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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:
InSpainTheRain · 02/09/2025 15:30

The kids eats it, it's healthy good. I cant think of a problem with it assuming they aren't spending money they don't have.

DryAndBalmy · 02/09/2025 15:30

DarkPassenger1 · 02/09/2025 14:30

It's interesting that you judge a packed lunch that a parent has clearly put some effort into. What's your thoughts on the packed lunches where it's a jam sandwich, bag of Pom Bears, Twix and juice?

Exactly!

Feels to me like inverted snobbery/ a class thing here.

greengreyblue · 02/09/2025 15:29

Lucky child. Sounds healthy and obviously they can afford it. Btw it’s a packed lunch not a pack lunch

PrimoPiatti · 02/09/2025 15:29

I'm guessing it'll be farmed salmon. I would not serve that stuff to my worst enemy.

TomeTome · 02/09/2025 15:29

@Diadrie what do you eat for lunch?

BauhausOfEliott · 02/09/2025 15:28

It's a relatively fancy packed lunch for a young child, but 'absurd' and 'extravagant'? No. It's only 'extravagant' if they're struggling to afford it, and presumably that's not the case, so what's the problem? Why is it bothering you? Sounds like the kid's being brought up to appreciate and value good food. What's 'absurd' about that?

Gee63 · 02/09/2025 15:28

DD has loved quiche and Greek yoghurt with or without a compote since weaning so I suppose I’m an OTT pretentious sod too. 😂 Wish she’d eat smoked salmon though… We have tried. She had figs in her packed lunch today as we had some leftover. Why do kids need to eat different, often crappy toddler food only if their parents are making these lunches anyway and the toddlers will happily eat it too?

RafaFan · 02/09/2025 15:28

Quiche! Does their extravagance have no boundaries?

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 02/09/2025 15:28

SuziQuinto · 02/09/2025 15:27

Me too 😄

Show quote history

Glad I’m not the only one

Sera1989 · 02/09/2025 15:27

It sounds like leftovers or things that the parents would eat themselves. Nothing wrong with a bit of flavour in a child’s lunch! I’m glad packed lunches have moved to real food and proper meals instead of the rubbish we used to eat - basic sandwich, piece of fruit, crisps or processed bar of some kind. Kids shouldn’t be eating UPFs and beige. Lots of nurseries now create good menus so the kids get variety beyond basic ingredients and flavours

SuziQuinto · 02/09/2025 15:27

LillyPJ · 02/09/2025 15:25

Thanks for that. I was having to sit on my hands to avoid correcting it!

Show quote history

Me too 😄

Muffsies · 02/09/2025 15:26

SlipperyLizard · 02/09/2025 14:36

My DD used to take all sorts of weird stuff as she didn’t like sandwiches, including soft boiled quails eggs and homemade guacamole (not together!) - why does it matter if the kids eat it?

My middle son wouldn't eat sandwiches either, so I would make him homemade sausage rolls or quiches (I used packet pastry, I'm not a chef).

Elephantangel1991 · 02/09/2025 15:26

I'd be over the moon if my child ate any of that.

SuziQuinto · 02/09/2025 15:26

Those packed lunches sound interesting, varied and nutritious.
My kids liked quiches and they're easy to eat

tillylula · 02/09/2025 15:26

This child's mum can come make me a packed lunch every day please!

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 02/09/2025 15:26

Sounds delicious. Better than cheap ham on white bread, a frube and crisps. The fact there’s a disparity in incomes across the school intake really has no relevance; people can feed their kids as they wish, regardless of what others do.

Stowawaysue · 02/09/2025 15:25

I don’t think the Op will be long for this job

thankfully

LillyPJ · 02/09/2025 15:25

marshmallowfinder · 02/09/2025 15:22

Yabu to say pack lunch.
It is a packED lunch.

Thanks for that. I was having to sit on my hands to avoid correcting it!

jonthebatiste · 02/09/2025 15:25

It's a bit sad that an adult in a position of care for and authority over a 5yo child is judging their lunchbox contents as "too nice". I mean, if there were a mouldy half sandwich and half an apple in there, by all means judge away and raise it with the parents, bring it to the teacher's attention and see if the canteen staff can spare you something more nutritious for them. But to judge for being perfectly healthy but just by your personal (not even average) standards as extravagant...

And then people wonder about standards and respect, and why the world is upside down these days. What a ridiculous post.

CheeseDanish · 02/09/2025 15:25

I think we're all being big old meanies to the OP, and should show up in her schoolyard to support her, forming an honour guard holding more acceptable lunchtime offerings, like a packet of barbecue Hula Hoops, a limp Easi Singles sandwich, a half-empty Fruit Shoot, a wizened apple that's been at the bottom of a lunchbag for a week etc.

LillyPJ · 02/09/2025 15:24

It's great if kids are eating a wide variety of foods and parents can afford that sort of stuff.

Muffsies · 02/09/2025 15:23

I love the idea that a piece of quiche is fancy or unusual. It's an ideal kid's food, used to make them all the time.

The other stuff does sound a little bit "trying too hard", but if the kid eats it then it's not all a performance is it? The parent/s are probably a bit "foody" and they love cooking and preparing meals, they're not necessarily trying to show off.

marshmallowfinder · 02/09/2025 15:22

Yabu to say pack lunch.
It is a packED lunch.

PinkArt · 02/09/2025 15:21

A piece of quiche isn't extravagant! It's a great bit of protein and dairy and about £2 in Tescos. Your other two examples are just sandwiches, made with what sounds like decent quality ingredients on decent quality bread. All lovely fuel for a growing kid with a lot of learning to do.

travelallthetime · 02/09/2025 15:20

Better than the absolute garbage my ds takes in his packed lunch. A 'butter' sandwich, crisps, yoghurt, chicken bites and a chocolate bar.

I am fully aware this is all shit but he is full and thats all I care about. If I could get away with giving him an amazing packed lunch like that I would jump at the chance

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