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.

It sounds like leftovers or things that the parents would eat themselves. Nothing wrong with a bit of flavour in a child’s lunch! I’m glad packed lunches have moved to real food and proper meals instead of the rubbish we used to eat - basic sandwich, piece of fruit, crisps or processed bar of some kind. Kids shouldn’t be eating UPFs and beige. Lots of nurseries now create good menus so the kids get variety beyond basic ingredients and flavours

Glad I’m not the only one

Quiche! Does their extravagance have no boundaries?

DD has loved quiche and Greek yoghurt with or without a compote since weaning so I suppose I’m an OTT pretentious sod too. 😂 Wish she’d eat smoked salmon though… We have tried. She had figs in her packed lunch today as we had some leftover. Why do kids need to eat different, often crappy toddler food only if their parents are making these lunches anyway and the toddlers will happily eat it too?

It's a relatively fancy packed lunch for a young child, but 'absurd' and 'extravagant'? No. It's only 'extravagant' if they're struggling to afford it, and presumably that's not the case, so what's the problem? Why is it bothering you? Sounds like the kid's being brought up to appreciate and value good food. What's 'absurd' about that?

@Diadrie what do you eat for lunch?

I'm guessing it'll be farmed salmon. I would not serve that stuff to my worst enemy.

Lucky child. Sounds healthy and obviously they can afford it. Btw it’s a packed lunch not a pack lunch

Exactly!

Feels to me like inverted snobbery/ a class thing here.

The kids eats it, it's healthy good. I cant think of a problem with it assuming they aren't spending money they don't have.

My daughter really struggles with food. Suspect arfid but waiting list here for help is so long who knows. One thing she will eat is dolmades (out of a tin). Unfortunately she won’t take them to school anymore as some girls laughed at her lunch. She’s got samosas today, hope nobody takes issue with them. When did it become so acceptable to judge people for eating healthy food?

If the child is still hungry after eating their packED lunch, you could offer them the chip on your shoulder 😂🤔

I think it’s great that a child is eating so well and not just a cheese sandwich and crisps!
Im guessing their parents really enjoy making this kind of lunch and as long as the child is eating it o don’t think it’s a problem. I think this child will grow up and be able to look back fondly of the effort that went into their lunch everyday.

Leftover FIGS? What in the name of willpower is that? Figs don't last long enough in our house to be left over!

It's way more nutritious than other stuff. It's the sort of lunch I would give my kids and it's the sort of lunch they are used to. My kids love steak, lamb chops, sushi, salmon/smoked cheese and eggs in various formats for lunch. It also keeps them full for a long time

My son used to have a pot of smoked salmon. Didn’t eat sandwiches. I’d also make him hot pasta dishes etc.

better than him starving 🤷‍♀️

I seriously considered saying something too, so why not?

It's PACKED lunch, not PACK lunch. This is because it has been PACKED.

Call me a pendant if you like, but it does matter if you are teaching or supervising impressionable children in school.

Wish i had a pack up like that for work tbh they would only be unreasonable if kid repeatedly wasnt eating it.

This feels a bit inverted snobbery OP

‘Pack Up’ is even worse.

Weird guess - given the care taken over the lunch I would guess it isn't. We'll never know though!

Are you only accustomed to a pork wellington from Greggs?

Probably the same as the parents take for themselves.

I am always bemused by the assumption children should be eating the cheapest, processed, plain food.

I’m open to being adopted by anyone who would like to make me a multi-course bento style packed lunch, sounds lovely!

Good points, I was thinking the same - I'm sure there are children whose packed lunches give proper cause for concern.

It sounds like a lovely lunch with a lot of thought put into it.

Imagine how the parent would feel knowing the TA was judging her child's packed lunch and had started an open debate on it. It's not as if she packed Haribo sandwiches!

When I was a Reception teacher I had to help one of my children as her drink was leaking in her lunch box. The actual lunch was a delight, lots of nice little things, all colourful, beautifully wrapped and healthy. More than that it was absolutely packed full of love - I'm not usually that soppy but it made me quite teary. Completely opposite to the twins whose lunches consisted entirely of chocolate (this was some time ago).