to think this IS an acceptable lunch for an 8 year old?

[Helenagrace]

I'm helping a friend out today as she has twin 8 year old boys and she's moving house house tomorrow. I've had them since 8.30am and in my text last night I said I'd "drop them back before dinner - about 5.30?"

I've just given them lunch. They were offered: toast (with peanut butter, egg, pate (homemade mackerel) or cheese), oatcakes (with the same options), half a packet of crisps, tomato, cucumber and pepper, fruit and a piece of home-made chocolate and cherry brownie.

Both have had oatcakes with cheese (6 each) plus salad, a hard boiled egg, an orange, crisps and a piece of cake.

My friend rang to see if they were ok and she spoke to one of the boys. Then I get a text from her saying she's coming to pick them up as she "hadn't realised they wouldn't be getting a proper lunch". I sent a text back saying that we were eating our main meal in the evening and I thought they were too and I've just had the reply back "yes but that's not really much of a lunch is it?"

It's a perfectly acceptable lunch in my house. Does anyone want to ring social services and dob me in for starving my children?

I'd sooner not bother with a cold meal Giles, sorry.

Agree with carabos

Does it really matter if jane prefers her food hot? You feel sorry for her children? really, come on now

That's your choice. Fine. But it doesn't make some one lazy because their meal isn't hot. Plenty of things can be eaten hot or cold and u still have to make them.

Cold food is assembly only, my opinion, may not be yours.

Giles, I dont think jane really thinks its lazy. I think shes just coming back at some of the ridiculous comments chipping made

Or maybe not

I do think cold food is an easy option though, ok in certain circumstances but not on an every day basis. How difficult is it to cook hot food though.

Yes I frequently put raw chicken in pasta salad :o

I'm
Imagining that episode of red dwarf where he sends back the gazpacho soup cos it's cold :o

Giles, I know gazpacho soup is served cold. I am not stupid. I would not order it.

If they were hungry it's immaterial how you eat in your household. You had to give them more food. It looks like you both are not are aware that there is not one way to do things. If I were her I would've been grateful that somebody got them out of the house. If I were you I would've asked the mother what and when they normally eat, do during the day etc.

I guess it depends on many things. I know that some children can be a bit nervous when eating at other people's houses (well my dd gets a bit nervous) so I always try to provide a more sort of "help yourself" lunch selection so that they can avoid things they don't enjoy or take more of things they do. Anyway, glad she sort of said sorry.

Sushi with uncooked rice is always a winner!
And don't get me started on raw potato salad.

You may think I'm being ridiculous, but to only consider eating a meal if it's hot is more so.

Giles :o

Seriously, my body, my choice if I am cooking it. However I am always polite if I am dining at a friends house.

I can't start on raw potato salad right now I feel sick from the raw bread dough I just ate

I'd offer you a Rennie Giles to help with the indigestion, but I fear they may need cooking and apparently I'm too lazy to cook

I don't know , does dropping a tablet into water constitute cooking?

We might be ok :o

Ungrateful to be sure. Sounds lovely to me.

Well I'm screwed if you'll only take it with warm water. I might have boil a kettle or something...

Fuck it I'll stick it in my and hope for the best

I'll throw in some (cold)

I thought my (not beloved) 80 year old PIL were the only people on earth who had 2 hot meals a day.

Obviously not...

(Though I have just had a thought - Jane, would soup put it into the 'hopt meal' category? Standard lunch here is homemade soup, homemade bread, array of cheeses / cold meats et al, fruit to follow)

Can't believe she phoned to check what they ate and then complained about it through the txt?
Lunch is just perfect.She is really ungrateful and you are just great to have her boys over.

I'll eat it when the yeast stops fermenting in my stomach :o

I'll put it in the fridge