Extravagant Pack Lunches

That's a healthy packed lunch and the child eats it, so I really don't see what the problem is. My children would have had a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel fairly regularly when they that age, it's a completely non remarkable lunch.

When I was a TA I saw children sent in with some sorry looking lunches, mint sauce on mouldy bread, a single fromage frais and a half eaten burger were among the worst ones. A child being sent to school with a healthy, filling lunch shouldn’t be seen as over the top or extravagant it should be the norm!

It’s nutritious. Lucky lucky child having parents who can afford to and care enough to do it.

YABU, those sound like lovely lunches.

Smoked salmon bagel is hardly extravagant. Costs about the same as some "wet ham" as my DS calls it. He doesn't like sandwiches so usually has leftovers or something like that bagel. Leftovers are the best from my point of view. Just shovel some of last nights dinner into a box. Job done.

Good for them! The amount of shite children in the UK eat, anyone providing healthy, varied food for their child should be welcomed. Just because it isn’t the standard cheese sandwich, pack of crisps, apple that goes mouldy in bottom of bag and a choc bar doesn’t mean it’s OTT or absurd. DD1 has very specific ideas about her packed lunches and I’m sure some of might make your eyes roll but she eats healthy, varied food. Like I would make for my own packed lunches!

My same age child loves salmon and cream cheese bagels and wouldn’t eat a basic cheese sandwich, so that’s what he gets. He’s quite limited in what he will eat so I just go with what he likes as it’s healthy and nutritious. What’s the issue?

My 2 yo would eat any of that. We're not at lunch box stage yet but I often batch cook (lone parent wft so have to prep to ensure we eat well) and I would make a quiche as lunch for both of us. I make my own Foccacia which isn't too expensive either and would use that for filling sandwiches.

It's important to me that I keep ds regularly exposed to lots of different types of food so he gets a really varied diet and hopefully we avoid him becoming a picky eater (although obviously there are good reasons why some kids do). To me it makes more sense to utilise everything in the fridge in this way so we've less waste than buying more sandwich crap while the good food goes to waste?

My kids regularly had smoked salmon sandwiches at primary school. Don't see the issue.

Seems like a daft thing to get pissy about. Are you worried the parents are taking too much care over the lunchbox? Aren't you only supposed to be alert to the opposite happening?

It's certainly more effort than I ever went to but I can't find it in me to judge a parent who's providing a nutritious meal for their kid

I applaud the child's parent/caregiver for giving them a lovely lunch.

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?

I’m kind of amused that you’re writing this on mumsnet. Many posters think nothing of that kind of lunch for their five year old!

I say, if the kid eats it, then what’s the problem? They are fed healthy, good food, carefully and lovingly prepared.

Are there kids who turn up with a can of Monster and a bag of crisps? Those are the ones you should be concerned about.

My boys absolutely love smoked salmon they can demolish a packet at breakfast if you let them (3 and 6). I look forward to Christmas and Easter just because bigger packets come down in price!

Sounds like the perfect packed lunch to me.

Food isn't 'extravagant ' if you can afford it. You clearly think they are showing off, they aren't they are just giving their child a good diet.

i think a piece or quiche or a smoked salmon bagel are completely normal things. I’m not sure I’d fancy a cold steak focaccia but if the child likes it then great.

I used to try and think of carbs that were a bit less boring than sliced bread. Focaccia, quiche, wraps, cheese scones, pasties etc all went down well with my two.

what do you consider acceptable then @Diadrie ?

It sounds like a lovely packed lunch!

I wouldn’t say it’s ott, sounds quite balanced tbh and if the child eats it then so what?

It sounds a lovely healthy lunch and normal food rather then beige food.

What is absurd about parents feeding their child a nutritious, balanced packed lunch and putting thought into making sure that it is a meal that they enjoy? If they eat that kind of food at home, then how is it over the top? It's their usual diet. Would turkey twizzlers and Sunny Delight be better? YABU and judgy.

Sounds lovely - lucky kids!

I really don't see what's wrong with that?

I'm not fancy at all, and it sounds similar to what I pack my dc.

Sounds really nice and that the child is well looked after, has a balanced diet and eats great variety of foods happily.

I suppose you’d rather they brought in a Lunchables and a packet of Wotsits?

It’s “packed lunch” as well, not a “pack lunch.”

Exactly. It's dinner leftovers repurposed. Often the most straightforward way of giving a child a packed lunch that has protein, vegetables etc.

Sounds like a nice lunch and most likely using up leftovers from the dinner the night before.