‘This is a joke?' parents say as mum shows what her kids eat as she couldn't be bothered ‘listening to the moaning'

Scottish Sun

08-07-2025

Scroll down to see the full list of places where kids eat for £1 - or free - this summer
BEIGE PLATE 'This is a joke?' parents say as mum shows what her kids eat as she couldn't be bothered 'listening to the moaning'
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A MOTHER-OF-FOUR has come under fire after sharing a snap of what she fed her brood on a day when she 'couldn't be bothered'.
Mum and TiKToker Amy Mercado was brutally slammed earlier this week, after horrified parents wondered if the tea was ''a joke''.
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Mum-of-four Amy came under fire after sharing the 'lazy' tea she had prepared for her kids
Credit: tiktok/@amymercado1998
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Each of the children had the same tea - but in different portions
Credit: tiktok/@amymercado1998
For dinner, Amy decided to keep things simple, as she felt ''lazy'' and 'couldn't be bothered to fight' with the kids - none of whom are ''massive fans of veg''.
The easy and quick dinner consisted of the same two items for Amy's children - a three-year-old, a seven-year-old, a baby, 14 months, as well as a nine-year-old.
The youngest of the brood was served two chicken nuggets, as well as nine chips, while the seven-year-old had one nugget more on the plate and a handful of crispy chips - a similar portion to what the tot, three, had.
The nine-year-old, meanwhile, enjoyed a hearty pile of chips and half-a-dozen of chicken nuggets.
One everyone had finished their tea, Amy revealed in the clip, it was time for pudding - chocolate chip mini muffins for the older kids and some infant cereal with milk for the 14-month-old.
The mum claimed that she does add sweetcorn and peas to their plates ''a few times a week'' - however, she simply couldn't be bothered ''to fight with them'' and listening to the ''moaning''.
Amy went on in the comments: ''Beans they won't eat it's too wet but I do vegs a few times a week but they always have unlimited access to fruit as they prefer it.''
As for the portions, which some reckoned were too small, Amy said her kids ''don't eat a lot'' and she wants to avoid wasting food.
'It's not real, right?'
Since being shared online, where Amy posts under the username @amymercado1998, the clip has racked up close to 44k views and more than 140 likes.
Horrified by the lack of veggies, over 90 people flooded to comments, where many slammed the ''lazy'' mum.
I'm an Irish mum & I feed my family of six for three days with €26 shop
''Where's the nutrients?!'' one was gobsmacked.
Someone else wondered: ''Surely this is one of those posts where they just want the comments, it's not real right???''
''Are you aware of what vegetables are?'' a third troll chimed in.
Where can kids eat for free this summer?
THE summer holidays are here, but entertaining the kids need not cost a fortune.
Here, we reveal where you can get free and cheap meals for your little ones during the 'endless' summer holidays.
ASDA CAFE: Nip into an Asda cafe to feed the kids after the weekly shop.
Under-16s get a hot or cold meal for £1 at any time of day.
Little ones are covered, too.
Kids under 18 months get a free Ella's baby food pouch with any purchase.
BEEFEATER: This family-friendly pub chain makes mornings a breeze.
Two kids under 16 eat for free with the purchase of an adult breakfast for £10.99.
It's available from 6.30am to 10.30am midweek and 7am to 11am at weekends.
BELLA ITALIA: Book a table and order an adult meal at the Italian eatery for kids aged two to 11 to get three courses and a drink for £1.
Offer valid between 4pm and 6pm on Sundays to Wednesdays.
On Thursdays, kids eat free all day when an adult meal is ordered from the a la carte menu.
DUNELM: Make homeware shopping a fun day out.
Dunelm's Pausa Cafes are offering free kids' meals for every £4 spent on their food or drink.
Available all day, every day.
BILL'S: Dine in at a Bill's restaurant to get up to two free kids' meals (normally £6.95 each) with an adult meal.
Valid weekdays only until August 30.
IKEA: Make it a food day at the Swedish home store.
On every day except Fridays, enjoy a pit stop at their famous cafe from 11am to get a kids' pasta or mac and cheese dish for 95p.
Other mini meals are available for £1.50.
PIZZA EXPRESS: Kids up to age ten can get a free three-course Piccolo meal including dough balls, pizza or pasta and dessert with every adult meal purchased.
The offer runs every day until August 11.
TESCO: Pop to the supermarket cafe from Monday to Friday until August 30 for free kids' meals when an adult buys any item in the cafe.
You must have a Clubcard to redeem the offer.
THE RANGE: Kids under 16 get one free meal per adult main purchased at The Range cafes.
Options include sandwiches, a cooked breakfast and fish and chips.
All kids' meals come with a piece of fruit and a drink.
Luckily for the mum, there was also heaps of support, as one kind viewer hit back at the critics: ''Before even commenting about vegetables educate yourselves on SEN children first.
''They have sensory issues with food due to textures, smells, colour. my son only eats chips, cheese and snacks. don't you think we have tried many times with vegetables and fruit?
''My son will gag at the site of it.''
Another was just as stunned by the abuse the mum was getting online, writing: ''Since when did you lot become super nanny!
''She still has her children! They're fed and watered and have a loving home over their heads. Let her be.
''Half of you was raised on beans on toast and spam. Jesus.
''Why can't woman raise other woman instead of the constant putting downs and judgment comments. Look after what you produced and mind your own.''