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Original poster

Extravagant Pack Lunches

535 replies

Diadrie · 02/09/2025 14:27

I am a TA in a primary school in the middle of a town, real mixed background from families who are mortgage free making well into 6 figures and families living in council homes, earning minimum wage.

As part of my job I supervise the infants half at lunchtime and I have seen the more absurd pack lunches recently from one child. It’s a bento box format, very normal fruit and veg, then greek yogurt and compote, a dip (guacamole/tzatziki/hummus). The main is really star of the show though with: salmon and cream cheese bagel, steak and onion focaccia sandwich, quiche Lorraine etc.

I’m now sat thinking what a totally over the top pack lunches recently for a 5 year old, admittedly the child does finish it, but salmon and steak in children’s pack lunches??

AIBU thinking this is totally over the top, extravagant and slightly absurd.

OP posts:
TonTonMacoute · 02/09/2025 16:36

Extravagant!? Quiche Lorraine?

I thought i was going to read that the kid was coming in with foie gras, caviar and a little can of M&S Prosecco. 🤣🤣🤣

clamshell24 · 02/09/2025 16:34

You sound nasty. I'd hate to think TAs were judging my kids' lunches, never mind posting about it on social media.

jetlag92 · 02/09/2025 16:33

It makes me really sad that people who are TAs have such bad grammar.
I think you need to look at yourself first before criticizing others.

feelingfree17 · 02/09/2025 16:30

A lovely packed lunch
Parents clearly trying to create life time healthy eating habits
Nothing wrong with that.

Reallytoughsitu · 02/09/2025 16:30

Maybe the whole family has the same main dish for lunch. Far better than highly processed rubbish marketed at kids.

H34th · 02/09/2025 16:30

That’s what my child would eat and salmon and cream cheese bagel/ sandwich is definitely a regular here as well as hummus and Greek yoghurt.
We are not well-off as such but don’t eat UPF (no ham or chicken nuggets here) and my child tried and didn’t eat the school lunches (very potato heavy which he doesn’t eat).
Out of curiosity, what do you eat if that is your idea of extravagant? Or do you think we should feed one thing our children, while reserving the steak for grownups only?

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 02/09/2025 16:26

I'm not sure that Smoked salmon is any more luxury than ham? Ingredients all Sold at Aldi.. and salmon and cream cheese bagel is quick and easy to make and easy to transport.

BlueLegume · 02/09/2025 16:24

@Diadrie are you going to return and give a considered view to the comments? You appeared to post during school hours, which is fine, but you are giving TAs a bad rap. As a teaching professional personal opinions should be just that and kept private. Perhaps be more concerned about the children with not enough food going home to less than comfortable homes. Quite what being ‘mortgage free’ has to do with anything baffles me. Professional standards in education really matter

TallulahBetty · 02/09/2025 16:24

PACKED

greengreyblue · 02/09/2025 16:23

AhBiscuits · 02/09/2025 16:21

Mine usually have a bagel with hummus or cheese, crisps, some kind of biscuit, some kind of fruit or veg. The lunch described sounds much nicer.

That’s the kind of thing most chn at my school have. I only see on the way past to the staff room. Lots have pasta in pots and veg sticks etc. Some have flasks with soup or hot pasta. You notice the shockingly bad ones not the ones that have salmon or steak!

AffableApple · 02/09/2025 16:22

So, healthy leftovers then?

Also, particularly as a TA, YABU not to call it a "packed lunch", because I've no idea why you're calling it a "pack".

SuziQuinto · 02/09/2025 16:22

BestZebbie · 02/09/2025 16:20

I'm mostly confused how you have seen enough lunches with enough variety from one child to annoy you when for most people today is the first day back?

Even if they started yesterday at your school, that's only two lunches this year so far?

Show quote history

Mmm... good points 🤔

Crunchienuts · 02/09/2025 16:22

Think is sounds lovely.

Agree it is packED lunch. And “I’m now sat thinking”😫

Maybe education isn’t the best setting for you OP!

AhBiscuits · 02/09/2025 16:21

Mine usually have a bagel with hummus or cheese, crisps, some kind of biscuit, some kind of fruit or veg. The lunch described sounds much nicer.

greengreyblue · 02/09/2025 16:20

NewsdeskJC · 02/09/2025 16:18

I think the world has moved on from a jam sandwich, hula hoops and a club biscuit to be fair

Not for some. One child at my school has chocolate and sweets for lunch. They also pack 4 tiny ham sandwiches ( the size of a square on a chess board) with crusts removed ( white sliced bread) and he refuses to eat them despite encouragement to eat them. He is then handed a bar of chocolate by his mum on pick up. He is year 1!

BestZebbie · 02/09/2025 16:20

Diadrie · 02/09/2025 14:27

I am a TA in a primary school in the middle of a town, real mixed background from families who are mortgage free making well into 6 figures and families living in council homes, earning minimum wage.

As part of my job I supervise the infants half at lunchtime and I have seen the more absurd pack lunches recently from one child. It’s a bento box format, very normal fruit and veg, then greek yogurt and compote, a dip (guacamole/tzatziki/hummus). The main is really star of the show though with: salmon and cream cheese bagel, steak and onion focaccia sandwich, quiche Lorraine etc.

I’m now sat thinking what a totally over the top pack lunches recently for a 5 year old, admittedly the child does finish it, but salmon and steak in children’s pack lunches??

AIBU thinking this is totally over the top, extravagant and slightly absurd.

I'm mostly confused how you have seen enough lunches with enough variety from one child to annoy you when for most people today is the first day back?

Even if they started yesterday at your school, that's only two lunches this year so far?

NewsdeskJC · 02/09/2025 16:18

I think the world has moved on from a jam sandwich, hula hoops and a club biscuit to be fair

FinallyHere · 02/09/2025 16:18

The question is less how you judge it and more about how much of it the child in question eats and/or enjoys.

SuziQuinto · 02/09/2025 16:16

RafaFan · 02/09/2025 16:15

There's a kid in my son's class who regularly has no packed lunch, and no money to buy lunch. That's the type of lunch you should be worrying about.

That's just so sad, isn't it? Yes, that's where @Diadrie 's concern should be

Lou670 · 02/09/2025 16:16

TA sits moping in the corner with her cheese and pickle sandwich and a packet of salt and vinegar crisps whilst salivating over pupils lunches.

Caroparo52 · 02/09/2025 16:15

Its probably left overs from their dinner the day before. That's how they live. No problem with that.

MiniCooperLover · 02/09/2025 16:15

What a goady post ... what would you be happy with the child eating? Because she's 5 she should eat rubbish lunchboxes? As you say she finishes it so mind your own.

RafaFan · 02/09/2025 16:15

There's a kid in my son's class who regularly has no packed lunch, and no money to buy lunch. That's the type of lunch you should be worrying about.

greengreyblue · 02/09/2025 16:13

cobrakaieaglefang · 02/09/2025 16:10

Give it till half term and it will be a sandwich, packet of crisps and a satsuma..its early term enthusiasm. 😁

😂

Comedycook · 02/09/2025 16:11

My DD loves a steak sandwich/baguette. What I usually do is if dh is having a steak for dinner is to carve off a couple of pieces and use them for it.

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