A Question From Threads: Kids Eating Sushi

We went out for sushi in Japan when I first got there. We are talking 1986. I threw up with the first bite. I didn’t mean to do that. My poor parents there were bewildered and didn’t know what to do with me.

I would never serve sushi to kids ever unless I knew they could tolerate it.

Given that they were going to a childless couple's house, I would have zero expectation that they would cater to the kids. As parents of young kids, we always had food with us that would easily bridge them to the next meal. At that point in my life I doubt I left home without crackers, cheerios, apples, cuties and carrots in my bag.

There is no such thing as a one-size fits all kid friendly food. I've had kids over that won't touch pasta, pizza, hot dogs, anything green, etc., and other kids that picked among the offerings or ate everything and anything. Even serving birthday cake and ice cream is an interesting experience of cake only or frosting only or ice cream only or cake + ice cream or frosting + ice cream eaters. 

FWIW, in my circle sushi is kid friendly. And if I'm serving sushi at home it is 100% vegan unless it is take-out.

This exactly. When I host, I make sure there is something for everyone.

I did not like my food mixing, and I would prop my plate in a way that the juices/sauces didn’t run into other food on the plate. 😂 I still don’t like my sauces mixing, but since I am an adult now I don’t prop up my plate anymore. 😂

This reminds me slightly of a little boy I was looking after and I cooked lunch for him.  I can't remember what it was but I'd made a silly, simple face out of what was on his plate, thinking he would think it was fun.  Poor child burst into tears and wouldn't eat a thing!

In regards to eating, there are different types of households.

Some households, are everyone eats what is being served, no matter what.
Some households, if you you don't like like what is being served, then you make whatever you want to eat (and clean up the mess from that). 
Some households, require "must try at least two bites".
Some household, whoever is doing the cooking....caters to every everyone and makes different things for some or all.
And, everything in-between.

I personally am a very plain and picky eater.
If it's a "sit down" meal and I don't know what is being served, I decline the invite.
If it's a BBQ or potluck, I can usually find something I like.  I always eat a but little beforehand, so if there's nothing I like, then I won't be hungry. If I am attending, it's usually for the socializing and the food is secondary to that.

If someone makes a scene about my eating (or lack thereof) or tries to guilt me into trying something or having a bite....it makes me feel uncomfortable and causes me anxiety. If I need to, I will excuse myself and leave the situation. 

I eat what I like. I don't eat what I don't want to. I am happy that way.
It's other people that have issues with my eating (or lack thereof).....that's on them, not me.

If I were the host, I would make what I wanted for the meal while also asking about everyone's allergies/preferences and if I could provide an alternate option for the children. 

If I were the guest, I would make sure that I brought food for my child(ren) without expecting or asking if the host could make something else for my kids.

I agree with you about the "kid-friendly" food. We tried so hard to feed our kids healthy food which often meant a simplified version of what the adults were eating until the kids decided they were ready for more flavour etc. 

You reminded me that once a good friend invited us over for dinner. She served lasagna to the group of parents and she served buttered noodles to the kids. My kids didn't want buttered noodles, I had never served it to them (where's the nutrition in that?). There were no vegs/fruit side dishes either. So my kids asked for lasagna but I had to tell them no because she had only made enough lasagna for the adults. 
I would never start a post about this, we just went along her the host's plan but it's funny looking back at it.  And yes, my kids ate buttered noodles that night. 

Also my pickiest eater who I had the HARDEST time feeding a balanced diet to for 10 years is now an adult to loves sushi and every other thing he refused to eat growing up. My husband and I just look across the table at each other wondering how the change happened

I also don’t like my sauces mixing.  If I am putting gravy on potatoes I have to put it in a well in the middle of the potatoes until I can mix it together enough that it doesn’t ooze to some other place. 

When my coworkers and I go out for a team breakfast it is known and joked about (by me also, because I get it.  😄) that if I am getting the option that includes a small bit of eggs, meats, and biscuits and gravy that I have to ask for the biscuits and gravy on a small separate plate.  🤷‍♀️😄

But it's not - seriously pizza is probably the least child friendly option these days - both gluten and dairy. I realize that this might have been the norm 10 years ago, but today it's really not. At least around here. In both our neighborhood and my kids' friend groups gluten sensitivity is ubiquitous so rule out pizza, pasta and chicken fingers. No one wants that for their kids. I get it as my parents think sushi is "weird" but today's kids are way, way more likely to eat sushi than anything with gluten or dairy in it. We're seeing a massive cultural change here and sushi can easily avoid raw fish, so don't see that as some huge barrier. . 

I think of kid friendly as being ‘liked by the majority’ probably not too highly flavoured etc. Yes, I know a lot of kids these days have exposure to a wider range of foods (my nearly 3 yr old granddaughter cites pomegranate seeds, edamame beans and steak as her favourite foods) but I think allergies are a different thing. Kid friendly = taste etc in my world….pasta, pizza, sausages, fries etc

Wow you're lucky. I honestly feel like everyone has a gluten sensitivity these days. My kids think Annie's gluten free mac and cheese is standard as I started buying it when they were young as the little girl down the street has celiac and I always wanted to be sure I had something on hand if it was lunch time. Whether robotics, soccer, swim team or dance - every group we've been a part of while they were growing up had a no-gluten kid.