AITA for ordering from a kids menu while being invited out to celebrate my BIL birthday?

Shirley Stafford Hours
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The sushi restaurant buzzed with birthday cheer, but Sarah’s stomach knotted as she scanned the fish-heavy menu. At 29, she’d joined her partner to celebrate her brother-in-law’s big day, but her fish intolerance left her with slim pickings—only the kids’ menu offered safe bites like chicken katsu. Ordering it seemed simple, even polite, with an offer to pay full price. Then, her sister-in-law’s glare hit like a wasabi sting.

When Sarah’s choice drew accusations of selfishness, she blinked in disbelief. Readers might feel that pinch of judgment, recalling awkward dinners where their needs clashed with expectations. Is sticking to your health a party foul, or did Sarah just dodge a fishy fight? Her story serves up a raw slice of family tension—let’s dig in.

‘AITA for ordering from a kids menu while being invited out to celebrate my BIL birthday?’

Throwaway as I don't want my main to be tracked. I (29f) have been invited to celebrate my BIL birthday to a sushi restaurant alongside with my partner. The birthday dinner was last weekend and there was no way for me to decline or avoid it.

Now I am intolerant to fish and seafood, so I am trying to avoid eating anything containing those and as you can imagine it is rather hard to avoid at a sushi restaurant. The restaurant has other options like chicken katsu curry and different chicken dishes,

but they are all a part of kids menu, normal adult menu only had different types of sushi. So I ordered from the kids menu and also said I am cool paying an adult price for the dish. The waiter was trying to refuse after a brief explanation behind the reasoning they had no problem in serving me something from the kids menu.

Because of this I had a lot of weird looks, especially from my SIL who later confronted me saying what I did was a bit selfish and assholish since I was invited for sushi and since she was trying to convince her children to eat more adult food (poke bowl) and I have ruined it. My partner is on my side, however some other family members believe I should have sucked it up and ate the sushi.

Dinner shouldn’t double as a health risk, but Sarah’s fish-free choice stirred more than soy sauce. Her intolerance isn’t a whim—it’s a medical must, and picking the kids’ menu was practical, not petty. Her sister-in-law’s jab, tying Sarah’s order to parenting woes, misplaces blame. Sarah didn’t crash the poke bowl plan—she just stayed safe.

Nutritionist Dr. Lisa Young, in a 2023 Healthline article, stresses, “Dietary restrictions demand respect; ignoring them risks harm.” A 2022 Food Allergy Research survey shows 10% of adults have food intolerances, often facing social pushback. Sarah’s offer to pay adult prices smoothed the way, yet her sister-in-law’s reaction reeks of control, not concern.

Sarah’s right to eat safely, but family feathers got ruffled. Dr. Young suggests pre-checking menus with hosts to avoid surprises. Sarah could’ve called ahead, but her sister-in-law needs to own her kids’ choices. Readers, ever faced food judgment at a gathering? How’d you keep your plate drama-free?

Check out how the community responded:

Reddit’s crew dove into Sarah’s tale like it’s a spicy tuna roll, tossing out laughs, puns, and fierce support. It’s like a sushi bar happy hour where everyone’s got a chopstick to point. Here’s the crowd’s unfiltered bite, loaded with wit and fire:

[Reddit User] − NTA. I would love to hear her explanation as to how the heck this was

Famous_Specialist_44 − I think their offense is fishy and you were not shellfish in the slightest. I can't wasabi the issue. When you look at a menu you want to seafood you want to eat. You soy something on the kids menu you fancied and ordered it. The restaurant served the food - it's all good.. NTA and  I hope you enjoyed your meal. 

[Reddit User] − NTA I don't care for sushi but because of an underlying medical condition I can't eat seafood or shellfish. Your inability to eat fish or seafood has nothing to do with your sister in laws's desire to expand her children's culinary horizons.

Who in their right mind would eat something that will make them sick for the sake of appearances. ...my SIL who later confronted me saying what I did was a bit selfish and assholish since I was invited for sushi and since she was trying to convince her children to eat more adult food (poke bowl) and I have ruined it.

My partner is on my side, however some other family members believe I should have sucked it up and ate the sushi. Bull-shinola. Were they going to take care of you while you were sick and recovering? If not, they can all shut the heck up.

Hungry_Composer644 − “I tell you what, SIL, I’ll eat the sushi, then come home with you and park myself on your toilet for the night. That way we can discuss it all night long, since I’m going to be up. Are you running low on toilet paper? No? Good. Oh, don’t worry.

I’ll use the toilet in the master suite, so it won’t affect the kids, just you guys and your bedroom. And you can still have sexy times, because the diarrhea is so loud and violent that even if you’re a screamer I won’t be able to hear you. Also, if you don’t have any Benadryl, we’ll need to make a stop and get some so that the rash doesn’t get out of hand. It’ll be a great lesson for the kids.

‘Let yourself be badgered into eating stuff your body doesn’t tolerate simply because ignorant people demand it for stupid reasons.’ Teach them how to NOT protect their own wellbeing. Do you have the shelf picked out for your Parent of the Year trophy yet?” Definitely NTA. If your SIL is having issues teaching her kids to eat the way she wants them to, that’s on her, not you.

tawstwfg − NTA. Why do people make an issue of other people’s food choices??? It’s so bizarre to me! Everyone has their own preferences, and it’s not unusual for someone to have an aversion to fish. There was another option available, so you took it….seems like the thing to do. Would they have preferred for you to sit there and not eat or make a big deal about how you don’t like fish??. EDIT: typo fix

operaheaux − NTA. I have celiacs and can’t eat gluten so when people are flippant about my food restrictions, I just say “Well, I don’t want to s**t my pants all night Sharon” and that shuts them up pretty quickly lol.

panic_bread − I don't why all these commentors need to interrogate you on why you don't eat fish. It doesn't matter. If you don't like fish because a giant prawn came to you in a dream once, that's enough reason. You ate what you wanted. Parents need to be able to parent their children despite outside influences like \*gasp\* people eating what they want. NTA

dun8288 − What the f**k do they mean by

shiny-baby-cheetah − NTA, you are not obligated to eat something you're allergic to. It is not selfish, to choose not to make yourself ill.

[Reddit User] − Nta its odd that katsu was only on the kids menu, but the waiter was fine with it when you explained it.. In the future, say, 'no'. That's it. Just 'no.' You don't want to go? Don't.

These Redditors are hooked, cheering Sarah’s health stand or filleting her sister-in-law’s logic. Some dish out snark; others serve practical tips. But do their takes catch the full flavor, or just nibble the edges? One thing’s clear—Sarah’s kids’ menu move has everyone buzzing. What’s your read on her dinner play?

Sarah’s story is a zesty clash of health needs and family fuss, where a kids’ menu order sparked a birthday blowup. Choosing chicken over sushi wasn’t selfish—it was survival, yet her sister-in-law plated up blame. Can Sarah mend ties without swallowing unfair guilt? If your diet rocked a party boat, how’d you steer it? Drop your thoughts below—let’s unwrap this sushi showdown!

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