for lunch on playdates?
Anonymous wrote:We usually just do a big platter of crackers, cheese sticks, cut-up vegetables, and bite size fruit like grapes or berries. I don't worry about serving a balanced meal.


This is what I do, too. Basically a snack tray.
Anonymous
Post 02/23/2022 17:28     Subject: Re:what do you feed kids for lunch on playdates?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Stop trying to feed kids weird shi7. Give them cheese pizza, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, turkey & cheese (sandwiches or served separately with crackers, pancakes with whipped cream or maple syrup, ….. My kids aren’t even picky, but they wouldn’t eat yogurt on pancakes.


Op meals sounds like what we eat in our house. People who separate food into "kids food" and "adult food" are bizarre. No wonder there are so many picky eaters!


I'm a well travelled adult and have no idea what Kodiak pancakes are and am not sure why OP is serving anyone pancakes for lunch.
Anonymous
Post 02/23/2022 17:07     Subject: what do you feed kids for lunch on playdates?
We usually just do a big platter of crackers, cheese sticks, cut-up vegetables, and bite size fruit like grapes or berries. I don't worry about serving a balanced meal.
Anonymous
Post 02/23/2022 17:01     Subject: Re:what do you feed kids for lunch on playdates?
I serve something healthy and homemade that my kid would eat + have fixings for a PB&J and grilled cheese in case the other kid refuses my homemade food. BUT many times, the kid loves my homemade food and the mom texts me later for the recipe! I like expanding kids’ palates if I possibly can. It’s sad that people have such low expectations of kids and think they can only eat chicken nuggets and hot dogs.
Anonymous
Post 02/23/2022 16:53     Subject: what do you feed kids for lunch on playdates?
Nutella Sandwiches

grilled cheese sandwiches

Plain pasta with the option of sauce and cheese on top

Sides of muffins, apples, string cheese, cucumbers are always well received.
Anonymous
Post 02/23/2022 16:41     Subject: what do you feed kids for lunch on playdates?
It never occurred to me to think or stress about this. Don’t you all just have staples in your house to fix a children’s lunch? Or just fruit, cheese, some carrot sticks, pretzels, crackers, nuts, eggs, lunch meats. Something? I’m shocked this is an issue
Anonymous
Post 02/23/2022 15:06     Subject: Re:what do you feed kids for lunch on playdates?
God, the amount of judgy people on here. Teach your kids to be gracious even if they don’t like the food. This is life, not everything needs to be catered to their perfect liking