To take fruit to a coffee shop

[JaceLancs]

The taking your own tea bag thread reminded me
Would you think I was a CF for taking my own food (usually fruit) to a Cafe or coffee shop
I always buy a drink and if it’s vaguely early enough porridge but I usually take a box of strawberries or raspberries, or something like plums or apricots
I’m on a diet and have lots of food allergies so am pretty limited to what I can eat anyway
Most cafes even if they sell fruit only have bananas apples or oranges which I’m not that fond of

I think YABU. As others have said, it's not like taking a snack for a toddler - either stick to a drink and eat your fruit later, or get it to take away.

Very cheeky. You should only consume the food/drink you purchase in the cafe.

Not rude if you mean Costa.

My branch (a very large one) has loads of food available, but zero fruit options. You'd think there would be post of grapes, melon etc etc. Nope. Nothing.

So yes I do take my own fruit.

I think it’s rude and I wouldn’t do it myself. I think it’s someimes ok for kids but even then I think you should ask. Most coffee shops have some options for for gluten-free, allergies, vegans etc.

I worked in a cafe once and we had signs saying only food and drink purchased in the cafe may be consumed. I think it's fair enough really.

Why are you doing it? Because you want to eat something healthy rather than a brownie or a muffin?

Are there other coffee shops you can go to with healthier options?

You could always eat at home and then just have a drink when you go to a coffee shop.

YABU

If it's a quiet time of day they are not going to mind - if it's busy and you're taking up a table that could seat 4, they will.

No, I think that's fine as long as you were buying a coffee/tea etc.

If they were to say anything, presumably you'd reply, well, I have a variety of allergies and while I'd love to be able to have the ease of buying my food as well as a drink from your cafe, I can't. My options are either bringing some things I can eat, going hungry, or - choosing to take my custom to another cafe. Note: buying more than a drink from your cafe isn't one of those options.

I like your cafe, and bringing my own food ensures that I can still be one of your customers. Would you prefer it if I went elsewhere?

I wouldn't take my own fruit to eat in a cafe, I think thats a bit cheeky.

Fruit is something you can eat on the go anywhere so no need to sit at a table with it. Eat it when you leave or before you go in. If it was for a small child its a bit different, but then I'd only do that if we'd bought adult food and drink.

Its a real pain when you're dieting as theres not many healthy options in most places, but thats just one of those things.

I wouldn't do it, no. Perhaps in a big chain like Starbucks just because they're filthy rich and charge the Earth for a few pieces of fruit, but even then I'd feel cheeky.
I'd either eat it before I went in or after I left, or get a take out drink.

Drink your coffee, and try to wait 15 minutes until you can eat in a more appropriate place. I'm sure you will manage!

Why don't just drink a coffee? I would find it extremely rude as a cafe owner/worker if somebody would bring their own food, fruit or anything else.

You are not a baby/toddler, if there isn't anything available just sit down with a drink or get a decent reusable cup, do a take away and sit in a park with your fruit?

I often go for a cappuchino but try to avoid cakes. If there is really nothing on offer to eat I just stick to my drink.

My friends own a cafe and it's really hard work for not a lot of reward. I feel sorry for them when I read threads like this.

Instead, why not pass on the tips above which might make them more competitive? Cafes can be absolutely dire at fruit, or anything that isn't the usual carb-fest. If you don't want a pastry or bread item, then yes, usually it's a choice from the grim basket of brownish bananas or slightly wrinkly apples. Yum.

People will happily pay for a berry or grape pouch, and they understand that these cost more than apples/bananas.

FizzyGreen, I see your point but it doesn't justify doing this regardless.

It's only acceptable for an under 2 or so and on the proviso that the accompanying adult has made a purchase for themselves.
You need to get your drink or porridge as take out if you want to eat your own food.

FGS! In the past people used to eat picnics. Picnics, people! They did not feel entitled to sit in a coffee shop and bring their own tea bags/fuit/lunchbox.

I wouldn't. I have friends who do and I cringe a bit.

I'd think nothing of taking baby or toddler food in though.

Majority says no - i’ll get my coffee in a takeaway cup then and sit elsewhere and enjoy my fruit!
Small cafe owners take note - try selling more healthy options
No wonder we have an obesity crisis

By all means bring your own chia seeds to sprinkle on your porridge, or diet sweeteners though.

If you are just picking at some fruit I would have thought that's ok as a paying customer. Pulling out a full on picnic with sandwiches is too much.

Not many people go to a café for fruit though, it would go off and be wasteful. Good to hear that you are going to stop anyway OP, I do think that is rude.

I like your cafe, and bringing my own food ensures that I can still be one of your customers. Would you prefer it if I went elsewhere?

At the risk of answering a clearly rhetorical question - well, possibly, yes! I imagine it depends how full they usually are. If they are not full, then no, I'm sure they're happy to sell you a coffee. If they're approaching capacity, then I imagine yes, they might - with the best will in the world - prefer you to go elsewhere and leave the table for someone who might be more profitable. But I don't run a cafe, so I'm only theorising and putting off getting out of bed by posting on MN.

I wouldn't take food in to a place that sold food. But if you ask them they might be happy to oblige - most coffee shops do offer fruit.

No wonder we have an obesity crisis

We have an obesity crisis because you can't enjoy a coffee and wait twenty minutes to eat your fruit?