School dinners

MrsAnnie

DevilsAdvocate1 wrote: »

I've just gone the other way - taken my 2 off school dinners and put them on pack lunches. Cost wasn't an issue for us, as Durham is one of the trial counties for free school meals. However, my children were coming out of school starving each day - so I still had to do a big tea. In fact, my youngest was often crying when he came out of school because he was so hungry - despite the dinner nannies telling me that he had eaten everything he was given. The portion sizes were too small - I mean, he shouldn't be that hungry just 3 hours after eating, should he?

Perhaps, because all of the county are on free school meals, but we also had problems with the school running out of food (this happened on more than one occasion).

Also, the menus sounded great, but were not all they seemed. For example, on a Friday they have sausage plait and chipped potatoes. In layman's terms this is sausage roll and chips - not a healthy combination imo.

Sorry, I've ranted a bit there, but feel a bit misled by the school regarding these healthy meals.

D.

I agree with this.

At our school, parents were invited to eat school dinners with their children last week. And I was gobsmacked to see how very liitle they were given, and I now realise why my DDs are so hungry at tea time. Althought the menu sounds very appetizing, the reality was very different. And paying £2.20 per dinner it was not worth that at all. At present they only have school dinners once a week, but I will not be ordering for next term.

maybe you should pop by school one day to look at the dinners and see if they are worth the cost and whether the meal would fill you child up for the rest of the day?

newlysingle_2

Thanks, we are quite lucky at school as before they move from nursery to reception they invite you to take your children in to sample the school dinners. Along side the dinners they offer a fruit and salad bar, the dinners are only £8.50 pw. They also have toast in the mornings and fruit in the afternoon, and at home have fruit and yogurts freely available to them. If they choose they want to go back on to packed lunches its not a problem, but they have been mithering for ages for dinners, I just wanted to make sure they were old enough to understand that they eat the veg and salad that comes with it as well.

Gingham_Ribbon

Nothing wrong with egg/beans on toast.:beer:

WestonDave

We've certainly used this to our advantage - our son likes a mix of packed lunches and school lunches, so on the days his younger brother is in nursery/preschool and gets two meals there including a cooked one, the older one gets school lunches so they just have a cold sandwich style evening meal. That means that on a Friday for example me and OH can have a homemade curry that the kids won't eat.

LondonDiva

You also have to bear in mind that most home portions regularly exceed recommended sizes for children.

I think Jo Frost did something and all the parents were over feeding by about 50+%

BTW - a packet of crisps and a biscuit every lunchtime is not an occassional treat.

lola34

My two DS's are on school dinners and if they have had a proper dinner at school eg meat/ veg the main meal provided then I'll give them a snacky tea but if the meal wasn't something they were keen on then they will have salad bar so I tend to do them a meal, it also depends on what I'm cooking on the night anyway, I've known them have two dinner in a day but others days only snacky foods.

blue_monkey_2

My kids have school dinners and a sandwich in the evening with yogurt and fruit after. They eat their main meal of the day in school. This also help because they are now doing after school clubs such as swimming and brownies so I do not have to rush around getting dinner down at 6pm when they get in (we go up to get ready for bed at 6.30pm still).

I find it works better for us. They have a salad and pasta bar at school and they can choose as much as they like from that too.

My friends give their kids meals in the evening too but I do not find my kids need it - besides, they just ask for a sandwich. Not sure my shopping each week has gone down though and I do have to pay for school dinners too.

retro_bluebell

DevilsAdvocate1 wrote: »

I've just gone the other way - taken my 2 off school dinners and put them on pack lunches. Cost wasn't an issue for us, as Durham is one of the trial counties for free school meals. However, my children were coming out of school starving each day - so I still had to do a big tea. In fact, my youngest was often crying when he came out of school because he was so hungry - despite the dinner nannies telling me that he had eaten everything he was given. The portion sizes were too small - I mean, he shouldn't be that hungry just 3 hours after eating, should he?

Perhaps, because all of the county are on free school meals, but we also had problems with the school running out of food (this happened on more than one occasion).

Also, the menus sounded great, but were not all they seemed. For example, on a Friday they have sausage plait and chipped potatoes. In layman's terms this is sausage roll and chips - not a healthy combination imo.

Sorry, I've ranted a bit there, but feel a bit misled by the school regarding these healthy meals.

D.

I have noticed this too and we are also in Durham.Its only my middle son that gets the trail free meals as my eldest is at high school and the little un is at nursery. I thought it may be just because hes a growing lad (hes in year 6) but I definitely think since the new trial the portions have become smaller!

Actually rereading your post it could have been written by me as his school will often run out of food. They have a rota each week on who gets first dinners, and when he is on last dinners theres often only cheese baguettes left and he doesnt like cheese. Due to this Im also considering taking him off and putting him pack to packed lunches.

Sorry went on a bit there lol.


OP theres nothing wrong with a snacky tea if they are having a good cooked meal at lunchtime, this is what I used to do prior to this year, but I have to cook a big meal now as DS2 is always hungry at tea time.

jellyhead

newlysingle wrote: »

I know the kids would love to have egg and beans on toast every night

So would I :T

It's a good meal nutritionally - the beans contain all the proteins, and you could have wholemeal toast. If they'll be having it often and you worry about the salt or sugar content in the beans you could try healthier versions. You could add some grated cheese to up their calcium intake, and give them some fruit for pudding.

If you are sure that your children will eat enough at school then I see no problem.

If your kids are like my nephew who is fussy and picky and most days eats nothing but a bread roll, and won't drink water if they run out of milk, and comes out of school starving then it may not work. You know your children though

jellyhead

DevilsAdvocate1 wrote: »

However, my children were coming out of school starving each day - so I still had to do a big tea. In fact, my youngest was often crying when he came out of school because he was so hungry - despite the dinner nannies telling me that he had eaten everything he was given. The portion sizes were too small - I mean, he shouldn't be that hungry just 3 hours after eating, should he?

Perhaps, because all of the county are on free school meals, but we also had problems with the school running out of food (this happened on more than one occasion).

Also, the menus sounded great, but were not all they seemed. For example, on a Friday they have sausage plait and chipped potatoes. In layman's terms this is sausage roll and chips - not a healthy combination imo.

Sorry, I've ranted a bit there, but feel a bit misled by the school regarding these healthy meals.

D.

I've gone into school for lunch with my son twice, and our portion sizes are good. The problem is that they run out of some foods though. When my nephew is last in for dinners he says they run out of milk, bananas and celery, and he only eats bread. I've seen it myself. There will be 3 or 4 options on the menu that they bring home, but there's not always a choice when the final group of children go in.

This wouldn't be a problem for a child who'll eat anything, but my nephew is fussy and would rather go without. It's a shame about the milk because they have leftovers in the reception classroom, and I wish my nephew could have my son's milk (my son's lactose intolerant).

I agree about the sausage roll and chips, and I wondered when reading your post if perhaps what your son is having is too high GI, and giving him a sugar rush then a slump. Sausage roll with chips is an awful combination! There's pastry, and probably lots of rusk or whatever in the sausage. I'd have thought a salad or beans would be better with a sausage roll.

I remember one boy whose mum is a teacher telling me that he is not allowed to have school dinners on friday because they are too unhealthy. It's not just because it's chips day, it's the stodgy pudding and the rest of the junk food.

our school provides menus for 3 weeks, then they do the same the next 3 weeks etc. so parents always know what will be on offer.