Packed lunch is sad

[Ribrabrob]

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 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.

Everyone knows that food in theme parks and similar is an absolute rip off!!! Even a Burger King there is more expensive than a Burger King on the high street. It’s the same at airports, they charge you through the nose because it’s a captive audience and they can.

Your friend seems much wiser to this than you. Or maybe it’s just their personal preference not to be bent over backwards. Or maybe they don’t want that kind of food? Many reasons why they’d choose to take their own. I’d be happy to take a packed lunch, you’re going for the entertainment-not the food.

Gracemarks
Great post

I’m with the OP on every occasion but for visits to theme parks/attractions/zoos/etc because the food is inevitably absolutely dire, ridiculously overpriced and just not pleasant.

It’s nothing to do with sanctimony. I love a good McDonald’s meal, pizza, hotdogs, burgers etc etc. I just don’t like to pay lots of money for food that’s such a deliberate ripoff (it wouldn’t cost a lot to actually make it nice) and such a disappointment.

The food at these places is usually rank. I'd much rather take my own food than eat the stuff available at theme parks, zoos etc. Not sad, just discerning.

Totally agree ninkaninus

Doesn’t apply to puy de fous theme park properly French and the food is therefore great

We're going out today and DC have actually requested a picnic when given the choice of that or cafe lunch. I'm sure they're not the only ones.

Wow get a grip

Not everyone can afford to spend money on ridiculously priced lunches out for kids

She said she felt sad for them and then went on to explain that it was because she'd had unhappy experiences of days out with sandwiches as a child. I didn't read it as judgement, but perhaps it was phrased badly. I certainly don't think she deserved the mass pile-on of people claiming moral superiority through their eating habits.

I would just point out that I was once a child of parents who wouldn't let us have any occasional treats and insisted on lugging a cool box full of Spam sandwiches everywhere we went. The first chance I got, I was scarfing burgers and chocolate in private...

Goes both ways @GraceMarks really.

It's ok to buy food at a theme park and it's ok to make a picnic. Neither are 'sad' IMO. You've got people saying 'I would never feed my kids that overpriced shit' and those saying 'I won't make a shitty picnic to take with me that's mad' etc etc.

It only becomes ridiculous when people act like making a decent picnic is akin to climbing to the top of the Shard in terms of effort or, conversely, that parents are going to turn their kids obese and lazy if they eat theme park food one day. Equally silly.

As I’ve already said, it’d be different if it was Tivoli (or Bakken) back home in Denmark because they actually do amazing* fast food - I’d be queuing up with the rest of them probably at least twice in the day for hotdogs and beer and happily spending, because it’s worth it! There are also proper restaurants and eateries with actual chefs and you get actual^ restaurant quality food. I’ve got no issue with spending or with treating oneself on a day out.

At our local zoo the food is shit, the queues are long, and there's never a free table (and if you do find one it will still be covered in someone else's detritus). Picnics are far better than dried up crap.

Whether we bring a picnic or eat there really depends on where we are going. If it's National Trust we always eat there and hope they have cheese scones. If we bring a picnic we usually end up buying ice creams.

The last time I had lunch a theme park restaurant I felt very sad. Alton Towers chicken salad I think. DDs hamburger would have made me sad if I'd had to eat it. At least the coke was fizzy.

I'd have been better if with a falafel wrap I'd made myself at home.

And I may have ranted that I would be taking carrot sticks with me next time after a day at Disneyland Paris.

I'm thinking of going back to taking pack up food more often. I genuinely think it will make for a happier day out.

People have been claiming moral superiority? Really?

I’m loath to reread the thread, but I very much doubt that...

Look at the end of the day the OP has a right to her opinion, obviously. But she posted here and hence a discussion has taken place. It’s not a pile-on just because people don’t agree with her and are saying why.

BenWillbondsPants common sense has no place in a MN food thread. Begone with you and your reasonable attitudes.

Of course I have no beef with the concept of picnics, I'd probably take one myself if I was going to a National Trust place where there was somewhere nice to eat it and the car park wasn't miles away from the attraction. Equally, I don't judge people who want to eat a burger at theme park. The overblown "inedible crap" stuff on here is getting ludicrous.

I used to feel that way but now I often prefer homemade food to fastfood. Also there's the stress of queuing up and finding tables in a very busy caff. I can't always be arsed to make a packed lunch but the caff is not always the fun option, I've lunched at the zoo cafe and it's definitely not the best bit of the day. Surely you get more time to see the giraffes if you don't have to fanny around at the cafe?

My God, the sanctimony on this thread.

It started with the OP. "I can't help but feel a little sad when I see families..." etc is sanctimonious too.

We love a picnic when we go out. The kids love it and get excited by choosing and packing.
I think your missing a trick.

I think the background to it obviously makes a big difference. As you’ve said, you can relate to her experience, having also had parents who for whatever reason didn’t ever let you have treats on days out. I’m sorry about that. I can totally understand that there is more to it than just wanting a burger or chips. For her, and possibly also for you, the pleasure of being able to get that food because you want it and because it feels like part of the treat matters more than the pleasure of actually eating it, and that’s okay too. But I don’t think people are being horrible by explaining that actually many times a packed lunch or picnic is much, much nicer, cheaper and an actual treat. It’s not always sad, it’s not always that people are sucking the joy out of life, and quite often it’s nothing like the food you were made to eat which obviously was sad.

Gracemarks - the original post really wasn't a good-humoured 'I wanted some junk food, dammit!' though, was it? It was depicting people with sandwiches as mean, sad joy-suckers who are making their children's lives miserable!

I think what OP was actually saying is that her parents sucked the joy out of her life - for no reason because they actually had the money to spend, they just didn’t want to let their children have a special treat -and it makes her sad when she perceives that others are doing that too. And we are saying that actually, that’s not always what it is. In fact many times it’s anything but that.

Now perhaps the sandwiches and crisps were awful, we don’t know, but friend probably thought she was doing a nice thing.

I had a chicken fillet burger a while ago and I must admit was very tasty indeed, i was actually surprised ( probably because i hadn't eaten one in years maybe?) i am not super slim and i do eat other rubbish foods like crisps ( my downfall) and pizza etc, just not keen on burgers or chips or KFC anymore.
people saying that the theme parks food would all be horrible must be wrong - its the same food, cooked the same way? plus it is hard with children as they will see others eating the fast food etc and think 'id rather have that than a sardine sandwich or something a bit healthy.'
plus you still have to go and buy all the food for a picnic and be organised about it all.might cost less but its still faff to sort out and lug about. It all depends on how your feeling i guess or how much you want to spend on a day out somewhere, its already loads to pay out to get into these places as well.

No it’s not the same food. Not by any stretch.

please don't feel sorry for my family and their picnics!! We eat out regularly, and are fortunate enough to become in a position to easily afford to do the same when we visit the zoo or wherever. We choose to have a picnic at those venues because we prefer it. Far better range of food, drinks are properly chilled, food is fresh, no queuing... What's not to like? A well prepared picnic is one of my favourite ways to eat, maybe you have just had crap picnics?

Apart from choice, cost and nutrition, you don’t have to wait for a packed lunch.

It's just personal choice surely?
I certainly don't think people are deprived if they are sat there enjoying a picnic on a day out rather than indulging in over priced junk food.
We always ha picnics as kids and to be honest it just added to the excitement of the day out. We loved picnics! My kids do too.
Sometimes we eat out. Other times we take a picnic.