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Carbs with carbs, and a side order of carbs. WTF M & S?

416 replies

AudTheDeepMinded · 23/10/2021 13:55

Good grief, no wonder we have an obesity crisis. Was in M & S cafe for a mid morning coffee and spotted their latest menu. Included is a mac and cheese toasted sarnie, with which you can have a side order of fries for an extra £2. Can't believe they seriously thought this was a good idea.
Should probably have posted this in AIBU! what's the most bizarre offering you have seen on a menu?

OP posts:
Joystir59 · 24/10/2021 14:23

Obesity is a lot more complex than "eat a fruitcake instead of Full English
Actually it really really us this simple. It's about choices made every meal time every day.

Joystir59 · 24/10/2021 14:24

Toasted teacake, not fruit cake

tofuschnitzel · 24/10/2021 14:25

[quote AudTheDeepMinded]@Mrsjayy But do they have a moral obligation not to condone something that is blatantly unhealthy?[/quote]
Why? Every business selling food has healthy and less healthy choices on offer. You wouldn't apply the same logic to the M&S foodhall so I don't see why you think the café should be under a greater moral obligation. Should M&S clear their shops of chocolate, crisps, biscuits, etc, because it's not deemed healthy enough by you? No one is force-feeding people this type of food. Have it or don't have it, it really doesn't matter.

icedcoffees · 24/10/2021 14:28

@Joystir59

And I'm my opinion raising an overweight child is tantamount to child neglect. It's just awful- to see overweight kids who cannot move freely, who will grow up without any experience of what it is to be slim. Not fair. But hey, I'm just awful for daring to mention the elephant in the room.
Instead of judging and sneering at people, why don't you try and do something positive that could actually make a difference?

Advocate for better education in schools, easier access to things like cooking lessons, fresh ingredients in poor parts of the county etc.

Many people were not taught to cook growing up and have no skills to pass on to their children. They don't know how to cook basic, healthy meals from scratch and can't afford to try, get it wrong and throw food away. They also can't afford to cook food that their kids won't touch.

To cook good meals, you also need access to equipment - pots and pans, a proper oven and hob, storage (like a decent sized fridge and freezer) and most importantly - knowledge.

Judging people and sneering at them while you eat your wholesome teacake and plain coffee won't change anything. It won't stop them from going out for fry-ups each weekend or living off freezer food.

So why do it? To make yourself feel better?

icedcoffees · 24/10/2021 14:31

@Joystir59

Obesity is a lot more complex than "eat a fruitcake instead of Full English Actually it really really us this simple. It's about choices made every meal time every day.
So says someone who has zero knowledge of how complex food issues are. It really is not that simple.

Money.
Knowledge.
Time.
Experience.
Equipment.
Upbringing.
Physical and mental health and ability.

All those things come into it. Picking a teacake over a Full English is only one, absolutely tiny aspect of healthy eating and a good diet.

Babybellblue · 24/10/2021 14:34

Obesity is caused by putting the wrong food in your mouth... Constantly.

While people with genuine mental health issues often look to food as a comfort. Some people are simply lazy and never exercise and still shovel fat and sweet stuff into their mouth. Then complain they are depressed.

Well yes I'd also be depressed if I'd let my body get into that state. If people choose to do that then fine but don't moan when your body packs up and you need new knees, hips by the time you are 50. Your choice so deal with the consequences and stop asking the NHS to fix you.

Mammyloveswine · 24/10/2021 15:00

@AudTheDeepMinded

I know I'm not required to order it. I'm objecting to a high street shop with a massive presence normalising something obscenely unhealthy.
Oh ffs!! They also do a pizza deal, an Indian deal, the dine in deal... with wine.. are they promoting alcoholism??

It's a cafe menu.. a treat.. if you're so bothered why not email the ceo?

Hate sanctimonious posting like this.

icedcoffees · 24/10/2021 15:02

Obesity is caused by putting the wrong food in your mouth constantly.

On a very basic level, yes.

But the reasons behind poor diet and food choices are a lot more complex than "just pick the fruitcake not the fry-up".

julieca · 24/10/2021 15:04

No it isnt. It is caused by eating too much. Plenty of slim people with terrible diets.

TuftyMarmoset · 24/10/2021 16:23

@julieca

No it isnt. It is caused by eating too much. Plenty of slim people with terrible diets.
A lot of slim people are ‘skinny fat’ though - they have visceral fat wrapped around their organs but not the more visible fat.
PaperMonster · 24/10/2021 17:15

Pah! Fat families!! We used to have a gym where I live and the trainers used to start their day with bacon and eggs - maybe not the carby option of the full English but certainly better than a fruit tea cake!

longwayoff · 24/10/2021 17:39

Have you ever seen a cake shop OP? That's all they sell. Cake, pies, tarts, flans, meringues, macarons, doughnuts . . . Terrible, let's ban them and stone the owners.

BarbaraofSeville · 24/10/2021 17:44

Why would you put cold salad leaves next to steaming hot pasta covered with cheese

Because it's bloody delicious that's why. Or just pile the macaroni cheese on top of the salad. Yum.

What are we allowed to have with macaroni cheese if we can't have chips and apparently can't have salad either?

As a one off it really doesn't matter. I doubt very much that many people are going to be living off this type of food, more an occasional treat. Mumsnet is totally bonkers about food.

BarbaraofSeville · 24/10/2021 17:45

@longwayoff

Have you ever seen a cake shop OP? That's all they sell. Cake, pies, tarts, flans, meringues, macarons, doughnuts . . . Terrible, let's ban them and stone the owners.
Exactly. What about afternoon tea? Sandwiches with dangerously carby bread, carby sugary scones with fatty clotted cream and carby sugary cakes.

Macaroni cheese toasties and chips are a health food in comparison.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 24/10/2021 17:47

@Nowisthemonthofmaying

I saw that on a board outside M&S last week, it looked gross! Don't get me wrong I love macaroni cheese and also cheese toasties but something about the combo of pasta and bread is just really yukky.
I love lasagne and garlic bread. Dead common, me
Lulu1919 · 24/10/2021 17:47

Pasta and bread....but people have been having pasta dishes with garlic bread for years !!!

Joystir59 · 24/10/2021 18:06

@Lulu1919
Pasta and bread....but people have been having pasta dishes with garlic bread
The Italians haven't. Also their pizzas are thin thin thin. So are they. Unlike us ..

YourFinestPantaloons · 24/10/2021 18:09

Also their pizzas are thin thin thin. So are they. Unlike us ..

Haha I take it you've never been to Italy if you think there are no overweight people?

EdgeOfTheSky · 24/10/2021 18:17

I never have bread / garlic bread with a pasta dish.

Oblomov21 · 24/10/2021 18:17

Show me the way. Sounds delicious.

Oblomov21 · 24/10/2021 18:19

"normalising something obscenely unhealthy."

How is it unhealthy? Not if you eat it as part of a very healthy diet. If you had a green salad for lunch, then it wouldn't be a problem.

Sickoffamilydrama · 24/10/2021 18:19

[quote Joystir59]@Lulu1919
Pasta and bread....but people have been having pasta dishes with garlic bread
The Italians haven't. Also their pizzas are thin thin thin. So are they. Unlike us ..[/quote]
Depends where you are in Italy is my understanding and my Sis in law is Italian and has ice cream nearly everyday, she not overweight but that's not healthy.

You lot are torturing me I've got Covid and not had an appetite in days, spent the day snoozing and scrolling on the internet in bed and Macaroni cheese adverts are now following me! Perhaps it's the cure we've been looking for?

Carbs with carbs, and a side order of carbs. WTF M & S?
icedcoffees · 24/10/2021 18:23

What are we allowed to have with macaroni cheese if we can't have chips and apparently can't have salad either?

You don't need anything with it, do you? A plate of macaroni cheese is a meal by itself - no need to add a side to it.

SueSaid · 24/10/2021 18:25

'so normalising the consumption of very calorific food, with little real nutritional value, over healthier alternatives, at a time when so many struggle with health issues related to obesity is not a terrible way to live?'

Oh god don't mention obesity and food or as this thread demonstrates the overeaters will be fuuuuuumin while running to the fridge for another plateful.

I agree op. No, M&S don't need to provide lettuce sandwiches only however there is a middle ground, something vaguely healthy yet tasty.

So many fat people don't like to hear it though.

Peach01 · 24/10/2021 18:27

@AudTheDeepMinded

I know I'm not required to order it. I'm objecting to a high street shop with a massive presence normalising something obscenely unhealthy.
I find all of the supermarket cafes a bit on the unhealthy side. Treat food.

It's no surprise with M&S, their food aisles are masses of high calorie ready meals.
I don't see M&S as anything other than a decent ready meal shop.

As a side note, I want this toastie Grin

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