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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
daleylama · 22/03/2026 22:54

Unpaidviewer · 22/03/2026 15:31

Of course. But the PP said leftovers. So I was asking her if she meant in general.

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So not in general then if you don't count home made food.

CrystalGaze · 22/03/2026 22:23

Tulipdreams · 21/03/2026 12:10

Ok but presuming that the child usually has a nice balanced lunch, but on this occasion they had a McDonald’s that they didn’t eat the night before.

Presuming it’s been refrigerated it’s not going to do any harm.

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It would be absolutely revolting! I would rather have nothing to eat for lunch than eat stone cold, limp fries and a cold, soggy burger. I can think of few things less appealing.

canonlydoblue · 22/03/2026 22:16

x2boys · 22/03/2026 22:10

Yeah right 🙄

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I'm also a teacher. Clutch those pearls......😂

x2boys · 22/03/2026 22:10

canonlydoblue · 22/03/2026 21:59

I've definitely sent my child in with some cold chicken dippers and a pot of ketchup. Probably wouldn't go as far as putting cold stodgy fries in there but if the child likes it why not. Saves wasting it.

Yeah right 🙄

Sunsetseascape · 22/03/2026 22:07

Morepositivemum · 21/03/2026 12:07

I enjoy McDonald’s but a cold one is pretty rank (imo!)

Exactly. Cold, soggy chips and a cold stuck together burger? Urgh.

I couldn’t even take this to work as the chips would have to go in the oven or air fryer to stand any chance of being enjoyable. We only have a microwave at work.

canonlydoblue · 22/03/2026 21:59

I've definitely sent my child in with some cold chicken dippers and a pot of ketchup. Probably wouldn't go as far as putting cold stodgy fries in there but if the child likes it why not. Saves wasting it.

pouletvous · 22/03/2026 21:40

Cold fries and cold nuggets? Yuck

a school meal is about £2.50

Specialagentblond · 22/03/2026 21:28

in my opinion there’s a massive difference between a hot McDonald’s and one that has been sat for 5mins. They just go yuk. I can’t imagine what most of it would taste like the following day.

a cold pizza however is something else.

Lordofthebantams · 22/03/2026 21:20

An absolute minimum of parenting is keeping them clean and fed decent food. Good food to help them grow and learn.

It's neglectful and awful that they don't think more of their child.

Grendel7 · 22/03/2026 21:07

Tulipdreams · 21/03/2026 12:03

If you are voting yabu what exactly is it about the McDonald’s that is so terrible?

Is it that you wouldn’t eat McDonald’s at all or is it because it’s cold?

Yabu because there is no nutritional value whatsoever in any ready meal or takeaway. So sad that children are not cared for properly in these days when we can choose whether or not to have children

liveforsummer · 22/03/2026 20:19

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 22/03/2026 19:15

Those are so sad 😥

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I still feel so sad when I think about it now. The pop tarts child is in care, the pizza they moved away to a different jurisdiction- probably to avoid SS but we flagged it with the next school so hopefully they have been monitored. Hard knowing you’ll never know! We have a dc with asd who comes in every day with the same cold chicken nuggets for snack and lunch as it’s literally all she eats, which we know and it’s fine. You need to look at the bigger picture often

Proudofmynane · 22/03/2026 20:17

Maccas has gone downhill quite a lot. Last one I had was particularly crap and that was 'fresh' and 'warm'.
I'm with the poster who said if you can afford that rank salt laden crap, you can afford a cheap loaf and something to put together a sandwich!!!

Randomlygeneratedname · 22/03/2026 20:12

Not the point but I love a cold mcdonalds cheeseburger. When I was pregnant I would buy them specifically to have the next day.

SouthernNights59 · 22/03/2026 20:06

MN is not the place for a poll like this - it's full of the "my child only eats organic food and a UPF has NEVER passed their lips, and as for sugar, no no no" types.

In the real world, full of real people, we eat McDonalds and enjoy it. - sometimes even cold.

ThisSunnyBee · 22/03/2026 19:46

Raise the bar, it's f atrocious

EwwPeople · 22/03/2026 19:41

OneGreySeal · 22/03/2026 19:11

It’s neglect. Shouldn’t have children if you cannot care for them.

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Can neglect be once in a blue moon?

Sharptonguedwoman · 22/03/2026 19:18

Thepeopleversuswork · 21/03/2026 12:09

No sorry. If you can afford a Happy Meal you can afford a loaf of bread to last the week, some sliced ham or cheese, an apple and possibly some nuts or crisps which is healthier.

Theres no nutritional content at all in a Happy Meal, its just fat and salt. Also I think sending a child into school with last night’s cold, slimy leftovers suggests such a lack of care. Its one thing if its just bought but someone’s rejected food is pitiful. Yes it’s marginally better than nothing but if you can afford bread and basic groceries you can do better than this.

51% carbs, 34% fat, and 15% protein. Nutritional value. I looked it up. Personally I think a cold burger and chips isn’t great but nutritionally I have seen much worse.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 22/03/2026 19:15

liveforsummer · 22/03/2026 17:52

A cheese burger isn’t the end of the world. I don’t mind them cold. The saddest one I’ve had is the dc who handed me a pack to open of a raw pop tart. I got the dc a school dinner and wrote up a welfare concern. See also the child who has a slice of pizza in their coat pocket for snack that they told me they took out the bin. I’ve seen the occasional cheeseburger and not found it on the same level as those examples

Those are so sad 😥

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 22/03/2026 19:14

I voted YABU - even though it’s not literally the worst in the world, it would be pretty horrible. I wouldn’t fancy it anyway.

The nutritional value wouldn’t be great but over and above that it just wouldn’t be nice!

OneGreySeal · 22/03/2026 19:11

Tulipdreams · 21/03/2026 12:10

Ok but presuming that the child usually has a nice balanced lunch, but on this occasion they had a McDonald’s that they didn’t eat the night before.

Presuming it’s been refrigerated it’s not going to do any harm.

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It’s neglect. Shouldn’t have children if you cannot care for them.

Tuesdayschild50 · 22/03/2026 18:47

Sending a child into school with a day old mcdonalds is poor.. if they can afford the mcdonalds they can afford a fresh loaf of bread with cheese or ham or both a banana .
Day old cold mcdonalds no.
It's just sad.

Blades2 · 22/03/2026 18:24

It’s the mirror. They like to put us against each other.

JustSawJohnny · 22/03/2026 18:13

Naaah, sorry - lazy, shit parenting.

Who TF wants to eat a cold burger and fries?!

It's so low effort it's offensive, IMO.

TheIceBear · 22/03/2026 18:13

Sesame2011 · 21/03/2026 12:03

Theres many takeaways i would eat the next day (reheated) but mdconalds is not one of them.

I agree . A mc Donald’s just doesn’t reheat well at all. I wouldn’t put it in my child’s lunch box . I have no issue with my child having the occasional mc Donald’s

liveforsummer · 22/03/2026 17:52

A cheese burger isn’t the end of the world. I don’t mind them cold. The saddest one I’ve had is the dc who handed me a pack to open of a raw pop tart. I got the dc a school dinner and wrote up a welfare concern. See also the child who has a slice of pizza in their coat pocket for snack that they told me they took out the bin. I’ve seen the occasional cheeseburger and not found it on the same level as those examples