WOW I mean WOW I cannot believe what I just read in the daily mail... A mother from mums net posting that people who take packed lunches on days out are "sucking all the enjoyment out of life"... Well I can't for the life of me find this thread to comment. So I'd like to say that most grounds were covered by other disgusted parents. One of like to specifically point out is MONEY it doesn't f**King grow on trees!! The poster said in her thread if you can afford the zoo you can afford to eat out...NO NOT AT ALL I won't have some snob trying to belittle families who can't afford to! 
i have 5 children, the zoo for myself and husband and children is around £140! Then there is fuel for the car, then there is a couple of quid spending money for the children, yet thats a rare one. My children enjoy a picnic with their "warm sandwiches and bottle of fruit shoot" it's less stress, less money and MORE family time 
to the poster I'm sorry you felt your parents were loving and wanted to create memories with you as a child, this has obviously left you very bitter and twisted!!!