# Should restaurants get rid of the kids' menu? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 30, 2025, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279 "2025-06-30T00:56:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/121 "2025-07-02T14:19:53Z")
ETA: @sunacres 3 posts up. Our OP, fun guy though he is, does not excel at thread titles. They tend to state his conclusion, not his question. But his point is clear enough: I’d rather the USA not raise another generation of fussy nuggets-only adults. Clearly the way to do that is force kids to eat real food from the git-go. And force parents to not take the easy way out by eliminating that easy way. So restaurants should stop having a kids menu. QED." Which is evidently an interesting proposition to discuss. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/122 "2025-07-02T14:28:21Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > > [@puzzlegal](#): > > > > And we insisted they try a taste of everything. But only a small taste. > > I did this with Cad Jr. The rule on new food was he had to take two bites. If he didn’t like the first bite the second one was to confirm or deny if he truly didn’t like it. After that, he didn’t have to eat it. > > To this day he’ll give anything a try. I remember a time my young child took an enthusiastic bite of something new, then immediately said I love this! Took a second bite then gagged and had to spit it out in a napkin. lol been there done that. Most of the time I’d just put a very small amount of a new to them possibly offensive food on the plate. If they tried it fine if not fine. Sometimes they’d sniff it and pick it up and taste with a tongue maybe nibble the tiniest bit. It’s all good, I never hovered or made it uncomfortable, or made pretend it’s so delicious noises. ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/123 "2025-07-02T15:38:41Z")
> [@bump](#): > > To use my son again, the boy loves pasta. He also loves cheese- sharp cheddar even. But combine them into macaroni and cheese, and he used to balk. Why? Certainly not because it’s something that somehow tastes worse together, or even different together, but rather because he _can_. The texture of mac&cheese is kind of disgusting, if you think about it [\*], and certainly nothing like the textures of the constituents. [\*] I choose not to think about it. I like mac&cheese, but I’ll readily concede the point to anyone who refused to eat it on that basis. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/124 "2025-07-02T15:43:12Z")
> [@abcdefghij](#): > > The texture of mac&cheese is kind of disgusting, if you think about it [\*], and certainly nothing like the textures of the constituents. That was my thought, too. Anyway, there are a lot of people in the world. I’m willing to believe that some refuse to eat certain foods as a kind of power play. I never had that experience with children, though. Not mine and not other kids. The kids I’ve interacted with who wouldn’t eat certain foods (including me) did so because their was something about that food they disliked. ---
**Author:** ![MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ec9cab/32.png) [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MW_Degen_Gamblr)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/125 "2025-07-02T16:21:58Z")
American kids don’t enjoy vegetables because their mamas can’t cook! Ok, not really. I think for whatever reasons, many American parents don’t introduce their kids to vegetables properly. Ok, brussel sprouts are natural bitter, but what about broccoli and especially cauliflower? Americans focus most of their attention to meat. Marinating. Grilling. Dry aging. Vegetables? They’re usually just thrown into some pot of boiling water. Maybe some salt and butter added afterwards. If veggies were prepared similar to meat, many more American kids (and adults) would appreciate them. I mentioned sauteed garlic broccoli above, because it’s hella good. I was also a picky eater growing up, but my parents cooked vegetables in an appealing way. I had no problem consuming them. Now liver and and cube steak? Oof, gag!!! ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/126 "2025-07-02T16:31:57Z")
Most kids I know prefer raw vegetables. Dipped in something. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/127 "2025-07-02T16:53:27Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > French restaurants, except for some in Paris, positively welcomed children, and French children were generally well behaved. That’s because even their plates teach [good manners](https://maisonenprovencesandiego.wordpress.com/2012/09/01/as-seen-in-le-louvre-museum-in-paris-fun-plastic-plates-for-kids-a-fun-way-to-learn-good-manners-at-the-table-and-some-french-as-well/). ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/128 "2025-07-02T17:43:37Z")
> [@abcdefghij](#): > > The texture of mac&cheese is kind of disgusting, if you think about it I get that. For me the texture is fine for a side but only on rare occasions could I eat it as a main. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/129 "2025-07-02T18:50:42Z")
> [@abcdefghij](#): > > The texture of mac&cheese is kind of disgusting, if you think about it [\*], and certainly nothing like the textures of the constituents. My son hates squishy wet food, and will only eat dry food. Mac and cheese is right out. He’ll eat nuggets as long as they are well cooked. But he mostly survives on protein bars, nuts, seeds, cereal and dried fruit. It’s _hella_ expensive. The worst thing is when he gets tired of eating something but doesn’t replace it with something else. Now the list of acceptable foods is plummeting. Sometimes at restaurants we can get him to eat pancakes, but that’s about it. Unfortunately as he gets older it’s becoming more a part of his identity. He’s given to exclaim, “I only eat dry foods!” He’s been in feeding therapy for two years. I can’t say I’ve seen much improvement in what he’s willing to eat, but he is more willing to tolerate other people eating, or having something he doesn’t like near him. He’s also more willing to try stuff. I actually got him to try a popsicle the other day. He licked it twice and then discarded it, saying, “I liked it only a little bit.” MAJOR progress. Now me, I love squishy texture. Mac and cheese is great, mashed potatoes even better. Or a good cheesecake! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/130 "2025-07-02T19:09:21Z")
My niece has always loved broccoli, and her first complete sentence was “I want more dip.” ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/131 "2025-07-02T20:10:41Z")
> [@themapleleaf](#): > > Also, children from what I know have a stronger sense of taste than adults, and so something may taste more bitter, pungent etc. than to an adult. I preferred mild flavors as a child. No sharp sauteed garlic, certainly. Honestly, some butter, maybe some lemon juice or salt, is still usually my favorite preparation for veggies. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/132 "2025-07-02T21:33:23Z")
My kids are absolutely erratic with their tastes. One of them likes your usual “beige” foods. But she likes broccoli and green beans and tolerates Brussels sprouts. The other loves Brussels sprouts and specifically asks for them. They both like toasted bread with lard, onions, and cracklings on them when we go camping (we are of an Eastern European bent.) I guess that doesn’t violate the “beige” rule, but it’s not something most kids go for. But I make some stuffed zucchini last night at their request, and one of them doesn’t eat it because “it doesn’t look the same as the one you made before.” And I have no idea what can possibly be even different. Didn’t taste a bite. Just had a bagel with cream cheese for dinner instead. Maddening. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/133 "2025-07-02T22:28:10Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Even foreign scenarios like “local rural village mystery fare” are still things the people there had been eating for ages. Unless they’re pranksters. “I can’t believe we got the dumb tourist to eat that!” ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/134 "2025-07-03T00:06:45Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Unless they’re pranksters. “I can’t believe we got the dumb tourist to eat that!” Every single patron at a minshuku guest house near Izumo turned around to see what we would do when served a large sea snail, served in the shell. We calmly ate it, despite it being rubbery and foul. They seemed a little disappointed. ---
**Author:** ![Hermione1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d07c76/32.png) [@Hermione1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermione1)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/135 "2025-07-03T16:36:39Z")
I feel seen. My folks liked canned vegetables _still in the can liquid_–not even drained. And they ate canned asparagus _cold_. Slimy and cold. My dad liked roast potatoes…but out of a can, bland and starchy. I didn’t realize at the time that fresh asparagus can be good if it’s roasted, sauteed or in a stir-fry. (Just made [this](https://www.eatyourselfskinny.com/honey-garlic-shrimp-stir-fry/) the other night.) Or that fresh mini-potatoes were great roasted when you cut them in half and tossed them with olive oil and seasonings. Or that frozen peas were much better than canned–you can doctor them up any way you wish. Anyway, all this talk about kids’ palates put me in mind of a Cosby Show episode (I know, I know, but we didn’t know at the time) where Cliff took seven-year-old Rudy and her pals to a fancy French restaurant. The kids, of course, couldn’t get into the food (which included escargot) and the understanding waiter (who had young grandchildren himself) ended up going across the street to the burger joint to pick up burgers for them. Of course, I laughed at the time, and it’s still funny, but thinking it over now, it does beg the question of what exactly Cliff was thinking. Of course seven or eight-year-old palates aren’t sophisticated enough for high-end French food. If he’d wanted the kids to have a “fine dining” experience, Cliff would have done better to take them to a high-end steakhouse where they could order steak or roast chicken or something they’d recognize, and they’d still feel as if they’d had a fancy meal out. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/136 "2025-07-03T18:27:10Z")
It isn’t the quality or variety of the kids menu that appeals to adults, it’s the portion size. If a few adults are out eating not everyone at the table is starving and maybe they don’t want to walk around with a half eaten cheese burger and soggy fries the rest of the evening. I eat healthy home meals typically so when I go out to eat American restaurant meal portions seem like some kind of competitive food challenge. I am already on the Elderly breakfast menu, no one needs to walk around with more than an egg, toast and some hash browns in their gut in the AM unless they are spending the day bailing hay. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/137 "2025-07-03T19:02:45Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > unless they are spending the day bailing hay. Nitpick: Bailing" and “baling” are easily confused because they sound alike but have distinct meanings. Baling is binding something into a bale, like hay or straw. Bailing is getting someone out of jail or trouble or emptying water out of a boat. If your hay has gotten in so much trouble that it takes you all day to get get them out of the hoosegow you ARE going to need that hearty breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/138 "2025-07-03T19:04:51Z")
> [@Hermione1](#): > > Of course, I laughed at the time, and it’s still funny, but thinking it over now, it does beg the question of what exactly Cliff was thinking. Of course seven or eight-year-old palates aren’t sophisticated enough for high-end French food. I was introduced to escargots as a small boy. Probably first from a can at home - perhaps my parents were testing the waters. I loved it, and later ordered it on occasions when my family went for dinner to a French restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/139 "2025-07-03T19:19:22Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > Bailing is getting someone out of jail or trouble or emptying water out of a boat. Or jumping out of an airplane. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279/140 "2025-07-03T19:26:34Z")
How is that you bail out a boat by throwing buckets of water overboard, but when a bank needs a bailout, the government throws buckets of cash _into_ the bank. Go figure? And why can’t _I_ get one of those bailout thingies? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-restaurants-get-rid-of-the-kids-menu/1020279.md?page=8)