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Original poster

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

283 replies

TwoMagnificentLabradors · 29/01/2023 19:56

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?

OP posts:
HerbalTeaAndChocolate · 02/02/2023 07:38

FourFour · 01/02/2023 09:13

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

I ate out at a local cafe yesterday.
A goat cheese and beetroot salad
Chips
Fresh juice
It was £20
That's ridiculously expensive!
I'm nit going to be doing that so frequently as before!

Sparklingbrook · 02/02/2023 08:04

Bignanny30 · 01/02/2023 20:42

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

Ir's completely possible to eat out and still know what you are feeding to your family. Confused

Bignanny30 · 02/02/2023 11:22

Reply to #Sparklingbrook Are you one of those people who want to argue with everyone and everything????

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Cost of living General food
Biddie191 · 02/02/2023 12:27

Usually make our own. So often eating out is expensive, food isn't great, and you have to wait ages, so rarely do so. Maybe grab some chips on the way home from sports, but that's about it x

PinkSyCo · 02/02/2023 14:05

TwoMagnificentLabradors · 29/01/2023 20:46

What a magnificently condescending reply 😆 I love your image of our sad little family huddled around two wangy cheese rolls between. As we watch forlornly as the other families lavish Leonloveburgers on their fortunate offspring.

We ate delicious baguettes with Emmental and farm shop ham on our way to watch a show at the Tower. The station was warm, dry and has tables. And one of us works at the cute law firm across the road, so I reckon we could have stretched to Loveburgers and even some of those curly chips that are always cold, at a push.

But I have a chronic aversion to spaffing money on a mediocre meal, spending in one meal what many families budget for their weekly food.

Show quote history

Oh well if the ham came from a farm shop and your rolls were in fact baguettes, that would have made scoffing them in a busy stations forecourt on a cold winters day much more fun I’m sure. 😂

Joyfuljolly · 02/02/2023 14:56

Bignanny30 · 02/02/2023 11:22

Reply to #Sparklingbrook Are you one of those people who want to argue with everyone and everything????

Are you one of these people who hate it when what you post is questioned ? 😂

Sparklingbrook · 02/02/2023 15:06

Reply to #Bignanny30 or @Bignanny30

No.

OriGanOver · 02/02/2023 20:51

@adulthumanfemalemum I'd also rather eat out and buy a box of ice lollies - last year we went to an airshow where the icecream vans had mr whippies at £8 for a standard cone. I did not buy ice creams - we had mcflurries on the way home instead!

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