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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think a leftover happy meal isn’t the worst packed lunch you could have?

439 replies

Tulipdreams · 21/03/2026 12:00

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/teachers-share-students-worst-packed-36878989.amp

Hear me out first. Of course the article is pretty terrible, children being sent into school with only packets of biscuits for lunch, stories of children having no milk for their cereal and bringing in energy drinks.

But one example was a child took a leftover happy meal to school. Aibu to think that this isn’t the worst thing you could have?

No I have never sent my child into school with a cold takeaway for their lunch, and it would be concerning if it was happening all the time. But I would eat leftover McDonald’s if I hadn’t eaten it the night before. It’s probably no worse than taking a ham sandwich and a packet of crisps (which would be deemed as acceptable).

When I was a child most kids took meat paste sandwiches and a wagon wheel and that was a completely normal lunch.

Teachers share students' worst packed lunches and contents are heartbreaking

Teachers share examples of unsuitable packed lunches children bring to school in the UK, including energy drinks, cold fast food and alcohol – with some pupils making their own meals

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/teachers-share-students-worst-packed-36878989.amp

OP posts:
ChickpeaCauliflowerSalad · 21/03/2026 15:31

Hotcrossed · 21/03/2026 12:59

apparently the excuse for the mcdonalds was that It was a shame to waste it! which is a fair point.

I haven't opened the article, did it say what the kid thought of it? If the kid wanted to take it, then fine. No worse than a white bread sandwich with processed meat in it & a bag of crisps.

personally I can't see that it's any worse than what most kids take for a packed lunch.

some of the comments on here are hilarious though.

InfoSecInTheCity · 21/03/2026 15:31

VivienneDelacroix · 21/03/2026 15:13

I mean, people who bottle feed say that "fed is best," so by the same measure...

Stupid gits, obviously if they can’t breastfeed they should accept fate, let the child starve to death and embrace a natural end. Breastfeeding is the only true option after all. (This is written with Sarcasm and contempt for anyone who struggles to pick up the clues)

Frugalgal · 21/03/2026 15:29

It's awful. Cold junk food. They're bad enough fresh.
Unless it's a one off because someone's in hospital or died, or the kid is neuro diverse and literally won't eat anything else, it screams of bad parenting.

Just make a cheese sandwich

Unpaidviewer · 21/03/2026 15:29

x2boys · 21/03/2026 15:18

Not sure what bottle feeding has to do with sending a child into school with cold leftover McDonald's.

Show quote history

I think she meant to quote a PP who said something similar to "we have to stop this fed is best nonsense".

crayonmess · 21/03/2026 15:28

I actually love cold breaded chicken, it tastes so nice the day after.

cobrakaieaglefang · 21/03/2026 15:24

Who has ever had a hot McDonald's anyway, on the rare occasions I've had one they are lukewarm at best!

Megifer · 21/03/2026 15:23

VivienneDelacroix · 21/03/2026 15:13

I mean, people who bottle feed say that "fed is best," so by the same measure...

🥱

SunnyKoala · 21/03/2026 15:23

I thought the same as you OP when I read that some time ago. And the last week my son had a cold lamb burger for lunch left over from the night before. He said he enjoyed it but it took ages to eat. I didn't see the difference between that and his normal processed meat sandwich. Maybe better?

RosesAndHellebores · 21/03/2026 15:20

VivienneDelacroix · 21/03/2026 15:13

I mean, people who bottle feed say that "fed is best," so by the same measure...

Interesting comment. I bottle fed after failing to breastfeed and felt a failire for years because of it. Paradoxically some of my friends who were evangelical about bf and coukdn't understand why others didn't (because they never had infective mastitis, thrush of the inner breast, a baby with tongue tie or an oddly shaped palate, or a beeast abscess) were the ones who seemed ro wean onto teddy bear ham, nuggets, and frankfurters from a tin.

crayonmess · 21/03/2026 15:18

Although I think I would rather left over chicken nuggets then the pizza slices my school used to serve which were 🤮

x2boys · 21/03/2026 15:18

VivienneDelacroix · 21/03/2026 15:13

I mean, people who bottle feed say that "fed is best," so by the same measure...

Not sure what bottle feeding has to do with sending a child into school with cold leftover McDonald's.

crayonmess · 21/03/2026 15:18

@x2boys DH will eat leftover chips, it was more the point that leftover pizza is one of his favourite things. I think both are disgusting

Cyclingmummy1 · 21/03/2026 15:16

Waitingfordoggo · 21/03/2026 12:09

McDonald’s is rank when it’s fresh, I doubt it improves after being in the fridge overnight.

It won't have been in the fridge.

x2boys · 21/03/2026 15:15

crayonmess · 21/03/2026 15:13

@x2boys doesnt it depend on the person eating it? I hate cold food and only like McDonalds fries piping hot & fresh. DH on the other hand loves leftover pizza.

Thats two different foods
I can eat pizza cold or hot
Left over cold fries 🍟 though are horrible.

AlmostAJillSandwich · 21/03/2026 15:15

I cant even eat their burgers lukewarm cooled down too much from fresh, the thought of a day after cold one sounds absolutely disgusting, and if i wouldn't eat it myself, i wouldn't give it to a child!
And all cold chips get a rank taste and texture.
A child shouldn't just get nutritious food, but food they like the taste of. I can't imagine them enjoying a cold day old happy meal.

InLoveWithAI · 21/03/2026 15:15

SL2924 · 21/03/2026 14:09

It’s lazy, neglectful parenting from people who should not have children. This sort of food should be banned for children and quite frankly adults too. It can simultaneously cause obesity and malnutrition. It has no nutritional value. I would argue that this is not even food- just edible crap.

The cheeseburger itself comes in at about 298 kcal (1,251 kJ), with 25g protein, 43g carbs, 16.5g fat, 8.3g saturates, 19g sugars, and 1.98g salt.

VivienneDelacroix · 21/03/2026 15:13

I mean, people who bottle feed say that "fed is best," so by the same measure...

crayonmess · 21/03/2026 15:13

@x2boys doesnt it depend on the person eating it? I hate cold food and only like McDonalds fries piping hot & fresh. DH on the other hand loves leftover pizza.

88MullahsonZoom · 21/03/2026 15:12

What you put in is what you get out.

x2boys · 21/03/2026 15:11

crayonmess · 21/03/2026 15:09

I don’t see much difference between a cold Happy meal and some of the school dinners. My dc wouldn’t eat either; they don’t like school dinners & McDs is gone before it can get cold.

Warm happy meals taste nice cold ones frim the night before dont

crayonmess · 21/03/2026 15:11

@JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff & it’s served hot. Most of it is cooked early morning and then left to sit, may get reheated for lunch.

x2boys · 21/03/2026 15:10

Toooldforthisshit49 · 21/03/2026 15:08

We eat left over KFC sliced up in a sandwich, it's delicious. I think it would be worse if the child wasn't having any lunch-better to have something than nothing.

Surely in thst case the parent should have prioritised school lunch?

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 21/03/2026 15:09

RosesAndHellebores · 21/03/2026 15:03

The bigger scandal is the abysmal quality of school lunches. I accept that the budgets are woefully low but we switched to packed lunches because of them. A cheeese, chicken, tuna sandwich on wholemeal bread, a piece of fruit, a small piece of cake, quality biscut or yoghurt. It was more expensive to provide than a school lunch. Which often was: nuggets, burger, pizza, fishfingers, a meat dish (never pork or beef) was accompanoed with over stewed unedifying veg and mash and chips, soggy, were always available. Followed by cake and coloured custard or ice cream (cheap, UPF) ice cream.

I cannot imagine that universal school lunches fkr ks1 are improved. When parents paid, feedback was legitimate; when they don't it isn't and gives scope for further deterioration because there should be gratitude.

In any event, no school meal is free. They are free at the point of delivery, like the NHS.

Being fair @RosesAndHellebores my kids are at school now and the menu is nothing like that.

Some options from this week include bean burrito, jacket potato with tuna or real cheese (not cheez), lasagne, spicy chicken and noodles.

They also have a "veggie table" for snacktime with raw carrot, celery and cucumber pieces.

I am not saying it is perfect but it is not wall to wall upfs by any means.

DelphiniumBlue · 21/03/2026 15:09

I can remember seeing this when I first qualified, and was little horrified when `in saw a child in my class having this for lunch. The child, on the other hand, was delighted, and saw it as a treat.
I suppose in nutritional terms it's probably no worse than white bread ham/spam sandwiches.

crayonmess · 21/03/2026 15:09

I don’t see much difference between a cold Happy meal and some of the school dinners. My dc wouldn’t eat either; they don’t like school dinners & McDs is gone before it can get cold.