How is beans on toast a treat?

[kit05]

Saw someone on here the other day said they were having beans on toast as a "treat".

Why is this a treat? Is it due to salt and sugar in them ?

This was staple of my student diet, not sure I see it as a treat , more so that times are hard.

Any other treats ?

[BillHadersNewWife]

Well it's a bit crappy isn't it? Sort of like...kid's food or something you ate in the 1970s.

I sometimes buy processed foods and eat them out of curiosity...my family have a very healthy diet, everything is fresh...minimal meat.

Now and then I buy a can of hotdogs and eat about 7 of them! Beans on toast are a bit like that...not as bad but not something I'd eat generally and I might crave them now and then.

[Frazzlerock]

Ahh I love beans on toast.

Its a treat for me as it gives me a break from cooking a meat and two veg type meal for everyone. DP, of course, helps out when he can with the cooking but I am home from work first so I tend to cook the family evening meal and I'm usually exhausted from a full day at work so when we all have beans on toast its a massive treat. We also all love it, but the high sugar and salt means it is a rare treat.

[SouthWestmom]

For some reason my dc think this is a massive treat! I'm happy with that

[CSIblonde]

I'd suspect food issues if that was a treat. You can get low sugar & and organic baked beans these days. It's a staple with families on low income, I taught in a deprived area & the majority of the reception children had never seen meat come free school dinner time or, used a knife & fork: at home it was finger food like chips or nuggets or beans, eaten with a spoon.

[FreedomfromPE]

It's not brilliant nutrition. With a parent with diabetes we were very rarely allowed a meal like that.

[Pukkatea]

Ohhh I love it though. It's beige kids food, no cooking required, carby, warm goodness.

It's not a 'treat' in terms of monetary value, treat yourself to something posh, more like treat yourself to something easy, crappy and comforting.

[CalmFizz]

I think it’s a treat because it’s a no cooking satisfying meal.

[ActualHornist]

Competitive eating habits found only on Mumsnet I suspect.

We have beans on toast or the equivalent at least once a week. It’s nutritious and delicious and quick and easy. Not a treat though unless they meant in terms of not having to cook.

[Eckhart]

Is it because it means not really bothering with cooking 'something proper' for a change? A treat due to effort expended, rather than due to how delicious a meal you get?

[Pukkatea]

Thinking about it my equivalent is corned beef hash, made with packet mash - reminds me of my childhood and makes me happy but I never really get to have it.

[DobbyLovesSocks]

One person's treat is another's standard.
I rarely have cheese on toast but if I take DS to a cafe in town I will generally have that if I'm not very hungry. To me that is a treat. Other;s may have that every Saturday lunch or whatever

[misspiggy19]

It isn’t a treat. It isn’t even nice.

[wondering7777]

I have it for lunch every now and then, with hot buttered toast and an ample shake of Lea & Perrins on top. It's tasty but I wouldn't regard it as a "treat"!

[Skyejuly]

My husbands fave meal is beans on toast.

[Crunchymum]

MN'ers are weird about food!!!

[ZaraW]

Of course it's a treat if it's something you love and don't eat very often. It doesn't matter what it is.

[SayOohLaLa]

My guess would be it's something you make regularly for others i.e. your kids, but rarely eat yourself. You can also justify proper butter on the toast.

Better than the meal deal sandwich I had for lunch. [shrugs]

[wondering7777]

Also, I seem to recall that half a can of beans is one of your five a day, so there are lot worse things you could be eating!

[BillHadersNewWife]

wondering well you wouldn't have it with cold, bare toast would you!

[recrudesence]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[bgegmum]

Beans on toast as Sunday morning treat? Nothing out of the usual I'd say. Can anyone be bothered with cooking beans on toast on a school morning?
I don't know what context it would have been brought up in.
Maybe they're low income and the tin of beans was a treat compared just toast, to just porridge that they can usually afford.

[kit05]

I love beans on toast . I also like Cheese &beans on toast but just wouldn't see it as a treat. Maybe I have it too much ( lunch once or twice a week) whilst on maternity leave nice and simple !

[Elbeagle]

I suppose it would be a treat meal to a low carber!
I love beans on toast but don’t see it as a treat. It’s comfort food though.

[adaline]

Beans on toast is what I make when I'm hungry and can't be arsed to cook properly. I'll do a tin with those sausages in, plus cheese on top too.

[treepolitics]

well this has answered the what I’m having for dinner question! Nursery food is a treat.