Maybe we should listen more to small children.

I totally agree with you.

Our grandson (nearly 5) has often told us of things that when we’ve mentioned to his parents they have no idea about. No excuse but it’s today’s busy world.

it's almost as if they are human beings and individuals, a bit like us.
how many adults have to eat their vegetables before they are allowed pudding.
actually i can imagine an establishment with very stern waitresses along those lines would attract a certain kind of clientele.
could be quite lucrative. another business idea just waiting for the investment and a capable manager. anyone ?

Welbeck!

I think that's already been done, welbeck.
Unless it's a figment of my imagination, I'm sure there was a club somewhere, where "naughty boys" grubby men were punished for not eating school type dinners.

Welbeck

Great idea!

I was a bar/restaurant owner here in Brussels for many years and I have met a lot of customers who would love your suggestion Welbeck. Also know there are a few establishments here who would happily oblige.
Not my style !!!

Presumably your niece’s little girl ate all the other things, just not the carrots? I would have known about this, because we frequented places like ‘ The Little Chef ‘ I always checked their meals before they ate them, and we had four children.

When it came to eating out, we were very careful. Although to be honest, my kids were all good eaters. They now say it was because they got the ‘ death stare ‘, if they didn’t!

However, I used to talk to my granny far more than my mum. She definitely had more time for me, and she didn’t favour my sister over me.

I would be grateful to listen endlessly to anything my GC said, unfortunately that attitude gave rise to me being prohibited from doing just that. Sigh!
Apologies for derailing.

welbeck

it's almost as if they are human beings and individuals, a bit like us.
how many adults have to eat their vegetables before they are allowed pudding.
actually i can imagine an establishment with very stern waitresses along those lines would attract a certain kind of clientele.
could be quite lucrative. another business idea just waiting for the investment and a capable manager. anyone ?

It might go the other way. They wouldn’t be able to sell any puddings!?

TBH, I don't think it's unreasonable to say no pudding if you don't eat your veg. I did it with my veg-hating DD and she does the same with her son. Got to get the vitamins in somehow!

What did the child mean by hairs on the carrots?

Children have the weirdest reasons not to eat anything they dont like.
"My food is touching! Ewwww I want a new plate!"
"My school gives it to me in a plate vs a bowl"
"I don't eat yellow food!"
"I want a pink bowl with orange spoon!"

This mother had 4 kids at the same time. Dinner and lunch time can be very stressful and this is so minor

If anybody brought this up to my attention, I would tell him/her to please do not offer opinion unless requested (aka mind your own business)

Of course kids do have reasons not to do things - pick your battles

No battle for me.
No dinner eaten means no dessert.
Simple.

Seems a bit mean to spoil a treat out to deny ice-cream for not eating carrots, regardless of the reason.

No ice-cream if throwing food, tantrums, running around etc., but for not eating a few carrots?

Riverwalk

Seems a bit mean to spoil a treat out to deny ice-cream for not eating carrots, regardless of the reason.

No ice-cream if throwing food, tantrums, running around etc., but for not eating a few carrots?

exactly.
esp as the carrot were adulterated.
Hithere, it means probably the catering/serving staff need to wear hairnets.

I presumed the child meant the thin stringy thingies that are on unpeeled carrots, rather than human hair.

That’s what I thought River ....sometimes carrots do have fine hairs on them, won’t hurt you but may upset a child forced to eat them.

I also thought the same.

Children + food = potential battleground and IMHO is best avoided. I often used you "why aren't you eating that?" approach, if the answer was "I'm not hungry" then no pud, if "I don't like it" I'd say try a little just to make sure. I don't like eating things that I don't like, won't eat if I am full and as a child was quite wary of anything new. My grandchildren were the worst eaters in the world, so darn fussy but none of them have died, yet! I just used to serve up the meal and if they didn't eat it, they went hungry but without comment.

Hithere

What did the child mean by hairs on the carrots?

Children have the weirdest reasons not to eat anything they dont like.
"My food is touching! Ewwww I want a new plate!"
"My school gives it to me in a plate vs a bowl"
"I don't eat yellow food!"
"I want a pink bowl with orange spoon!"

This mother had 4 kids at the same time. Dinner and lunch time can be very stressful and this is so minor

If anybody brought this up to my attention, I would tell him/her to please do not offer opinion unless requested (aka mind your own business)

Of course kids do have reasons not to do things - pick your battles

Some carrots have little white whiskers - presumably they weren't peeled so perhaps not like the ones Mummy and Daddy make!

Proto roots.

Oh, is that what they are?

Your niece is very lucky to have you there correcting her parenting. I hope she appreciates it

welbeck

it's almost as if they are human beings and individuals, a bit like us.
how many adults have to eat their vegetables before they are allowed pudding.
actually i can imagine an establishment with very stern waitresses along those lines would attract a certain kind of clientele.
could be quite lucrative. another business idea just waiting for the investment and a capable manager. anyone ?

Apparently there is or at least was a restaurant called “school dinners” in London,attracted a lot of adult men my friend told me who had frequented the establishment himself

Surely going out for a meal is a treat? And with littlies, different ways of cooking can affect the taste/appearance too. Seemed harsh IMO. One sad child watching their siblings tuck into a pud. I couldn’t do it to them. Home rules should give way to a bit of laxity when out. In my opinion.