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?

Miranda Kerr brings one banana to eat at gala dinner parties so I’d say you’re being very chic.

I hate picnics, both making them, eating them and carrying them.
We do have them but I'd rather eat out or have a big breakfast at home and get a coffee and a snack out.

Mostly picnic but add in a takeaway coffee for us.

Even if we are getting cafe food I usually bring some cucumber and tomato as the kids options are just beige.

Maybe the OP and her family knelt up and used the middle bit as a table? My knees are hurting at the thought.

Always a packed lunch for us. We all enjoy it.

What's covid got to do with it? Presumably you go to somewhere for ice cream or cake? Could catch covid there too? 🤔

There are little tables, they are built into thr wooden seats . It’s not like a table with seating round it. But like in this image.

Ah ok. I’ve never noticed them before, too busy marching through the station to get out of there as quickly as possible.....to my cute and magical little job 😉

I do prefer pollyamour’s description though.

@TallAndSpiky those station seats are oddly more comfortable than they look.
Some of them have little eyes and antenna thingys on the ends to make them look like caterpillars.
The little round tables are too small though if you are traveling with a companion and you both eat a McDonalds meal. You can't quite fit 2 burgers, 2 fries and 2 drinks on them.
It's annoying 🤣

No nuggets @Needmorelego ?? Unacceptable!

We would generally eat out, unless it was a very nice day and we were going to a park or to some outdoor activity.

@TallAndSpiky I don't like chicken so no nuggets for me.
Daughter does like chicken but prefers KFC. Trying to fit a McDonalds and a KFC on the table is worse because their stuff seems to come in bigger boxes - ha ha.

Mostly take a picnic. Especially when making use of our NT/EH memberships as it usually makes a fairly cheap day out. Often will treat the kids to an ice cream in better weather. Some times I take a flask and make my own cup of tea and sometimes I buy a tea. Depends how long we are out and if I’d be lugging a really heavy bag around. Try and split the food between mind and kids backpacks too for weight.

I make really good packed lunches!
We love a good picnic, everyone gets to eat food they enjoy.
We just buy coffee and ice creams, its saved us a fortune over the years.

Yep, DD (11) is coeliac so I've become an absolute master at bringing food everywhere we go. The people who can just pop into a cafe/pick up a meal deal don't know they are born tbh. Any type of eating out for us involves research, planning ahead, phone calls, emails and often a "folder of doom". Picnics all the way!

Nearly always a packed lunch - more flexible as you can eat whenever it suits rather than having to fit finding somewhere to eat into the day. And a day out is often a walk in the countryside or something so eating out isn’t always even an option.

On occasions we don’t have a packed lunch, getting lunch has often been an added stress in the day - arguing about where to eat, decide on somewhere then there’s no tables, someone gets hangry, kids won’t sit still, food is mediocre and overpriced and resent paying for it.

Give me a tuna roll and a flask of tea every time.

Always a packed lunch and snacks. Infinitely cheaper and easy to whip out, no waiting around.

It totally depends on where I am going, what my mood is, and what the budget looks like that month. I don't mind either, actually.

Depends where we are going… sometimes I’ll pack a lunch and snacks, other times
i buy a meal deal… If the place we are going is a small home run business (like our local farm) and doesn’t charge a fortune then we buy lunch there and support their business.

Gotta love a packed lunch! No idea about "pack ups" though 🤣

always eat out, can always find something nicer than a sandwich from home.

We do a mix of eating out and taking food with us. I’ve only read the first page of comments and notice that no one has said they can’t afford to eat out. Clearly the increase in costs all around hasn’t affected everyone!

I agree, you know what you’re feeding to your family when you do a packed lunch/picnic, its healthier and cheaper - win/win.

Depends what we're doing and whether we can be bothered to carry a big bad if food around. I always carry snacks and water (even now my kids are teens). But usually go to McDonald's if a cheap day out or Wagamamas or similar if splashing out a bit more.

Funny that so many people say they'll take a packed lunch but buy ice-cream. Spending £10-£15 on 5 bog standard icecreams really bugs me and I try to avoid it at all costs. We live near the beach and we tend to grab a box of ten lollies for £1 from Iceland.and take them to the beach lol. For £10-£15 I could buy loads of lush Haagendasz to eat at home!!!!

Never ever thought of packed lunches. I have special times when I take myself out. After my shrink, once every three months, hairdresser once every two months and ear doctor once every few months. Birthdays with my ex, sometimes with my daughter and sometimes with my ex. We share the flat. Separate bedrooms. We get on better now that's over with and once a month with my sister. Mind you, when my daughter was in the army my uncle would take me on Saturdays to see her and I'd make a picnic. I love eating out.