To take the kids to IKEA for lunch/dinner

[Eastie77Returns]

Are the lunch options at IKEA viewed as unhealthy? We don't have a fully functioning kitchen at the moment (renovation work) so if I want to give the kids a hot meal we have to order takeaway or eat out. We live 10mins from IKEA and the kids love the food so I've taken them a few times now (maybe once or twice a week over the last 3 weeks).

In a group chat one of my friends suggested it was really unhealthy and her kids only go there as a treat once every few months as "it's basically McDonalds with a Swedish flag"?!. They occasionally have meatballs or the Salmon with chips, don't ever have the desserts as the cakes seem quite heavy and drink water or one of the Pip Smoothies.

I thought this was all okay but am now second guessing myself!

It cost us £16 for fish and chips and drinks for 2 at IKEA.

If it’s any consolation our local one is closing next month

It is

And should add the kids after school childminder gives them dinner so Mon-Thurs they have a healthy hot meal. She has outrageously chosen to go on holiday now school has broken up, leaving me to soldier on alone for two weeks with my unhealthy choices😬

Sounds like you are doing a fab job! You aren’t taking them there every day for the whole of their childhood and you are definitely managing a bit of complexity with no kitchen. Ignore the “friend”.

It’s less than £5 for fish and chips in IKEA last time I looked, less than a chip shop!
Ikea kids meal including drink, jelly and fruit =£1.50 Nando’s kids meal with choice of either a dessert or drink = £5.95

@Meraas
Nando's is overpriced fast food, IKEA is excellent value and if OP has to get by for. a few weeks £20 per chicken burger is hardly feasible is it?

@Meraas its £14 for a whole chicken in Nando’s and that is without any sides . The sharing platters are something like £20+ for 2 without drinks .

IKEA is way cheaper than Nando's

@Meraas you must have been overcharged, fish and chips with the most expensive drink is £5.80 per adult at our two nearest Ikea’s (MK and Notts). I can’t see how it could ever be £8.

IKEA is DD's favourite place to go for lunch!

I have a Facebook memory/photo of her eating lunch in the Leeds branch just before she started school, which I took deliberately to remind me of our Ladies who Lunch days.

It’s not forever!

Yes, there are regional dishes, @Eastie77Returns I think it can vary within countries too. I can't remember all of them exactly (and it was a while ago) but only the UK had fish and chips and full English breakfasts, Germany had waffles and nice breakfast stuff, France had better cakes, Geneva had little lightly floured trout goujons and the ME have shwarma (not that that was part of the project, that was just me going to Ikea 😂). I have a feeling there is always 1 local dish.

I too am fascinated by McDonalds local variations. I don't even like McDonalds! I haven't been in one in the UK in a decade 😂

I’d take Sanctimonious Minny up on her invite for a healthy dinner round hers.

What, she’s saying she didn’t actually invite you? Just passed judgement?

Fuck off, Sanctimonious Minny.

^this, plus I am a healthy adult but grew up in a working class, Northern household in the 80s. I remember lunch just being a small can of spaghetti shapes or hoops in tomato sauce, sometimes on its own or sometimes with a slice of thick buttered white bread or even worse a chicken cup-a-soup and bread. 😅 I'm sure only a few weeks of comparitively nutritious convenience food whilst your kitchens bust will do no harm in the long run.

Veggie balls you say.... might be time for an ikea visit!!

@Eastie77Returns

so, how often is she cooking for you?

you could feed them nothing but chocolate for the entire time if the renovation & it would do them no harm!

the biggest issue would be getting them to start eating properly again!!

whatever it takes to get through the renovation.

they don't need hot meals everyday though, so 'picnic' meals would be my default & air fryer offerings.

but give them whatever is easiest right now!

Oooh i love an ikea meal. I always get 3 courses ha. Open prawn sandwich thing for starters. Meatball and chips obvs and daim cake and coffee. It costs about 10p and i love it. Go fot it. Get some £1 candles and a bloody ice cream on the way out x

She’s an idiot. Like to see how she’d manage with no kitchen. Lots of supermarkets are doing kids eat free/cheaply. It’s a good way to get everyone fed easily and cheaply until you are back up and running.

Absolutely this. You are doing what you can and I bet the kids enjoy it. Dont worry what others think x

I see your friend didn't offer to help you out with some "healthy food" just judged you in front of all your other friends in the group chat to make themselves feel superior. You are doing your best with what you have and a few meals out at IKEA means you are feeding them. Your friend is a nob !

And now I want meatballs and chips 😩

Agree, and a change of scene/break from the building work probably does you all good.

I’m not a fan of takeaways etc but I think IKEA meals are probably v similar to school dinners but maybe more fun/palatable /and you are mainly there because your kitchen is out of action

However, I would also really second there suggestions for an airfryer: they are amazing for all sorts if things (roast veggies etc). I think I could probably do a lot with a fridge, airfryer & microwave

When I was a single mum I used to go to ikea as the kids got an hours free play in smaland and a hot dog tea for 30p. Go and enjoy your tea

@Meraas - I can’t stand Nando’s, it’s overpriced poor quality chicken in a filthy restaurant. I’ve been a few times and there is always old food on the floor and tables 🤢

You have no kitchen. I don't know about the quality, but I imagine it's not as bad as McD's. It's just for a few weeks. Your kids'll be fine.

That's all that needs saying.