Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Packed lunch is sad

911 replies

Ribrabrob · 22/06/2019 05:35

I went to a theme park with a friend recently, fully prepared to buy lunch when I was there however arrived to pick her up and there she was with a bag full of homemade sandwiches and packet of crips each Hmm I was grateful, of course, for the time effort and money on her part but I couldn't help feeling a little dissapointed - what's the harm in buying food out?

Its always been the case that I can't help but feel a little sad when I see families on a day out at a theme park, zoo for example, sat on a bench eating (warm?) sandwhcihes wrapped in foil with a fruit shoot.

I had the type of childhood where this was common place - packed lunch for every occasion, no need to eat out becaus there was 'food at home' or it was 'too expensive' (despite no money worries) etc so I suppose it's kind of stuck with me and I don't want that kind of life.

Aibu to think that if you can afford a day at the zoo etc, then spending a little bit extra on some food is no big deal? Aibu to think that life is too short to spend time making a sand which/salad to take on a day out, when really you can just spend a bit of extra money and have the hassle taken away? It just seems so strange to me and as though people try and suck all enjoyment out of life.

OP posts:
MrsMiggins37 · 22/06/2019 09:08

YABU

The food in these places is invariably shit, overpriced, and served in an overcrowded, noisy, environment. I prefer bringing our own lunch any day.

topcat2014 · 22/06/2019 09:09

When we are on holiday we take a middle ground - and tend to buy packet sandwiches in 'normal' shops like Tesco express en route.

Saves the 'sadness' of making sandwiches with blunt knives in self catering kitchens, and also the overcharging and queuing at the venue.

win-win..

Cuppa12345 · 22/06/2019 09:09

Is this a reverse? You made your friend a packed lunch and she said she was looking forward to a lunch out and didn't care about the extra money?

Cheerybigbottom · 22/06/2019 09:09

We went to Alton Towers and thought we'd eat there. The queues were massive for greasy sub standard food. Wasted lots of time.

We went to Blackpool zoo and ate in the cafe. Only two sandwiches left at 1pm and they didn't make any more as they were all prepackaged.

Flamingo land-same story, chips or pancakes or a full meal in a pub. We only wanted something light.

Beamish Museum-everything that sold food overwhelmed by long queues.

This is what we expect everywhere now so we pack our lunch. Saves time more than the money really.

Actually we did enjoy the rollercoaster restaurant at Alton Towers last time we went. But we were able to book a slot so no queues.

slkk · 22/06/2019 09:11

We sometimes get a meal deal as a treat but usually make nice sandwiches and treat ourselves to crisps and buy an ice cream there. Theme park food is disgusting. No need to feel sorry for us!

susan82 · 22/06/2019 09:13

Sorry but YABU.
How does it affect you what other people decide to do regarding their eating arrangements? They could decide to take a packed lunch for a whole number of reasons. Maybe they see it as cheaper, maybe a person in their family has an allergy and can only eat certain types of food, maybe they actually really enjoy a packed lunch??

BenWillbondsPants · 22/06/2019 09:13

I can't help but feel a little sad when I see families on a day out at a theme park, zoo for example, sat on a bench eating (warm?) sandwhcihes wrapped in foil with a fruit shoot

If you genuinely feel 'sad' for people who make themselves a picnic you need to seriously sort yourself out OP. Grin

I'm not buying that shit for me or my DCs, christ knows what you're actually getting. Do you not actually know how to make a decent picnic (no soggy sarnies or fruit shoot in sight) and keep it cool? Is that the issue?

Schnitzelvonkrumb · 22/06/2019 09:15

We always take pack lunch. A lot of places charge extornionate prices for very ordinary food because they have a captive audience and no competition from other food outlets.Also taking your own food cuts down on time spent queuing!! For us the treat is going to wherever the place is, then we might treat ourselves at a different time by goung out to eat at a place of our own choice/budget.

CarrieBlu · 22/06/2019 09:15

YABU. There are a number of reasons that a family might take a packed lunch on a day out. Ours is because our eldest has autism and can not cope with the usually busy and cramped cafes available on days out, and she also has very specific foods that she likes to eat. By taking a picnic, we can sit somewhere quiet where she won’t be overwhelmed and give her the food she likes to eat, minimising the chance of a meltdown and maximising the enjoyment of the day.

Also, the food in cafes is usually horrible anyway. I’d much rather prepare my own in my nice clean house and have something that’s actually tasty.

MrsMiggins37 · 22/06/2019 09:15

We do that often too topcat, get a meal deal each

nevernotstruggling · 22/06/2019 09:16

Is this a reverse? You made your friend a packed lunch and she said she was looking forward to a lunch out and didn't care about the extra money?

Wondering about this.if you are the provider of the lunch you are a legend Grin you're friend.....Er...

BenWillbondsPants · 22/06/2019 09:16

I am a bit Grin at the 'to die for' sandwiches though ...

TheCrowFromBelow · 22/06/2019 09:16

The most awful food I have ever eaten is at attractions. Legoland stands out as being really dreadful.
Rubbery gristly burgers and cold hard chewy steak from the grill bit, and eye wateringly expensive. Even the kids left it. Hot dogs are generally ok but really overpriced at these places when you consider it’s a cheap bun and probably the cheapest meat you can come across. I do resent being ripped off.
It doesn’t take much to carry a baguette (mine probably aren’t to die for Grin but they don’t squash as easily as sarnies and you can use the filling of your choice Grin )
a pack of grapes and some biscuits, and it gets eaten fairly quickly - I don’t pack cutlery and we buy ice creams, sweets and crisps.
I do recommend the food at the science museum though it is a bit £££

Hoppinggreen · 22/06/2019 09:19

Au contraire notso surely you should have the merit point for getting up at the crack of dawn to roast a chicken

WomanLikeMeLM · 22/06/2019 09:20

What an ungrateful snob you are Op, perhaps some people have no extra money for meals out, or have picky eaters of food allergies.

RedForShort · 22/06/2019 09:20

I find having to pay for poor quality food sucks the joy out of things more. I also think paying for food that'll be eaten in a chaotic untidy grubby environment suck the enjoyment out of eating.

I deeply dislike paying over the odds for either of those combinations.

If I'm heading to anywhere that I know the above situations are likely I'd bring a 'picnic' because I want to enjoy the day out.

Theme parks are generally places were it'll be overpriced poor quality food. Highly likely eaten surrounded by uncleared tables and trays.

nevernotstruggling · 22/06/2019 09:20

Ill quite often pack extra for others kids. They love it Grin

I nearly said we only buy ice creams but we don't. We stop at the co op on the way home and buy their mermaid ice creams. The kids blest about it all day. They love knowing what they are getting.

There is also the environmental aspect. My kids are very invested in no single use plastic.

I know when they grow up they will have fond memories of all the picnic gear and their personal sandwich boxes. The special sweets pocket on the picnic bag. No one is being deprived a cold burger....

InsertFunnyUsername · 22/06/2019 09:20

YABU, but i suppose it is what you view a treat. Shitty food from a theme park isn't my idea of a nice lunch.

FWIW i rarely take a packed lunch, because i don't want to carry it and im a lazy arse, but i always end up regretting it after eating some questionable food. My DM did 50/50 growing up, I loved putting my order in the morning and her putting it in my special lunch box Blush and always felt smug that i could eat while queuing (More rollercoaster time people!!!) thats all kids care about Smile

Longdistance · 22/06/2019 09:21

Oh I love a picnic wherever I go. Can’t stand overpriced crap food at venues. We’re off to a farm today, it’s going to cost £50 for 4 of us. I’d rather not spend more money on food.

Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves.

Gersin · 22/06/2019 09:22

It was the shitty and expensive experience of buying food out that made me become a person who picnics, we were at a NT house and gardens. All the people with picnics were lounging in the sun on rugs eating. Meanwhile we were corralled into a tiny cafe with about 1000 other people buying overpriced food and squeezing for a space on a handful of tables.

I picnic now and love it. No soggy warm sandwiches or fruit shoots here. Even if we did I think it would be better than some of the crap that gets served out!

MedalMedalMedal · 22/06/2019 09:24

I like eating out but I absolutely love picnics too.

Do what you want op but it’s very strange to criticise others for doing doing something as harmless as having a picnic; let alone accusing them of sucking the joy out of life for it. That description rather applies more to you.

Ohyesiam · 22/06/2019 09:25

Two things.

  1. I love a picnic
  2. I hate the shite overpriced plasticy food that is sold at zoos etc. But when I look at families eating it I just think it’s not for me, I don’t think it’s sad.
Shesontome · 22/06/2019 09:25

My mind is boggling at spending £30 to get everyone into the zoo. At London Zoo (the only logistically possible one for me) just one adult ticket costs that and then about £20 each for children.

PigOnStilts · 22/06/2019 09:30

We have lovely picnics and put thought into them. Far better than eating chips or whatever, we always feel glad we bothered when we see what other people have to eat.

Schnitzelvonkrumb · 22/06/2019 09:30

My mind is boggling at spending £30 to get everyone into the zoo. At London Zoo (the only logistically possible one for me) just one adult ticket costs that and then about £20 each for children.

Same here, i possibly wouldn't mind being ripped off paying out for food if the entry fee was £30 for the whole family.

Swipe left for the next trending thread