Extravagant Pack Lunches

Oh and as pointed out, it’s a “ packed “ lunch, as opposed to a “pack” lunch

I'm not seeing what's so outlandish about what you've described.

What a bizarre baity post. Classist and desperate. Who are you insinuating are bringing the ott meals? The council house povvos or the mansion poshos?
you sound out of your depth. Most towns and schools have ‘disparate’ groups rubbing along beside each other, it’s one of the ways society functions.
what do you want them to bring to lunch ? Everyone have the same? Government issue packed lunch?
I was the free school meals kid and on trips I was given a bag of sandwiches and a piece of fruit. That doesn’t mean I expect all kids to have a frugal lunch.
kids don’t care, they might note the difference but then move on swiftly.
if you’re worried about a specific child’s welfare then you need to deal with that, not judge everyone in the way your opening post does.

Actually, I think this post epitomizes the levelling down rather than levelling up that we're seeing everywhere these days. It masquerades as "don't shame me for [whatever]", but ultimately it's an excuse for not making an effort to strive for me.

Why would someone who children look up to (teachers, teaching assistants) do that? Is it insecurity about themselves? How are children supposed to respect their teachers if their teachers are looking down at them for...having better lunches than them? It's actually pretty sad to think that there might be a little 5yo hearing a judgy "ooooh, quite the extravagant little lunchbox you've got there Ben" about a perfectly normal meal. Not saying OP has ever remarked, but if she's posting on MN about it it's not that much of a reach.

My daughter has smoked salmon in her packet lunch. We don't feel it is an over the top lunch. You can get some good deals on smoked salmon in some shops and it is better for her than jam, or a ham sandwich. We also know she will eat it all because it is her favourite. She also has quiche sometimes as well 😆

I agree it's OTT.
I knew one person who made this type of lunch for her son.
She was a single mum on benefits but lived off a credit card paid by her parents for all her outgoings (not uncommon in my area).
She also kept using ingredients her child was intolerant too as an excuse to give him CBD oil to then calm the rashes he had in response.
Utterly cuckoo.

I assume as it’s all made up - but to what end? Who is it trying to make us not like, or is it just post anything that you know will irritate people? It’s fascinating I find. The bagel made me wonder if it was an anti semitic attempt?

Sounds healthy and varied, and very much like my teen DCs packed lunch. In other words, usually leftovers with some additional seasoning to make an enjoyable sandwich.

My dc often ask for salmon and cream cheese sandwiches for lunch. I don’t see a major problem with it and I don’t understand your issue with it.

Also, agree it’s packED lunch. Pack up is different. Pack lunch doesn’t exist.

YABVU. What do you think the boy should eat instead? You sound quite jealous tbh.

I’m wondering how a TA knows whose homes are mortgage free, and how much parents earn?

This. As parents we honestly can’t fucking win, can we?

I'm jealous.
A- because it sounds better than my rubbish Greggs tuna roll
B- because I sent my child in with a jam sandwich. I wish he'd eat salmon and cream cheese.

Yes!

What would you rather, a soggy sandwich and a warm yoghurt, which ends up uneaten?

That packed lunch sounds lovely and nutritious to me.

OP is also 'sitting' not 'sat' pontificating on this... Wouldn't usually be this pedantic out loud, but @Diadrie is a TA fgs!

Haven't read all the posts, but has anyone mentioned that it's a "packed lunch" (i.e. lunch that's been packed in a bag/box/whatever) and not a "pack lunch"?

When I was little, (I'm going back 35 years or more) my brother and I would get laughed at for our packed lunches- by pupils and staff.
We'd have things like taramasalata, cold meat and cheese, crackers, home made bread and cakes. Because that's what we ate at home.

Stop judging people's food. It makes you sound ridiculous.

god, can you ask this family if they would adopt me? I want that for my lunch. I had meetings and all I've had is not very fresh apple.

That sounds like quite a healthy lunch - at least it’s not beige processed food!

My youngest hates sandwiches and has a similar style lunch box, he’s taken everything from crackers, normal pasta, orzo pasta salad with prawns, olives, smoked salmon with crackers/cream cheese and quails eggs.
Im not posh 😂 the pasta salads have been left over from the eve before, he loves prawns and olives, my neighbour keeps quails and often offloads surplus eggs.
Instead of judging their lunch boxes I would be applauding the variety. When I worked in a primary school one child brought in chocolate spread sandwiches, crisps, dairylea dunker and cocktail sausages everyday…

I used teach near a bagel bakery - they did fantastic filled bagels which many if us had for lunch, including the kids! Delicious, especially hot.

Sounds like you’ve been brainwashed by the food industry into thinking upf chemicals we’ve never heard of and not classed as food are normal. And that actual real food is ‘absurd’. Also quiche Lorraine … I’m not sure that has been posh since 1971?!

Pack up is completely fine. It's a term traditionally used for manuel workers who take their lunch to work . My dad always took pack up to work in the 60s and 70s as did my auntie who worked potato picking in the summer.
I agree though they it should never be pack lunch. It's packed lunch.