To think my friend was really rude?

[Tiamaria86]

We have come for a week away in a caravan with the kids. My friend and her family booked the same week so we will spend some time with them but not all the time.

We arrived and typically its pouring down. She has just knocked on the door to ask if we want to order takeaway with them. I said oh the kids are just eating some bacon rib, potato and cabbage soup I brought with us (they love this, always request it).

She laughed her head off and asked why I've brought food like that with me. I said I've brought a big lasagne, beef stew and a chicken curry that I made as well. We will get fish and chips etc one night and maybe eat out but I thought it was just better to be prepared. She thinks I'm nuts and really made fun of me.

We've just bought a house and money is a bit tight to be honest so I did want to keep costs down and not waste money on crappy food when possible. I feel a bit embarrassed now though like I'm a tight arse!

I went on a caravan holiday last summer and we made all our food for it. If someone had thought we were tight for doing that then they'd have been in for a shock as 2 months later we went to centre parcs and a month after that Disneyworld.
Making your own food doesn't mean your skint. It means your smart and savvy. Sure its nice to have a night off and get fish and chips etc but in all honesty, these places often have terrible food.

I don’t like takeaways at all - I can’t remember the last time we got one. It’s surprising to see how many PPs on this thread can’t accept that others may genuinely not like takeaway food. Also the poster who keeps plaintively saying “takeaways can be healthier” than homemade food is deluded, in 99% of cases takeaways are full of oil, fat, highly processed ingredients and are far unhealthier than a home cooked meal from real whole foods. I prefer knowing what’s in my food.

We eat "our" food in the caravan, but nicer than home food, ! Sounds mad but I know what I mean

I don’t think it’s you bringing food and being prepared she was laughing at more the actual conversation.

“Do you fancy a takeaway?”

“Oh no thanks the kids are just tucking into their cabbage soup I brought with us”

Tbh I would have laughed at too.

My parents used to do that sort of thing and we almost never ate out
They would tell us how lucky we were to have such wonderfully healthy homemade food compared to the poor children eating out. You know they might even <shock> eat white bread.

Personally I always felt I'd rather be one of those poor deprived children eating out.

As a parent I realise financially it was sensible. However it's nicer to at least eat out sometimes.

As a parent I realise financially it was sensible. However it's nicer to at least eat out sometimes.

And the OP said they will.

We ate out once on the last day of our holidays.
It is often unaffordable to eat out with so many people and the food is not as healthy.

The problem is a child can't easily see how eating out is more often than not overpriced and poor quality. They aren't paying.

We definitely ate out more about 10 years ago but the few times we do now I'm disappointed more often than not.

id have did the same . Maybe not as much meal prep but bought food to Cook. So your just more organised and it’s much healthier throwing something in the oven.
These holiday sites are over priced takeaway and usually awful .

She had plans for use all to eat together her way So her nose was out of place . I’d just ignore her

I am really quite jealous of this bacon cabbage soup malarkey.

Imagining returning to a cottage after long wintery walk to a roaring fire and steaming bowl of home soup. Followed by a snooze in a wing backed chair. Heaven.

Your holiday sounds great OP and you have two children under five actively requesting cabbage. You are winning at both parenting and life! Have a great holiday.

Totally not the point of the thread but why are posters calling it cabbage soup? I mean, the main ingredient is the bacon rib isn't it?
Are they just calling it cabbage soup for a reason?

Yummy home made food instead of greasy take away rubbish. nothing more to be said

Because cabbage is a main ingredient too. You could also call it potato soup. Cabbage isn't particularly appealing to a lot of people. Even off-putting. Hence the comments.

Love your post OP, you have described my childhood holidays in a NT wooden lodge/hut (very basic) in Windermere. Dad would take our ancient dingy on a trailer and they used to fill in with every food under the sun for a week, towels, clothes, even a portable TV! We ate at the lodge every meal except for a single one during the week at the National Trust cafe, and I remember choosing beans on toast.

You sound a great mum and financially savvy too. I remember these holidays only fondly.

No shortage of bacon ribs here in W Yorkshire, I find they’re more readily available in the farm shop or on butchers stalls in the market. Thank you OP for your fab recipe, my husband is going to be well made up when I make that, proper food!

I was just thinking the opposite! 😂

It’s fine not to like takeaway food. It’s the suggestions that OP’s friend is somehow jealous of OP’s big pot of hearty soup and feels “inadequate” that are utterly bizarre.

Ignore! You are amazing and she knows it. Don’t engage with people who are not in your league. They will drag you down.

She may not be jealous of the soup per se but is probably envious of the organisation and forethought op put into it.

Friend is annoying OP. Enjoy your holiday and delicious food.

Also, can someone send me a recipe for bacon ribs, cabbage and potato. There's too many variants online with cheese in it!

Shes cheesed off that you dont fit with her plans! Laugh and shake your head. What you have made sounds far more wholesome better than chippy food (which is normally a let down) albeit im veggie😀.
Stick to your guns! I wouldn't giveit a second thought. I personally think you are educating your kids that takeaways ok as a treat! But that not every night! Nutrition and value! You've done the hard work making it! Leave her to it! Stop worrying!

1. Boil ribs in water
2. Empty water down the drain
3. Slice cabbage
4. Throw cabbage in the compost bin
5. Slice potatoes
6. Add boiled ribs and sliced potatoes to a large pot
7. Cover with cold water
8. Add 2 ham stock cubes
9. Bring to boil then simmer until potatoes are cooked

10. Fish out bones and cartilage 11. Season with lots of pepper 12. Eat the next day

Damn. The formatting went wild.

But why? If she’d wanted to take homemade food, she could have! She didn’t; she wanted takeaway!

Caravan must have a big fridge!

Where you both went wrong was in not setting expectations before you went on holiday together. I think that's often where things fall apart...

I always bring pre prepped food when we take out caravan away. I do it when we stay in a lodge or something too ill be damned if I'm paying to eat out for 7 days