How to stop the lunchbox police!

meritaten

Welshwoofs wrote: »

There's one small problem there. Jamie Oliver is a thick-tongued gobshyte who doesn't practice what he preaches but is more than happy to leap on any passing band wagon.

That may be your personal opinion Welshwoofs and you are entitled to it of course.

Now, do you have anything constructive to say?

victory

Welshwoofs wrote: »

There's one small problem there. Jamie Oliver is a thick-tongued gobshyte who doesn't practice what he preaches but is more than happy to leap on any passing band wagon.

He seems very passionate about his causes and very annoyed at the big wigs who keep promising change but because of money constraints or paper work they promise but don't deliver, he is one man , he certainly has been trying....

Welshwoofs

meritaten wrote: »

Now, do you have anything constructive to say?

Yes I do indeed meritaten. Rather than farting around with celebrity chefs and lunch box checks, a far more reaching and long-term solution to unhealthy eating would be to make nutrition/cooking a proper subject at school rather than one of the 'joke' subjects where people tend to make sausage rolls and cupcakes and almost everyone dumps as soon as they choose their options.

In order to eat healthy long-term, people need to grow up knowing how to cook wholesome meals from scratch and that means knowing such things as:

* The various cuts of meat/poultry and how to treat them
* Seasonality; what's in season, when and how to cook it
* Cooking techniques from scratch rather than individual recipes here and there
* The various food groups and what they do; sources of good fats/whole grains/natural sugars/fibre and the various vitamins and minerals
* Menu planning and budgeting


So my constructive suggestion; try petitioning the Government to change the curriculum so that cooking is a core subject right up to school leaving age and that it's taught in line with the above.

Love the sarcasm by the way.....but a total phail with me sweetheart

meritaten

Welshwoofs wrote: »

Yes I do indeed meritaten. Rather than farting around with celebrity chefs and lunch box checks, a far more reaching and long-term solution to unhealthy eating would be to make nutrition/cooking a proper subject at school rather than one of the 'joke' subjects where people tend to make sausage rolls and cupcakes and almost everyone dumps as soon as they choose their options.

In order to eat healthy long-term, people need to grow up knowing how to cook wholesome meals from scratch and that means knowing such things as:

* The various cuts of meat/poultry and how to treat them
* Seasonality; what's in season, when and how to cook it
* Cooking techniques from scratch rather than individual recipes here and there
* The various food groups and what they do; sources of good fats/whole grains/natural sugars/fibre and the various vitamins and minerals
* Menu planning and budgeting


So my constructive suggestion; try petitioning the Government to change the curriculum so that cooking is a core subject right up to school leaving age and that it's taught in line with the above.

Love the sarcasm by the way.....but a total phail with me sweetheart

Worked though didnt it? sweetheart!;)

Actually Welshwoofs, I agree 100% with what you say, and you get the prize for the MOST constructive advice I have been given so far:A!

I remember when we had a whole morning/ of cookery, yes we may well have cooked sausage rolls, cakes etc - but that wasnt all we were taught. How to read a recipe or adapt one, Basic healthy nutrition, how to put together a balanced meal - or a weeks meals! how to manage kitchen time, how to set a table, what utensils did what (can you believe my one daughter in law didnt know what a palette knife was for?). even the correct way to wash up!
This was in the mid to late sixties, my own kids did food technology and I always said whats the point of knowing the calorific value and where it comes from if you dont know How to cook it!

So yes, perhaps cookery should be brought back as a core subject. and considering the amount of people going to catering college these days - I am surprised it hasnt!

sassyblue

onlyroz wrote: »

Wow. How do you define "processed meat"? Because most sliced meat designed for sandwiches is processed in some way - and I have no problems making up a sandwich for my kids with it (and it's certainly the cheapest way of making a ham sandwich). As for yoghurt tubes - how are they any different from yoghurt in a pot, which is meant to be one of the more healthy things you can give your child?

Anything that says 'formed from' on the packaging. It's bits of mushed meat all formed back into a shape again.

Becles

chika wrote: »

I haven't read the whole thread but I just want to raise a couple of points. The "cake" that the school kitchen serve isn't normal stuff, it has barely any sugar and make with some kind of margarine so isn't very tasty. Its all part of the governments health guidelines.

That works both ways though. If a parent sends in a slice of cake/muffin/malt loaf etc., wrapped in foil or cling film, how do school know what it's been made from. It could be the Galaxy muffin that has been mentioned above, or it could be a low fat and low sugar home made one.

They do cookery in the secondary school my oldest two go to. I had a lengthy discussion with the cookery teacher once as she was thrilled that my boys were enthusiastic in the lesson and already knew a lot. She said one of the first things they make is a sandwich and then they learn to wash up as many children aged 11 have never done either of those tasks at home, which shocked me. I've always had mine helping in the kitchen and as we are cooking they naturally ask questions about where the food comes from, how it's produced etc.

SusanC_2

Becles wrote: »

They do cookery in the secondary school my oldest two go to. I had a lengthy discussion with the cookery teacher once as she was thrilled that my boys were enthusiastic in the lesson and already knew a lot. She said one of the first things they make is a sandwich and then they learn to wash up as many children aged 11 have never done either of those tasks at home, which shocked me. I've always had mine helping in the kitchen and as we are cooking they naturally ask questions about where the food comes from, how it's produced etc.

:eek: My four year old voluntarily does both of those things. Admittedly she's not actually that good at washing up but she can make a reasonable sandwich.

meritaten

my gs aged four - loves to cook with me! cakes being his favourite! he also makes a reasonable sarnie. my twin GDs can make scrambled egg in the microwave - can make Pink Sauce for their favourite prawn supper, with a nice salad. they love to assemble chicken and salad Wraps too.
the one twin always volunteers to wash up as she has a water fixation (she is ADD), it may take her an hour but she has fun and I get super clean dishes!
All the cooking programs are great as kids these days get most of thier information from the tv - and I think there is a rise in kids interest in cooking. and being a chef/cook is not seen now as a 'menial' job. thats a good thing!

we are still stuck though with the lunchbox police! I think this is isnt nationwide - unless as Welshwoofs says that the lunchbox requirements are implemented nationwide.
now the problem is - self evident! how do you convince the Welsh Assembly, the English government and Scottish and Northern Irish governments that its a problem? I have yet to be convinced MYSELF that its a problem!

adouglasmhor

sassyblue wrote: »

Anything that says 'formed from' on the packaging. It's bits of mushed meat all formed back into a shape again.

That's a good definition of formed/reconstituted/mechanically rendered meat. Processed meat includes pickled meats - corned beef (on the joint as well as grated and canned)/beef ham/salted ham/corned mutton/pastrami etc. and smoked meats and your definition above would include every sausage, home made meat loaf and meat balls etc. All of these can be made with or without all the preservatives etc. Also meat injected with filler/brine/preservatives/ trans fats etc.

In my opinion a nice bit of butcher made sausage, or corned beef trumps a slice of ham from a packet full of e numbers tras fats and water

onlyroz

sassyblue wrote: »

Anything that says 'formed from' on the packaging. It's bits of mushed meat all formed back into a shape again.

And why is it worse for you than the premium ham from the deli counter that costs four times as much?

PS those dairylea dunkables cost a fortune and I don't know why any same person would put one in a lunchbox.