Eat Out to Help Out madness

[Redolent]

SiL has a phone chat with me yesterday. Told me that she and family (DH + 3 DC) had ‘really been helping out the economy’ over the last month. She sounded v tired and virtuous for her all efforts. Upon enquiring further, they’ve used the EOHO scheme pretty much twice a day, for lunch and dinner: eg 4x McDonald’s (“can feed us all for £9”) 4x KFC (“£15 and we can get a bargain bucket for lunch the next day”), Pizza Hut and some of the local takeaways.

This is utter madness. Her and her husband both have high blood pressure and are on medication, from a BAME background, high risk profession. They’ve been sold a lie that they’re helping out the economy when the economic and healthcare costs accruing from this junk food spree will be far higher.

When the UK’s covid strategy is properly evaluated in future, the lack of joined up thinking here will be rightly mocked. Obesity increasingly highlighted a risk factor for deaths, while junk food takeaways are subsidised in August.

Maybe they had salad. All those places sell salad.

None of your business!

Where they happy? If so what’s the issue.

Stop being so judgemental

Takeaways weren't part of the scheme. Perhaps they went for salads and the rice boxes at kfc? It's over now but if they eat junk, £10 discounts ending won't matter

You can't change people. they are aware of the consequences of their actions.

England’s poorest areas are fast food hotspots

New figures from PHE show higher concentrations of fast food outlets in England’s most deprived communities.

New figures from Public Health England (PHE) reveal England’s poorest areas are fast food hotspots, with 5 times more outlets found in these communities than in the most affluent.

www.gov.uk/government/news/englands-poorest-areas-are-fast-food-hotspots

————

They live in one of these deprived areas. I maintain, it’s an absolute farce that the government subsided eating out at these fast food takeaways. This is absolutely a social issue. It affects life expectancy and health outcomes.

Let’s not all be aghast when the figures keep rolling in around the higher incidences of BAME deaths from covid: partly occupational, partly due to deprivation, partly due to the landscape in which they live.

If they already have health and weight related issues, really like to eat McDonalds and KFC, and have thought it a good idea to eat fast food two or three times a day, I’m not convinced that had it not been for the EOTHO scheme they’d have been at home making nutritious, healthy meals.

Ok?

Seems a bit OTT. We used the offer twice and enjoyed it both times but I wouldn't enjoy junk food that often.

@minnieok

Takeaways weren't part of the scheme. Perhaps they went for salads and the rice boxes at kfc? It's over now but if they eat junk, £10 discounts ending won't matter

Takeaways with seating areas. They count.

And perhaps the sun will rise from the west tomorrow.

Is it anything to do with you I would hate you to be my SIL

So what criteria are you applying for what is allowed to be used?

It was allowed for all places that have eat in because they lost money. I have spoken to a few places and because of the scheme their staff have kept jobs and/or picked up more shifts.

They can’t be responsible for individuals using it. And nor should they be. If people want to use it for every meal that’s their prerogative

If they hadn't spent the money in those places, what were the chances they would have spent it on healthier things?
They know their health issues. They know the implications of their diets and they are happy with their choices. If they weren't they would change.

Oh for goodness sake lol
Who are you, the Food Police?
It's been really cheap to eat out the last month.
Maybe they had salad, or a wrap, or a healthy option some of the time too.
There is such a thing called moderation/personal responsibilty as well - and even if they did have a bucket of wings and burgers every day, so bloody what?
That's up to them.

For goodness' sake! I'm no Tory fan, but you surely can't blame the government for the fact that someone is dimwitted enough to think that 'Help the economy by using restaurants etc' means 'Ignore your diagnosed health issues
and getting takeaways every day'. Absolutely ridiculous!

@lovelymm

None of your business!

Exactly OP

This is not about the scheme is it OP. Your family members obviously enjoyed food prior to the offer... just leave them be!

Oh ffs. We've all (mostly) been cooped up in our houses for half a year. If someone wants to go out and stuff their faces then that's up to them.

You sound like a virtuous fun sponge. And I hate this thinly disguised disgust at someone else's eating habits disguised as faux concern for their health.

If you find the fact they've only eaten takeaways for the last month abhorrent, then say so. No need to pretend you're worried about them having heart attack because we know that's bollocks.

You sound nice. Why don't you just let them make their own decisions and stop judging?
Or if you do judge, do it silently, instead of posting a thread on MN slating your own family

Hmmmmmm

The scheme wasn't the issue, it was a great incentive to try and get food places back on their feet. If people couldn't control themselves and ate excessive amounts of junk then that's their decision. It's children who are also fed this crap and know no different I feel sorry for, rather than adults who can make decisions themselves.

Another joyous thread started by this poster.

Jesus who cares. It’s their lives and presumably they are adults. Let them do what they like.

If you’re that concerned for their health op, then why don’t you discuss it with them? Instead of gossiping and bitching about them to strangers on the internet. Why do you even care about what they’re eating? They’re not hurting anyone

Dont know why everyone is so surprised, this country has no problems in killing themselves via such unhealthy life styles, probably why they turn a blind eye to Corona virus but yeah their choice their problem.