A cousin is coming to lunch this week with her 4 year old (step) great grandson aged 4. His father is a charming Moroccan but as Muslms, they eat only halal food. Four year olds in my experience (DGS) are not major veg eaters and my mind has gone blank as to what I can give this little boy to eat. I know about not meat, but any animal derivatives are ruled out , so presumably that includes cheese, jelly (gelatine) maybe ice cream? Pasta OK but what sort of sauce? Tomato? The grown ups will be having soup, bread and cheese. Any suggestions welcome!
Alea, you completely misunderstood me. In the context of the rest of my email it was clear I meant that the 4 year old, as a muslim, could eat exactly the same food as the other muslims in the party. He didn't need to be fed separate food from adults in his party just because he is only 4. I was not suggesting in any way that food restrictions applying to other members of his family would not apply to him.
When I have muslim visitors we all eat exactly the same food. I only serve food my guests can eat and that is what I eat as well. In the same way I do not serve alcohol at all to anyone when being visited by observant muslims.
Mind you I have had less observant muslims visit and had all my concerns and care kindly dismissed and they have tucked into bacon, pork sausages and pie and drunk alcohol.
I presume alea won't be serving him any alcohol .......
I would expect a 4 year old to eat the same food as adults and not require separate catering. MOnica I would expect the same, as long as all the food is suitable for Muslim and non-Muslim that should solve any problems of him wanting something he sees that wouldn't be suitable for him.
Just us, DH's Scottish cousin and one wee boy whose father happens to be N African and is Muslim. No big deal, veg soup, good bread, good farm house cheese (for us) cheese slices or tomatoes for wee boy, (with the option of pasta in tomato sauce if he doesn't like veg soup) poached pears / yogurt or fruit.
Apologies if anything was obscure . . . . I said A cousin is coming to lunch with her 4year old (step)great grandson Which I then repeated in an attack of luckyducky's "tortology" I went on to apologise profoundly I realise I expressed myself badly, perhaps making it look as if DH's cousin as well as the little boy was Muslim, but he is the son of her late husband's daughter from his first marriage, also Scottish, but married to a N African. Cousin is on half term "Granny duty" and the little boy and his family live just 12 or so miles away from us, so a good opportunity for DH and cousin to meet up
For what it is worth, Sammy enjoyed tortellini (tomato and mozzarella) with tomato sauce, a cheese slice in white bread sandwich, a yogurt, and after fun at the playground near our house, 2 mini packets of little gingerbread men. DH, his cousin and I had homemade minestrone (no bacon, in case Sammy wanted the soup) bread, Brie and/or goats cheese, followed by pears poached in white wine. When I consulted DD she said "Pasta in tomato sauce, Mum, every time!"