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.

What a weird thing to think about. I'm sure you can think of many reasons people might prefer to eat their own food if you try.

Season tickets.
When our DC were younger we had season tickets for our local zoo and theme park. So to make the most of them we went a lot. No way would we have paid to eat out every time.
Plus it helps to have something you know they will eat, and have it to hand at whatever point you want to eat.

I often take a picnic on family days out to such places because:
I hate being ripped off. We aren’t poor these days but still like to spend wisely.

The food on offer is often poor quality or very unhealthy.
Kids can be fussy.
Kids generally like picnics.
I have to eat carefully and like to know exactly what I’m eating.
We still treat the kids to an ice cream or such if they fancy one.

Perhaps next time consult with your friend first and agree to different lunch plans if need be. A trip to the zoo can be very expensive just for admission.

I grew up with a single mum and we had packed lunches all the time due to money being short. As I was the oldest I had to carry the bottle of squash which did spoil the outing as it was so bleeding heavy. We now have to take packed food as our son has a life threatening allergy but God knows I’d rather have the freedom to buy food out. My treat js that we buy drinks!!

When I was little I thought I'd eat sweets for breakfast everyday when I could. And that I would always eat out rather than a packed lunch,v when I was free!

Then I grew up and realised that wasn't necessarily good living, and I learnt how to make lovely packed lunches. Even spending half of what you'd budget for out, you can create a feast. You're just not doing it right!

And it's a bit childish and ungrateful about your mate's sandwiches.

As I read it the poster was annoyed with the several people on here intoning about how they love to spend £60 on Ocado and "lashings of lemonade" with no sense of self-awareness or understanding that OP's background is at least partly responsible for their views on this

Yet somehow the OP's background has led her to believe that if you can afford £50 for the zoo, you can definitely also afford another £30 for burgers and chips all round on top of that. And of course, you absolutely won't need to limit what options your kids are allowed to order at the cafe, nor make them choose between dessert there, or an ice cream later... I might have expected a little more empathy, to be honest.

YABU

If one family wants to eat out , why on earth do they need to offer to treat the other family ?

At a day at a theme park or attraction people just need to sort themselves out based on their own circumstances and preferences. I often met up with other DMs and their DCs at the zoo or farm type places when DS was younger and everyone managed to sort out their own lunch options just fine.

You’d prefer to queue up to buy over-priced unhealthy processed food, made with the cheapest of ingredients, from theme park outlets rather than eat food you prepared at home, that you can sit down at a picnic table and enjoy when you feel like it?

Seriously?

I don’t know if YABU but it’s the oddest preference I’ve ever heard!

As a child I used to love our picnics. We had treats like strawberry milkshake that we didn't normally get. And we could eat and relax rather than feeling rushed and crowded. We always bought an ice cream and I don't remember ever wanting the burgers and chips in the crowded, plasticy cafes. My mum probably told me it was disgusting, rather than expensive...and I fell for it!

My kids love a picnic. I’ve even started taking a flask as several cups of tea over the day to eat with my picnic we’re becoming too costly. Single parent here and I work part time. Haven’t taken kids to a theme park yet as can’t afford the cost of having to stay somewhere nearby as we don’t actually live near one. We have a couple of small zoo type places nearby which we sometimes visit but again those are costly and the food costs are extortionate too. I’ve got national trust member ship and English heritage membership so like to head to those places for a free day out. This includes free food. If I’m feeling flush I might get us Allan ice cream. More often the kids buy their own with their pocket money they’ve been given from grandparents.

So picnics do not suck the fun out of a trip. The cost of food and drink in these places certainly sucks the fun out of it all for me. And if places didn’t allow food to be taken in we wouldn’t go. Simple.

I think it's sad the op doesn't enjoy a picnic

What I hate about buying lunch is all the waste - we got lunch at Kew Gardens over Easter and it was like a plastic festival 😬

I never take food out. I always bring a packed lunch.
The food prices are usually the same as the entrance fee when you add it up. I'd rather save that money and go for another day out.
I'm a single mum, currently not working. We do lots of trips to theme parks, animal places, Lego land, Alton towers etc.

I always get tickets other people are selling. Last month my boyfriend and I got 2 adult Alton towers tickets for £15.
Please don't assume everyone has lots of money to spend on pricey lunches out just because they're at the same attraction you are.

You’re joking right?? Please say this is a wind up. The food at theme parks is exorbitantly expensive and also foul, a lot of people ‘afford’ these days out by saving points and vouchers and can’t afford £50 on lunch.

Sandwich fans here. I hate, absolutely hate, crap processed zoo food. Pizza and chips for the kids, no veg, sugar filled drinks. No thanks.

We do a lot of trips out - one or two a week - and I don't want the kids eating this kind of crap that often. We eat out with the kids so they are used to restaurants but they prefer waggamama to mcdonalds.

We take wraps, sandwiches, cheeseboards. Chopped veg and hummus, prepped fruit etc. Not about the cost here, all about health and choice. Kettle chips and dips for adults, crudités etc.

All of my naice middle class friends do the same. Thought it was standard.

Bleeeuch to Naice middle class friends

Naice middle class friends was semi tongue in cheek

Well then it’s semi bleeuch then

What I hate about buying lunch is all the waste - we got lunch at Kew Gardens over Easter and it was like a plastic festival

This is infuriating. If the stewards of one of London's great treasures and its sublimely woke and middle-class supporters can't be relied upon to kick the plastic, what hope is there really.

Are ‘naice’ middle class people more likely to clean up after themselves then?

Like she said, MMA, it's tongue in cheek. Nothing to get worked up about.

I’m in no way worked up and I was referring to your comment not hers

What an odd thing to say.

I have four dc. It could cost forty quid to buy all lunches and snacks at zoo prices. That’s on top of the cost of entry and travel.

Also, I usually prefer the things I’d take myself. Packed lunch can be nice. The quality of food at tourist attractions is usually terrible!

Sorry AMA, my bad. There's not really any cleaning up plastic, though, is there?