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Original poster

Afternoon Tea - how can anyone eat it all?

483 replies

wasntlikethisinthegoodolddays · 05/06/2024 12:43

I've been looking at things to do next weekend. Looked on Wowcher, Groupon etc. A regular offer is Afternoon Tea for two. Whilst it looks lovely, they regularly feature about 6 sandwich corners each, a few savoury items and FOUR cakes each. I love my food, and I like cake, but there's no way I could eat all of that in one sitting. Can anyone eat four cakes in a row? Are we meant to take a doggy bag?

OP posts:
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Applesonthelawn · 05/06/2024 21:40

I've just googled how many calories there are in an average afternoon tea. Answer 1000 to 1500 calories. At least half the daily requirement of an average woman. So if you are expecting to eat two other full meals, potentially larger than this mere midafternoon snack, yes it's a lot. If it's your main meal of the day and you'll only have one other meal, not so much.

Twilight7777 · 05/06/2024 21:34

As others have said the portions are minuscule especially the cakes

Grobblydog · 05/06/2024 21:34

I always do afternoon tea with my husband and we can stuff ourselves appropriately because he’s a savoury boy and I’m a sweetie girl.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 05/06/2024 21:33

I always think it’s too slanted towards sweet rather than savoury - in a standard afternoon tea.

Im sure you can get mainly savoury ones but I mean in general.

StaunchMomma · 05/06/2024 21:32

As PPs have said - the cakes are small.

I think they do a good choice of items so that you there are options if you don't like a sandwich/cake flavour etc.

It's hardly something to worry about.

Growlybear83 · 05/06/2024 21:32

I love afternoon tea and almost always finish what I'm given without a problem. On the rare occasion I've got a little cake left, I bring it home with me. It amazes me that anyone wouldn't usually be able to eat the equivalent of one sandwich, a couple of mini scones, and some tiny cakes. I've been to some venues where you can have unlimited refills of sandwiches and cakes. My daughter took me out a few months ago and we got two extra portions of sandwiches.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 05/06/2024 21:31

Yerroblemom1923 · 05/06/2024 13:58

We've lost sight of normal-sized food portions. And obviously a restaurant is going to want to ensure you don't leave still hungry so will over-feed rather than under. If I was going I'd not eat beforehand and obviously wouldn't need an evening meal later on in the day. Take your Tupperware or let them bag it up if it's too overwhelming to work your way through

Yes, yes,yes - I call mumsnet bingo!

dicokno · 05/06/2024 21:23

OP should have a look for that thread where the greedy husband ate all the baking for the child's party. I think the OP of that thread has had enough of that pig scoffing all the food and hoovering up chocolate brownies so she's probably looking to farm him off on someone else.
You could be an ideal match OP - you can go along to afternoon tea and eat a quarter of a scone and he can demolish the rest.

dicokno · 05/06/2024 21:20

5128gap · 05/06/2024 21:07

It is. I have to buy my clothes from the children's section and find it difficult to make friends with other women.

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They're just jealous hun x

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 05/06/2024 21:18

The portions are usually tiny.

I reckon I could "polish off" an afternoon tea for two without too much difficulty.

Blarneytalk · 05/06/2024 21:11

Getonwitit · 05/06/2024 21:04

I always need to stop at the chippy on the way home😄

I hope you partake of a battered mars bar?

therealcookiemonster · 05/06/2024 21:10

StormingNorman · 05/06/2024 18:36

I just ask for a bread less cucumber sandwich and green tea. It fills me up for days.

shocking! how can you eat so much?!!

I just have the essence of cucumber flavoured air and one drop of hot water. then I don't need to bother for 6months at least

5128gap · 05/06/2024 21:07

SlashBeef · 05/06/2024 20:13

😂 it's such a burden being so dainty!

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It is. I have to buy my clothes from the children's section and find it difficult to make friends with other women.

Oldtigernidster · 05/06/2024 21:05

BigWillyLittleTodger · 05/06/2024 20:48

So how much do you eat as it’s your one and only meal in 24 hours? I’m curious.

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4 sandwiches, 2 scones, probably 2 cakes and take the rest home!

Getonwitit · 05/06/2024 21:04

I always need to stop at the chippy on the way home😄

SloaneStreetVandal · 05/06/2024 21:04

Afternoon teas are very wasteful, you always see so much left over. You do generally get lots of cakes - so take a wee box with you for left overs.

SheSaidHummingbird · 05/06/2024 20:57

Who bloody said you have to eat it all? There aren't dinner ladies hovering over you demanding that you clear your plate before you're allowed out to play. It's a selection - variety to provide choice of what you want, not an 'all you can eat' buffet.

Cliedi · 05/06/2024 20:52

I agree they are an odd amount of food. Typically some rubbish sandwiches which I take some token bites out of. A scone- yum! But then more sweet cakey things. Probably 3 or 4 of them. And you never like all of them. It’s a waste. It needs something salty or fatty in there if I’m going to be a glutton!

TheThreeCheesesOfTheApocalypse44 · 05/06/2024 20:52

In my experience of afternoon tea the posher the place the smaller the cakes, the posh place ive been to I had no problem polishing off the teeny tiny lot. .......on the other hand our local greasy spoon does an amazing afternoon tea for 15 quid. Hulking great sandwiches, four, huge slabs of cake and a mug of chunky tomato soup. It's bloody lovely, even fatty me can't finish it off so always take a tupperware box for the inevitable leftovers.

BigWillyLittleTodger · 05/06/2024 20:48

Oldtigernidster · 05/06/2024 20:38

Perhaps the afternoon teas we go for are more substantial! They certainly fill me up for the day!

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So how much do you eat as it’s your one and only meal in 24 hours? I’m curious.

ImWearingPantaloons · 05/06/2024 20:40

The cakes and the sandwiches are literally a mouthful each.

Only the scones are normal sized

Oldtigernidster · 05/06/2024 20:38

IDontSleepIDream · 05/06/2024 20:32

Wait, are you being serious? You wouldn’t eat anything else, only a couple of tiny sandwiches and a few bits of cake, all day? ALL DAY???

Bwahahahahaha 🤣😂🤣😁😆😁🤣😂😁

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Perhaps the afternoon teas we go for are more substantial! They certainly fill me up for the day!

MissTrip82 · 05/06/2024 20:37

If you’ve eaten enough for years to be very overweight you’ll probably find you can manage. As with all meals, eat as much as you wish then leave the rest.

IDontSleepIDream · 05/06/2024 20:32

Oldtigernidster · 05/06/2024 18:38

That’s what we do!

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Wait, are you being serious? You wouldn’t eat anything else, only a couple of tiny sandwiches and a few bits of cake, all day? ALL DAY???

Bwahahahahaha 🤣😂🤣😁😆😁🤣😂😁

WiddlinDiddlin · 05/06/2024 20:29

I've realised I have a conditioned emotional response to the term 'rich food', makes my teeth itch, makes my skin crawl.

Particularly when you examine the idea in more depth, it turns out that 'rich food' is simply, food that contains carbs, proteins and fats - ie actual nutrition, not lettuce or cucumber.

Ugh.

I can eat a reasonable quantity of afternoon tea products. I've never had an issue getting a doggybag to take home any left overs!