School Meals v Packed Lunch

Becles

Peakma wrote:

I started off trying to make these healthy, but they hardly ate anything, so we have slipped into daily crisps and chocolate and of course sandwich and fruit ( which they more often than not leave).This also annoys me because if they were at home I would encourage them to eat the healthier stuff first (they are only 5 wnd 6) but at school they just tuck in and obviously head straight for the "goodies!" then don't feel like eating the real good stuff.

Mine two are 6 and 8. I always do a healthy packed lunch with one treat item like crisps or a wrapped chocolate biscuit. The rule is if they bring the healthy food home, they don't get the treat item the next day. The normally eat all of it now.

If they are filling themselves up on 'goodies', and not having room for the rest, try stopping the 'goodies' and only put them back in when they start eating the sandwiches and fruit.

You can try other healthy things too. Mine enjoy crackers and cubes of hard cheese, or little home made pizzas or quiches made with a scone cutter so they are easy to eat.

livsmum

Thanks for the link, been meaning to sign up!

Had a problem getting my signature accepted - anyone else had a problem?
What am I doing wrong??

Amba_Gambla

jamie oliver really is a ledge....

[Deleted User]

Along with this great idea, I read on another board about children not drinking enough in school. I get thirsty easily and sip water and squash during the day. When I go to help out at my neices primary school I end up with headaches and very dry throat, as my fluid is restricted.

Why can't children take small water bottles with them to sit in the classroom to drink SENSIBLY or a fountain be accessable for quick guzzles.

I know children will always find a way to avoid lessons by saying they want the toilet or want to drink, but the teacher will be able to pick up on the ones mucking about and have words, surely??

Good food is just as important as enough fluid. Water would prevent concentration and keep their attention too.

Pooky

Our school has had a cold water supply put in the hall and the kids are allowed to take a clear plastic bottle with a sports cap on it and can fill it during the day - they have trays on their tables to keep their bottles in and can drink it when they like.....I think it's a great idea, they've all been sensible and my 2 go and fill their bottles about 3 times a day plus have a fruit juice with their lunch. I also pay for them to have milk at break - they get individual cartons with straws - equates to a 1/4 of a pint - not sure if all schools do this.

The kids that go home via the walking bus also get a chance to fill their bottles up for the walk home...again a great idea especially in the summer!

mightymo_2

My son's school has a cold water facility in the hall too. Each morning the children fill their plastic bottles up. They get free fruit at breaktime, and I pay for milk.

My son is starting junior school in September, so I think all these things will stop unfortunately!

Spendless

At sons school they are allowed to take in a sports bottle with water in it. I think a clear one is a great idea as i am aware of at least one parent who is flouting the rules by sending her child in with juice.

tiff

Spendless wrote:

At sons school they are allowed to take in a sports bottle with water in it. I think a clear one is a great idea as i am aware of at least one parent who is flouting the rules by sending her child in with juice.

She is the one doing damage to her kids teeth. Why do some mothers mollycoddle their kids? My friend is guilty of putting squash in his water bottle too. She says he wont drink water and she worries, but he will surely drink it in school if he's thirsty and all the other kids have water too!

Spendless

tiff wrote:

My friend is guilty of putting squash in his water bottle too. She says he wont drink water and she worries, but he will surely drink it in school if he's thirsty and all the other kids have water too!

That's exactly my friends argument too tiff.
I was tempted to ask what would happen if they were ever to get stranded in a desert and only water would save them (lol).

Swattie

My daughters school encourages them to take a bottle of water in and has facilities to refill during the day.
They also are encouraged to take some fruit in for morning break (dried fruit is also allowed as are carrots) but they are not allowed anything else.

They have also just started hot dinners, as they don't have a kitchen it has to be brought in. All things considered they are not too bad and reasonably well balanced, but there is room for improvement. There are 3 options a day standard, vegetarian and snack (3 days out of 5 this is a baked potato) there is also a desert or piece of fruit.

As I know what she will be eating each lunch time I can make sure that I make sure her breakfast/evening meal are healthy and compensate for anything lunch is missing.