We don't do AI, but love half board.
A breakfast buffet is the favourite part of the day. The kids love the cooked breakfast bits, or toast and cereal. I have a hot chocolate with a few pastries and some lovely fresh melon. And some coffees.
We are usually too stuffed to consider being able to eat lunch, and just grab a packet of crisps or some more fruit.
Dinner buffet means the kids can try things that look interesting. Or have a plate of food with a little bit of lots of different things. They like the variety and it not mattering if they didn't like something. I usually start the week eating all the delicious looking stuff, then eat lighter and lighter through the week. Salad and cured meats was lovely.
The array of delicious puddings is always great, but we're q fussy. I dislike custardy things, or gelatine like things, or cold rice pudding (ick). So one nights that had something delicious (carrot cake bites, mini brioche buns) then I indulged. On nights I didn't fancy anything there was always ice cream and lots of fruit.
For us, it means that we can eat out if we want to, and do a few times in the week. Grabbing lunch out somewhere that looks interesting, then going into the dining room in the eve but sometimes only for some fruit and ice cream. We do have to pay for drinks, and I'd appreciate not having to on AI, but where I wanted to go this year, all of the AI restaurants didn't have the large family rooms I wanted, or had rubbish reviews.