For families seeking to curb vacation spending, a strategy involving the hotel breakfast buffet offers a frugal alternative to purchasing mid-day meals. Rosie Green, an assistant editor, details a method honed over years of travel, where children are trained to gather food from the breakfast spread for consumption later in the day.
This covert operation, as described by Green, requires specific preparation. A roomy beach bag is essential for transporting food, along with Tupperware containers and sealable sandwich bags. The strategy involves selecting a strategically located table, ideally in a corner, to minimize visibility. While a family member enjoys a final hot beverage, others are dispatched to gather items.
The objective is to collect a main meal, a dessert, and a snack for the afternoon. Sandwiches are constructed at the table using bread, butter, and fillings like hard cheese or sliced meats, avoiding ingredients prone to spoilage in heat, such as tomatoes or mayonnaise. For dessert, dry pastries like muffins or pain au chocolat are recommended, as moist items can become unappetizing. Hard-boiled eggs are also a viable option, with their shells acting as natural packaging.
Accumulated food is then discreetly placed in the bag, often concealed with a towel. The family employs various tactics if they suspect they have been observed, including relying on a child's perceived innocence or the parent's assertive demeanor. Green notes that while this method can significantly reduce the need to purchase expensive lunches, the success rate can vary, particularly with younger family members who may consume their entire haul before lunchtime.