When you have a day out, do you eat out or take a pack-up?

[TwoMagnificentLabradors]

Until a couple of years ago, we used to think nothing of dropping into a low- key restaurant ( Pizza Express, Giraffe etc.) on a day out. Then three things happened:

All hospitality shut for months and we got used to taking a packed lunch on our barely-legal day-long hikes.

The kids got enormous and started ordering from adult menus. No more humous, carrots, breadsticks and a teeny pizza for £4.99.

Restaurants and cafes put their prices up to cover rising costs.

I have become the proud queen of the pack-up. We were the family shamelessly scoffing our cheese and ham rolls on the forecourt of Liverpool Street Station today. Our new ways mean healthier food, saving 80-100 pounds on a day out and everyone getting what they like to eat.

We still eat out. But save those outings for special occasions and decent (not food pinged from a microwave) venues (or street food markets, I love those!)

Anyone else changed their ways of late?

I avoid eating out due to fear of Covid,but have always liked a packed lunch. I sometimes take a flask of soup too. I will then treat myself to a nice icecream or a cake. Win win.

It just depends on the day

We've always taken packed lunches and drinks, then I will buy a nice coffee for me and cake/ice cream for the dc.

We always take a packed lunch!

We never take packed lunches.

Even if we go for a picnic we stop at a supermarket and get a meal deal each plus extra nibbles!

We usually take a packed lunch, if we’ve had to drive we go in our little camper, so can eat it at a proper table in the warm/dry if the weather isn’t very nice.

A packed lunch about 80% of the time, eat out the other 20% - no change from before covid for us.

Same.

It depends on where we are going and what food is available. We generally eat out though if we can get a decent meal.

Still eating out, but just make sure where we are going is worth it. I definitely wouldn’t drop £100 for a meal at Giraffe.

If there are no good food options- will stop in a supermarket and get a picnic if the weather is nice.

We go somewhere in between and buy a picnic lunch in a supermarket rather than make it at home. We did always use to just eat out in a restaurant/pub/cafe without giving it a second thought though.

It depends where we're going and if it's easy enough to take a picnic. If it is, we will.

Packed lunch. Cheaper and works for allergies. Kids sometimes get a mcdonalds.

Picnic in the summer, chips and a pint in the pub in the winter. We do go for meals out too though...

We always take a packed lunch. Partly my frugal upbringing (to this day my mum is aghast that people buy teas and coffee out when they COULD MAKE IT AND BRING IT IN A THERMOS!) and partly because spending time in a pizza express and keeping the children sat still and quiet doesn’t appeal to me.

I hate the cost of restaurant food. Most of it gets wasted, too salty. Waiting to be served. Not a lot to like in whole thing.

We typically have sandwiches, fruit, crisps, & buy hot chocolate or an ice cream.

It depends, but generally eat out - cba to prepare a packed lunch 😆

Pack food for my little one because nowhere caters for people who have a blended diet and often buy myself some lunch as a treat.

We'll take packed lunches but get coffee somewhere (the kids will get squash or juice), when DH and I go out alone we'll buy lunch out. We can afford to buy out as often as we like but the kids prefer packed lunches and don't mind if we buy things just for us

Depends but usually we eat out because I find by the time I've bought nice picnic foods it's cheaper to eat out. Occasionally we do pick up sandwiches from sainsburys when buying fuel if going somewhere remote.

Depends, but generally eat out when it’s cold and have picnics in the warmer months.

The only time I pack anything other than drinks is if I’m specifically making a picnic part of the day , which is very rarely .

We're the same. If we're out for the whole day we have a picnic for lunch and book dinner. I like the idea that we can just pitch up and eat without queuing, trying to find somewhere etc. if we fancy something hot we will get a coffee or some chips depending on where we are.

Couldn’t think of anything worse than taking a packed lunch. We plan our trips out around either eating well at home beforehand, or on the basis that we’ll eat out if the trip straddles a mealtime. Theres only DH and I, plus 4yo DS so cost not much of a consideration.

packed lunch
We actually eat out fairly often, but I hate being forced to go somewhere mediocre because of the proximity to whatever else we're doing. So it's a pack up for days out, and meals out on different days.