To think the 'kids eat out for less' offers don't actually help

[Ntsure]

It seems like places started doing this when schools were giving out the food vouchers etc as a way to look like they were trying to help kids have adequate food in school holidays.
it only really benefits those who can afford to eat out in the first place.
its just a bunch of restaurants trying to give across the image that they care whilst not actually helping anyone that needs help.
(with the exception of Asda who are doing kids meals for £1 without requiring any other purchases)

Restaurants are not charities, what gave you that idea. And £1 children’s meal at Asda is not cheap if you are on the brink of poverty.

It's marketing, it's helps families who wish to eat out spend less, it won't help if money is that tight though

The £1 asda deal is potentially helpful to get a hot meal if you are b&b accommodation though. Not everyone has a kitchen.

I wish my cooking project hadn't been cut (got cancelled with the budget cuts 5 years ago) we taught low income parents to cook a meal and they got to take it home, all at no cost to them. At the end of the four weeks the families got a small kitchen pack (saucepan, frying pan, spatula, sieve, knife, etc.) and a seasonings and spices pack - they were referred by social services and health visitors, mostly very young mums.

As a way to look like they were trying to help kids have adequate food in school holidays.

Unless they are stating this in their marketing, you are being unreasonable. They are business who have struggled during Covid, it's a way to get families in.

No I don’t think they help I have 4 children and notice majority is just for one child as for the Asda one I can’t think of an Asda with a cafe of the 2 I can think of neither have cafes, so wouldn’t be worth the money travelling further I wouldn’t be saving anything

I don’t really get this idea of needing a “hot meal”. In winter, to get warm yes. But it is now summer, it’s warm (or at least not actively cold). A sandwich with an Apple or a tomato is no worse nutritionally than chicken nuggets and chips or whatever. Possibly even better.

as far as i can see there are only 10 Asda stores with cafes countrywide!

Indeed

This.

My mind boogles at why people think any of these offers (including even Asda) aren't about getting people through the doors, who perhaps otherwise wouldn't.

Its about brand loyalty too.

They aren't there to help anyone. They are there to turn tables or get money through the tills.

'Free stuff' is very rarely free in reality.

Eg: a free mobile sim for 2 months which then puts you on a deal which costs you £15 a month for 12 months is more expensive than one that was £10 a month for all 12 months.

Far too many people just see the word free and don't do the maths.

This is a really good point. My friend was placed in various hotels when she left her abusive partner, no way of making meals for her or her dc beyond a kettle, not even a small fridge for milk or sandwich stuff. and she wasn’t allowed to use the staff fridge. This would have been really useful for them at the time.

I have an Asda within walking distance from my house, I will definitely go and use this deal and go to the park or library at the same time. Fills an afternoon for less than £5 and I can even grab a pack of ice lollies from Asda for £1 or so. It might not help if you don’t have anything at all to spare but it will definitely be used by low income families that want to do nice things like take dc out for lunch but usually can’t afford £15-20 in a cafe for 3 kids meals plus a drink for mum or dad.

as far as i can see there are only 10 Asda stores with cafes countrywide!

I'm in Scotland but the three nearest Asda stores to me all have cafes.

We go for a Toby every couple of weeks. When the deal is on, it’s about £6 cheaper.

Umm

corporate.asda.com/article/asda-cafe-store-lists

I'm a big fan of the breakfast offers as they're for kids up to 16. They're not really aimed at helping those in poverty clearly, but they're a huge saving for us if we fancy a breakfast out as a treat.

We pay £19 (two adults) for 5 of us - full cooked and continental breakfast and unlimited coffees and juice.

Two of our 'kids' are 6 foot odd teen boys who demolish a cooked breakfast like they're in some kind of eating competition - so we definitely get our moneys worth!

It's marketing, not an attempt at social action. Restaurants do not have any responsibility to feed anyone who can't afford their prices. They are businesses not charities.

And let’s not forget it shouldn’t fall on businesses to make sure children can eat. That responsibility falls at the governments door

It falls at the parents' door.

I agree.

They’re businesses. Trying to make money, because that’s what they do. I’m not sure it’s Zizzis or Cafe Rouge or M&S’s job to feed impoverished children.

Our local Asda had a great little cafe, but it's now a Mac Donald's.

And where parents are unable to make sure their children can eat, for example in the midst of a spiralling cost of living crisis, it falls at the government's door.

Of course it helps, it just doesn't help you.

Food quality is probably better now.

The Government's door?

If the Government insists you have children then it is indeed the Government's responsibility to feed them.

Oh no sorry, it's the parents responsibility. Silly me, it's so easy to get the basics mixed up these days.

You could give some parents £3000 a week, and their kids still wouldn't eat properly.