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.

YABVU

Sorry, I love paying for lunches out but understand they all add up.

Picnic lunch is way more than soggy sandwiches, you could stop at a supermarket and buy sushi, pasta pots, mini cheeses, crusty bread etc.

I think we paid £25 for two fish and chips at Lands End and it was like school canteen food

The cafe areas at these places also tend to be loud and bright and generally sensory overload!

If I am budgeting to eat out on a day out I would much rather take a small picnic for dinner and then find a decent place to eat on the way home!

The food is always expensive for what it is and the queues are always massive! With two hungry kids that’s doesn’t work.

Packed lunches are miles better. You just need to use cool boxes and ice packs.
We live in France and there are picnic spots everywhere in my region.
The lunches are much healthier; and I always have plenty for DS and friends as they are perpetually hungry!

I often take a packed lunch as it means we can then actually afford to go somewhere. Plus I don't want to waste the spare money we have on greasy junk food.

curlywurly
We drive from Scotland to France every year for a holiday, love stopping at one of the Aires for a picnic lunch.

I actually really like picnics! (Not a money issue!) While I wouldn’t necessarily take one to a theme park because of the faff of having to hold onto it all day, I think a picnic is quite exciting! When I was a kid we always ate out though so maybe I have the opposite perspective to you.

It's never just "a bit extra" for theme park food, is it? It's always vastly overpriced because they perceive that they have a captive clientele, and generally over-salted and crappy.

@LagunaBubbles

I agree; the aires are lovely spots.
The French take their mealtimes seriously!

YABU.

Intolerances and cost mean we take a picnic. The kids love it and really don't mind at all. Plus DS wants a sandwich at lunch time, not hot food, and as sometimes the sandwich selection is pitiful, plus he can't have products with milk in, it's way easier to take our own stuff with us.

It doesn't suck the joy out for us. We put the food in those lined bags you get along with mini ice packs and it's as cold as if you'd taken it from the fridge.

We also use rucksacks, so carrying stuff round isn't an issue.

Horses for courses, but YABU in your snobby PoV.

I often take a packed lunch for us and DS, if for eg we go to a national trust park it's overpriced rubbish food or pre packed sandwiches with hard bread which I hate, I know what he likes to eat and he would rather pick at food throughout the day than sit down to eat. I probably wouldn't take it to a theme park but like PP said it's often just McDs/KFC etc so can see why some would

When I was a kid in the seventies it was completely normal to take your own lunch if you went out for the day. Not that we had theme parks or anything in those days.
I have lovely memories of summer days out with my grandparents and parents. I still remember my nans picnic gear. Plastic cups and plates in bright colours and lots of nice bits and bobs to eat.. It was always fun to see what surprises everyone had brought. Nowadays people are obsessed with eating and drinking out. Most of it is overpriced and nothing to get excited about. I don't see why it's such a treat??
When my kids were young and we had to go to theme parks and zoos I often packed up a nice lunch. The kids had a ready supply of sustenance throughout the day and it was healthy and economical too. Why would that not be good for everyone.
There are plenty of people who like to keep a close eye on where their money is going.
They want value for money and if they feel they arnt getting it they will come up with their own alternatives.

YABVU I love a picnic on a day out , I could afford to buy there but it's never nice food always rubbish quality fast food that costs triple what it should and tastes awful and you have to wait ages. I always get some nice things for a picnic and really enjoy it ! Also when you have small children on a day out the ability to produce food instantly is always a plus

YABVU the food in zoos etc are overpriced and junk. Just because someone can afford a day out doesn't mean they can afford the extra £30 odd on top for food. If you were that disappointed you could of said no to her offer of sandwiches and gone and brought food! Also saying you feel 'sad' for people is a bit patronising isn't it 🤨

Lanaa This reads like a primary school descriptive writing activity! Made me laugh and now I’m hungry

Yabu. How many people are in your family op? A day out like the zoo or a theme park is a big expense to our family and one we have to save for over a couple of months. If we've saved to buy tickets/travel costs, food and drinks at one of these places for our family could easily be another £40 on top which isn't just a little bit extra.

There is also never anywhere particularly nice to eat in these places that would justify spending that money, and the time spent wasted on waiting for food and eating what to me is more like a "meal" (as is often fast food) is better spent on the day out. Picnics are much quicker.

Also, often you have to travel to these places and are there all day, so we will usually need to pick up our evening meal on the way home on top.

YABU

How can you diss the great British picnic, one of the nation's favourite past times!

Plus food can be very expensive processed junk, she maybe couldn't afford it and/or not wanted her kids fed junk. Or maybe even if you said you intended to pay she knew she could reciprocate.

Very judgemental post.

The food at most of those places is terrible as well as expensive. A few have one restaurant that's OK but is often packed. I'd normally much rather a pack of warm sarnies than a greasy burger and limp fries but I'm too lazy and disorganized to make them.

When I'm really organized I make a fantastic picnic with pork pies and salads, homemade cake and the like. For me, that's the ideal, but it happens very rarely because of the aforementioned laziness.

Theme park food is usually rank. I love a picnic. It's not a question of cost.

Family zoo and national trust passes = £25 per month.

We do something every weekend more or less. Luch out everytime would be at least £25, so £100 a month. Thats just for the main, if we wanted ice cream or a treat that would be another £10 a week. So no, just because Im at the zoo doesnt mean I can afford to eat out everytime.

We do on the odd occassion pay the extortionate food prices, but 90% of the time we have a picnic. It would always be a better picnic than a bog standard packed lunch and my son fricking loves picnic.

I consider my children spoiled that we go out every week tbh.

I often take picnics on days out just because my children are quite fussy eaters, and also - where is the joy in spending 30 mins queuing to eat greasy fast food that they usually serve at theme parks??
In my case it’s absolutely nothing to do with money, we can easily afford to eat out - it’s to do with convenience and knowing what we are going to eat

We always take a pack up on days out. Could afford to buy there (usually get ice cream, cuppa or similar there too). My children (and husband tbh) like to graze constantly on days out....if I didn't take food we'd spend half the day in café queues!!!!

It just seems so strange to me and as though people try and suck all enjoyment out of life.

It's a packed lunch

Your friend did a nice thing. Picnics are what you make them and, whilst it isn't exactly courdon bleu, a picnic can be really nice and inexpensive.

I understand your point OP. It was a treat to eat out as a kid, especially as part of a day out. But the virtuous MNers must have their picnics.

What's virtuous about a picnic? It's simply a way for people who prefer it or need to budget carefully to be able to go out and do fun things. Nobody's saying that you have to take wholegrain avocado ciabatta, sun-blush olives and quinoa and an organic pomegranate crush with you - cheese and onion baps, sausage roll, Wotsits and a can of pop is fine if that's what you prefer.

If your budget allows for Alton Towers and a picnic or NO Alton Towers and NO burgers and chips, which would you prefer?

I think this is an opinion entirely formed by your childhood, OP. I’m similar because my parents were the same - we never had anything that could even vaguely be classified as extravagant. They’re still the same now, come to think of it.