The Matrix - Re-Evolution!!

MrsMoo2U

MG, remember that dinner ladies are usually not trained nutritionists but rather ladies who are employed to monitor the children during the lunch hour. Unless of course you are talking about the cooks, then I would be worried if it is the cook that is telling him this. I would suggest that you write out your recipes for each of the things that you have planned in the lunch menu next week, print it off and take it along (quietly without ds knowing maybe) to the head and ask if they consider these to be healthy options. Explain what ds has said and perhaps suggest that the dinner ladies receive some kind of training in nutrition when the head can say nothing other than of course these are healthy options. You sound a little upset, understandably so, but try not to worry all weekend on this. This kind of thing happens every day, you just need to help steer ds through and around the obstacle in the best way. And you will I am sure.

maryb

MG

Could you do effectively the same thing but make it look "healthy"? Eg use the muffin mix and raspberries as a base for a tray bake and sprinkle the top with some oat based crumble topping so it looks like a cereal bar? I have a recipe somewhere for some raspberry cereal bars but I know you want to use up the muffin mix

Memory_Girl

Think DS1 is the one who is "puzzled" rather than "upset" - you see he is really into healthy eating and making healthy choices and this threw him for 6 because as far as he was concerned he did have the healthy option.

Bear in mind that DS1 can be a trifle literal (think v mild aspergic tendencies) - so he may have got the wrong end of the stick.

In the meantime he has had a plate of pasta primavera (his own veggies), two plates of salad and is now on the mooch for more pitta and peanut butter ................................ I think we may be having a hollow-legs weekend :rotfl::rotfl:

MG

Triciaxx

Memory_Girl wrote: »

Just had an interesting conversation with DS1 whilst making dinner together. Remember we are a family that loves our food - and healthy home cooked is the basis to our budgeting.

Now I am hoping that he has got the wrong end of the stick here - and will clarify on Monday at his new school obviously, but ........................

Apparently they win points for their "houses" for having healthy foods in their packed lunches, and although "healthy foods please" is specified on the website there are no obvious restrictions (I even checked that there was no-one with a peanut allergy cos DS1 is partial now and again to HM oatcakes and peanut butter for lunch.)

He has been told by the dinner lady that his "home-baking" component of his lunch-box isn't healthy (HM raspberry muffin, wholemeal flour, no sugar, free range egg and no transfats) so he's not to bring it - or ask Mum to give him a cereal bar - at which point a "Frosties" bar was pointed out to him...... otherwise he wont earn any house points.

Now he is desperate to fit in - so I don't want to do anything that would lose him points and put him at odds with the others in house - but surely they are not saying that a bar of "Frankenfood" is a healthier alternative to a raspberry muffin. The rest of his lunch BTW, wholemeal pitta, HM hummus, carrots, turnip sticks and a chopped apple - so not a packet of crisps, chocolate bar or sweetie in sight.

..................... and BTW - there's not a pick of fat on the lad and he's in the middle of a growing spurt so actually debated putting three pittas in there today (he came home and had another two as a snack at 3.30)

Will be so disappointed if a "dinner lady" thinks the healthy alternative is a pre-processed breakfast cereal bar.

Anyone else had something like this happen with their packed lunch choices?

MG

It's just as well you have the weekend to work this one out! I wonder if the dinner lady has ever encountered a HM raspberry muffin? Perhaps you should take her one and give her the recipe? Don't forget she is just following orders.

I did a little google - I'm so sad that I like a challenge like this. - and I came up with a good site and 533,000 others that might help. This seemed helpful and, if you had to justify it you have a good name to quote.

One suggestion from experience is to fight the battle for him if you need to. My parents left me to fight a battle at school and it was hard, hard, hard. I fought a few for my kids and got a reputation as a screwball mum (which I could live with) and my kids got the sympathy vote. :rotfl:

I'll have a word with DIL who has more recent experience of such things but is in tune with our values.

Don't fret too much.

Memory_Girl

maryb wrote: »

MG

Could you do effectively the same thing but make it look "healthy"? Eg use the muffin mix and raspberries as a base for a tray bake and sprinkle the top with some oat based crumble topping so it looks like a cereal bar? I have a recipe somewhere for some raspberry cereal bars but I know you want to use up the muffin mix

I am using the muffin mix at home as its rather sweet - so his school muffins were made with the chapatti flour, linseed oil and rasps with an egg. Next weeks are made with chappati flour, oats, apple, sultanas, cinnamon and egg........... they smell fabulous!!!!

His chosen menus for next week are:

HM Bread Roll, cheese, salad and mayo. Carrot sticks. Strawberries, peach, Oat muffin.

Pasta with tomato sauce. Box salad with barley. Twinks Hob Nob (made with half sugar as you all know how sweet they are)

HM Wholemeal tortilla wraps, guacamole, shredded veggies. Fruit salad, Oat muffin.

Yellow split pea dal, rice, HM chapatti, steamed broccoli. Banana and grapes. Hob Nob cookie.

HM Pitta bread, HM hummus, chopped carrots, chopped turnip, Oat muffin. (this is his favourite lunch BTW)



Actually, I'm thinking that I may start having his lunches too - cos they sound a lot nicer than my soup or leftovers choices :rotfl:

Didn't get more than a mouthfull back all last week on his packed lunches so I'm thinking I may have to up the portion size slightly anyway.

MG

Memory_Girl

OOh Tricaxx - the flapjack bars in that link look yummy. What was suggested to him was rather more like this however

http://www.virginmedia.com/homefamily/fooddrink/worst-cereals.php?ssid=4

:rotfl::rotfl:

Just a little nutritional difference:D - and have you seen the price of these things :eek:

I'm sure its all a storm in a lunchbox - fingers crossed

MG

Dorastar

It is definitely a dinner lady thing - from a school perspective and a mum perspective they are a breed unto themselves and have their own opinions (despite many interventions from us boss types!). Whoever posted that she probably hadn't encountered one before is probably right too as she would have seen 'cake' and thought 'bad' and cereal = healthy in her mind. I would see how things go next week, dinner ladies are notoriously up and down and all ours seem to be permanently hormonal which also adds to the fun. I would speak to his form tutor or head of year if it becomes an issue again next week - they would probably be persuaded by a tray of muffins to help them "understand" (or alternatively you could send them all to me and I will help determine how healthy they are:p)

Big thanks to MG for the whole lentil idea - I have just had roasted veg and lentils and wholewheat spaghetti for my tea - yummy :T

Triciaxx

Fingers crossed, indeed! I think you should consider the Saint Hugh alternative as a start. At least you don'thave the problem My DIL has of an Aspergers #2 son who is quite willing to explain - in incredibly fine detail - how his lunch is more healthy than the school suggestions. :eek:

He has no interest in 'fitting in'. The snag is . . . he is right 99.9% of the time.

Suggestions on a postcard, please. :cool:

Dustykitten

Mg hugs with boys at the other end of secondary education I feel your pain. My tact would be to drop an email explaining the confussion and request details of the guidelines as to what the school consider healthy ie is it low fat, low sugar etc adding detail of the muffin. Try to keep it light, looking for information and supportive of healthy eating and rewards. There will be many issues in the years ahead so build contacts and rappour.

Back to the kitchen cleaning for me.

greenbee

I really think you should talk to the school MG as this is not how the healthy eating should work. There should be a member of staff in charge of the healthy eating stuff (my brain has turned to mush and I can't remember what it is called... And I don't know whether the initiatives in scotland are the same). Telling children that a frosties bar is more healthy than a homemade wholemeal muffin is NOT educating them, it is misinforming them.