How to stop the lunchbox police!

moomoomama27

newcook wrote: »

The schools should start teaching the children the games we all used to play in the playground and giving them more than 1 half an hour P.E lesson a week.

This is the biggest problem! If children were active, and played outside, and took part in spoting clubs, rather than watching tv/games consoles/internet, then the daily 'treat', 'junk' or whatever people want to call it wouldn't matter!

euronorris

Rather than attacking the schools for this, and worse, putting the majority of the responsibility for a healthy lunchbox onto the schools rather than the parents, wouldn't it be an idea to offer parents some education about healthy eating and nutrition? And with a comprehensive list of healthy lunchbox ideas too.

It is clear from several threads on this forum alone, that so many people don't understand what constitutes a healthy meal and why. Or even the long term damage that an unhealthy diet can do (which aren't always visible at first). It is about so much more than the sugar and fat content, and the UK as a nation (as with so many countries now), is so under educated on this point.

The schools and the parents could work together on improving things for the children then, rather than opposing each other.

bedpotato_2

moomoomama27 wrote: »

Rubbish!

Lets call them higher fat options then, to appease you! I have no guilt when I allow my children higher fat/sugar foods, because I do so in the knowledge that they have a healthy balanced diet, everything in moderation, with plenty of exercise! No obese children here, and have done this with all 3 children!

Nope; let's call a spade a spade and carry on calling junk junk, if it's all the same to you. "Higher fat" does not automatically equal junk! Oh dear. It gets worse and worse. I am saddened by the shocking ignorance displayed by some parents in dietary matters. Never mind the children; we need to educate parents! There is dietary confusion on a nationwide scale! Look. Olive oil, nuts, and dried fruit are all high in fat, and they are not junk. They all have excellent nutritional value. When you say "high fat and sugar," you do not specify if you mean healthy or unhealthy fats and sugars. Example of healthy fat and sugar: an avocado and a handful of raisins or an apple. Example of unhealthy fat and sugar: crisps and a mars bar. Mars bars have the dubious honour of being high in bad fats AND sugars. Junk is just empty fats and sugars of no nutritional value. NOBODY NEEDS junk food. You can get the fats and sugars you seem to be so concerned about by eating healthy things. Right now your children are still growing and their metabolisms are very fast. Once they stop growing and things slow down in teen and adulthood, the junk diet you've raised them on will set them up for problems if they're not sensible enough to break free and decide for themselves that mummy was wrong about eating crisps every day. Once Obesity is not the only consequence of junk food. You are wrong to assume that as long as you're thin, things must be OK. Even if you're one of those people who can eat junk all day and be skinny as a rake, there are unseen internal consequences. High cholesterol, dental decay, diabetes, anaemia, constipation, lethargy, infertility, poor concentration, acne, etc are just SOME of the consequences for people who are brought up thinking that a pile of junk food is an acceptable meal. It isn't.

Becles

moomoomama27 wrote: »

This is the biggest problem! If children were active, and played outside, and took part in spoting clubs, rather than watching tv/games consoles/internet, then the daily 'treat', 'junk' or whatever people want to call it wouldn't matter!

I think my daughter is quite active. We've got border collies, so she's grown up thinking long walks are normal. Her brothers play football and rugby and she's seen me doing fitness training at home. She copies and can do things like full press ups and star burpees which is quite impressive for a 4 year old!

I agree with bedpotato's definition of things as to how food can be categorised and why some high fat foods are good for us.

Also it's hard to define the same food. Is a chicken sandwich healthy?

Yes if it's made with wholemeal homemade bread, thin scraping of butter and grilled chicken breast.

Less healthy if it's made with Tesco Value white bread, thick layer of marg and reformed chicken roll.

adouglasmhor

Becles wrote: »

Less healthy if it's made with Tesco Value white bread, thick layer of marg and reformed chicken roll.

you forgot the brown sauce :eek:

euronorris

adouglasmhor wrote: »

you forgot the brown sauce :eek:

Bleugh, no. Salad cream.

Good job I can't get that easily here. I freaking love the stuff.

*Louise*

I would be really annoyed if my child was told off for the contents of a lunch that I had packed. Likewise I would not be amused if something was 'confiscated'. In these cases, do the schools offer the children a healthy replacement instead?

Thankfully the school my kids are at isn't OTT about these things. They have a healthy eating menu and now and then issue a letter to everyone about healthy eating/lunches etc instead of just singling out a child. Never known them to take anything away from someone though.

They also have 2 hours of PE a week at school, plus a dance class and DS2 goes to a zumbatomics thing(never seen it lol) on a Tuesday lunchtime. I hardly think 2 choc chip cookies along with his sandwich, yoghurt, cheese and apple is cause for concern.:)

sooty&sweep

Hi

My children have school dinners but when my son had packed lunches I would be livid if the school had told him off because of the contents of his lunch box. Firstly I made his lunch and so if they have a problem then they should take it up with me not my child.

But you cannot judge how healthy someone's diet is based on one item of food. If the parents know that the child is getting fresh fruit and veg at other times and is active then why shouldn't he have fruit loaf at lunch time. If we only ate things that are healthy / nutricious etc etc then life would be incredibly boring.
To be honest I would have thought that a child needs something that is relatively quick and easy to eat because generally the child wants lunch over and done with ASAP so they can go and play with their friends.

I tried putting "healthy" things in my son's lunch box and they generally weren't eaten - not because he didn't like them but because he was a slow eater & not a big eater so he'd eat a bit and leave the rest because he wanted to go & play.

Jen

rachbc

sooty&sweep wrote: »

Hi

"My children have school dinners but when my son had packed lunches I would be livid if the school had told him off because of the contents of his lunch box. Firstly I made his lunch and so if they have a problem then they should take it up with me not my child"

This deliberate though - they know the kids won't argue back so they tell them. If they told you then they would have to discuss and explain why - school staff generally expect you to do as you are told and seem to get quite put out when parents don't behave in the same submissive way as the children!

I am having the same at the moment over dd wearing shorts to school...they tell her she can't wear them so now she won't. Whereas if they had told me she can't wear them I would have explained that they are more comfortable and more practical than the shirt she is supposed to wear and that she will continue to wear them!

moomoomama27

bedpotato wrote: »

Nope; let's call a spade a spade and carry on calling junk junk, if it's all the same to you. "Higher fat" does not automatically equal junk! Oh dear. It gets worse and worse. I am saddened by the shocking ignorance displayed by some parents in dietary matters. Never mind the children; we need to educate parents! There is dietary confusion on a nationwide scale! Look. Olive oil, nuts, and dried fruit are all high in fat, and they are not junk. They all have excellent nutritional value. When you say "high fat and sugar," you do not specify if you mean healthy or unhealthy fats and sugars. Example of healthy fat and sugar: an avocado and a handful of raisins or an apple. Example of unhealthy fat and sugar: crisps and a mars bar. Mars bars have the dubious honour of being high in bad fats AND sugars. Junk is just empty fats and sugars of no nutritional value. NOBODY NEEDS junk food. You can get the fats and sugars you seem to be so concerned about by eating healthy things. Right now your children are still growing and their metabolisms are very fast. Once they stop growing and things slow down in teen and adulthood, the junk diet you've raised them on will set them up for problems if they're not sensible enough to break free and decide for themselves that mummy was wrong about eating crisps every day. Once Obesity is not the only consequence of junk food. You are wrong to assume that as long as you're thin, things must be OK. Even if you're one of those people who can eat junk all day and be skinny as a rake, there are unseen internal consequences. High cholesterol, dental decay, diabetes, anaemia, constipation, lethargy, infertility, poor concentration, acne, etc are just SOME of the consequences for people who are brought up thinking that a pile of junk food is an acceptable meal. It isn't.

I was actually being sarcastic It's really insulting to suggest that I am harming my children by letting them have a little of what they want, and then being very careful with the rest of their food!

I know the difference between good and bad fats, and they have both!

Although we didn't cover it much, being a PT I'm aware of a healthy lifestyle, and follow it well, with the exception of a packet of crisps a day (well probably not a pkt, more like a pkt shared between them.) Infact my teen doesn't even really like them all that much so she probably has a pkt every other day if that!

I agree it's about education, and as far as I'm concerned the school mine goes to do offer courses for parents, I don't expect it's that way all over the country? We've gone on a course recently about healthy evening meals, which the children participated in!

I do think people can become a little hysterical, and judgemental. As far as I am aware one junk item per day will pronbably be ok! I think it's more of a concern the children who eat takeaways regularly, and drink fizzy drinks and sweets on a daily basis with little/no exercise!

I do feel it a little unfair to brand all parents who allow a bag of crisps, or a cake once a day as uneducated and harming them!

On the whole I feel as a family we achieve a good balanced diet, and healthy lifestyle.