Extravagant Pack Lunches

[Diadrie]

I am a TA in a primary school in the middle of a town, real mixed background from families who are mortgage free making well into 6 figures and families living in council homes, earning minimum wage.

As part of my job I supervise the infants half at lunchtime and I have seen the more absurd pack lunches recently from one child. It’s a bento box format, very normal fruit and veg, then greek yogurt and compote, a dip (guacamole/tzatziki/hummus). The main is really star of the show though with: salmon and cream cheese bagel, steak and onion focaccia sandwich, quiche Lorraine etc.

I’m now sat thinking what a totally over the top pack lunches recently for a 5 year old, admittedly the child does finish it, but salmon and steak in children’s pack lunches??

AIBU thinking this is totally over the top, extravagant and slightly absurd.

Ugh. Leave the kid alone. That’s a really well balanced healthy meal. I wish I could send something like that. What’s wrong with it? And why are you complaining about it?! Don’t see you complaining about the crap unhealthy lunch, or the kids whose mums forgot.

Children should be exposed to this stuff though, at least they won’t be a picky eater. I was always sent in with fresh soups, warm hot dogs, pastries, home made snacks. Olives, hummus, and sushi being absolutely my favourite. I’m now a very non-picky eater. I love game, raw fish, unusual bits and bobs, I’ll try anything except frogs and snails

This - not Jewish but grew up in a very Jewish area and usually went in with smoked salmon and dill bagels. Bit of cracked black pepper and a slice of lemon to finish off. Or I’d have gefilte fish balls with aubergine dip. Brisket or steak also made it in there.

It’s my comfort food now, when I need cheering up!

Yabu mostly because they are packed lunches not pack lunch.

That's just good nutrition. Have you ever seen pictures of French school dinners?

Sounds pretty normal to me if the child eats like that at home - you on the other hand sound judgemental and rude, I hope youre not my kids TA. My child sometimes asks for sashimi and sushi as a Friday treat for school - so what? Would you rather him eat snickers and Pom bears? And we wonder why some of our kids are obese.

I used to bake my own quiche for the kids to have in their packed lunch. I never thought this was wrong. Huh, silly me 😏

What a mean spirited and bitter OP.

if the kids had turkey twizzlers and a twix bar - parents would be judged for giving rubbish foods.

These parents dared to feed their child a healthy, nutritious lunch and it’s judged as being ‘extravagant’

What business is it of a TA to be judging like this ? it’s really horrible to think that a ‘professional’ has nothing better than to mock a child’s lunch box .

what a sad world we live in when someone is judged for providing a good lunch for their child.

When DD2 was still in primary she got really into Japanese culture so for a months she would take a proper japanese bento complete with sushi and chopsticks. I daresay some would judge us for that but we enjoyed making it and it was healthy. DD1 loved smoked salmon so would have that if it was on offer.

Dont see the issue personally. Better than turning up with just one packet of crisps, which is what some kids get sent with.

Sounds delicious! I’d be thrilled if they wanted to start making pack up too. Everything you’ve mentioned I would happily have eaten as a child and could easily feed mine with.

Fish ball!!! The best, also, cold fried fish.

Lemon and dill far too fancy for my beigels 😆

My Year 2 pupils used to have chips and curry sauce for tea every night. They would have cold chips and curry sauce for breakfast and a Ginsters pasty from the petrol station , delivered to school once the parent had got out of bed .

If I could afford it and my kids would let it get even close to their mouth I would give them this. But alas cubes of cheese, plain bread, tuc biscuits and chopped up carrots and cucumber it is...

Sounds like the child is eating very well.

Better than bloody lunchables and white bread sandwiches with ham, which I'd wager most kids get!

Health wise, that kid is winning.

I'm more curious about how a TA knows who has and hasn't paid off their mortgage to be honest.

Sushi was big in DS's primary. Quite a few of the boys would take it for lunch.

I think it's great when kids have developed palates.

Sounds delicious! I would be jealous!

Don't! She'll collapse with the level of absurdity involved.

Yet again the OP has fucked off. Seems to be a popular recently, OP post something inflammatory and ignorant then never comes back

I’m so fed up with these threads where Op drops something inflammatory then never returns. It’s rampant atm. Why do people bother replying?

Snap @MsVisual

I grew up with wanky lunchboxes and it wasn’t because my parents were rich, it’s because they were educated. This did set me apart from other kids with their white bread ham sarnies, penguin biscuits etc, and I was jealous of them. I was the one with the hummus before there was hummus in every supermarket, or indeed the salmon, the leftover curry, or the cucumber (exceptional in those days). I’m glad they taught me about food because I eat healthily now as an adult, but at the time it was mortifying.

That's really great, well balanced food. Much better than sandwiches everyday.

DGD of 23 months devours smoked salmon, steak, salad, home made pasta, veggie curry, Dahl, salads etc. if she was given a jam sandwich she would likely spit it out! The child at school is obviously eating healthily at home and the lunchbox reflects that. Much better than a load of ultra processed food that could eventually lead to all sorts of health issues.

It sounds lovely (if rather a lot - I'd never get through it but then, I'm not a growing child!).