Spill the beans... on cheap, nutritious back to school lunchboxes

MoonJelly

Fire_Fox wrote: »

What a silly rule, there are no spill sports type bottles on the market now! I questioned it because I am in the 'will dehydrate and make myself ill' camp, plain water actually makes me feel nauseous.

Wow. This board moves fast! I don't know why the school may insist on water. My son hates plain water (I don't like plain water either!) but I think if the school insists I will put diluted juice in a bottle for his lunch and then he can have the plain water in another. In any case my original question was about saving £££ by filling up my son's bottle with juice out of a carton instead of buying lots of small pre-packaged stuff.:o But thank you for your comments because as a luchbox newbie it is interesting to see what other parents do.

madmoneysavingmum

The school probably insists on water in water bottles for lesson time because they have been told that research shows water to be the only drink which has a beneficial effect on concentration and learning. Brain Gym and the Water is Cool in School campaign, both popular intiatives in schools, push this message hard. Insisting that all bottles only contain water with no flavouring cuts out arguments in the classroom, too. The Healthy School Programme, which many, many schools are part of, also supports only water being offered in the classroom in an effort to promote healthy eating habits, healthy dentition and an attempt to reduce
childhood obsesity.
HTH.

jellyhead

That's fair enough. My children drink water at home - but warm water that's been in a plastic bottle all day under a window in the sun isn't going to make those who refuse water any keener on it. It's not nice for kids who willingly drink water either!

Let them use the tap as and when, and they'd drink more.

liney

jellyhead wrote: »

Let them use the tap as and when, and they'd drink more.

But then they pop off to the tap or the water fountain during lessons instead of listening or working. Rapidly it because a stream of children nipping off because they saw someone else do it so it seems like a good idea. Bless them.

Cold water is preferable, but the reasoning of using water bottles is sound when you are dealing with 30 children. They can always refill their bottles from the cold tap during breaks if they want to so it can stay reasonably cool.

jellyhead

They are so tightly packed into the classroom that they can't have pencil cases, drinks etc. on the table anyway, so they all pop us as and when to drink from their bottles which are right next to the tap.

Luckily the year 2 teacher has a load of plastic cups with numbers written on them, so the kids have their own cup and can use the tap. She said there were so many children not bringing anything in

Fire_Fox

madmoneysavingmum wrote: »

The school probably insists on water in water bottles for lesson time because they have been told that research shows water to be the only drink which has a beneficial effect on concentration and learning. Brain Gym and the Water is Cool in School campaign, both popular intiatives in schools, push this message hard. Insisting that all bottles only contain water with no flavouring cuts out arguments in the classroom, too. The Healthy School Programme, which many, many schools are part of, also supports only water being offered in the classroom in an effort to promote healthy eating habits, healthy dentition and an attempt to reduce childhood obsesity.

HTH.

Maybe they ought to start insisting children bring oily fish sandwiches, or serving oily fish school lunches three times a week then. There is actually research linking hydration levels in general with improved performance in general. Water doesn't improve my concentration or learning when it makes me feel nauseous so I dehydrate rather than drink it!

Milk is a healthy drink associated with dental health and lower waist measurements. I drank milk or diluted fruit juice throughout my childhood - no carbonated/ sugary/ chemical drinks - to date neither myself nor my sibling have broken a bone, no dental caries until our thirties, neither have ever been clinically obese. It is no coincidence that our diet met or exceeded all the current guidelines except oily fish, very little in the way of junk food.

Even as someone who is evangelical about healthy eating I think this is OTT. Why not have children eating more fruit and veggies for water PLUS vitamins, minerals and fibre? There are plenty of non-water, no added sugar, not stuffed with chemicals drink options.

jellyhead

I find it a bit odd that our school will say to bring water but they allow all kinds of junk food to be eaten in the playground from year 2 onwards. Surely the crisps, chocolate and processed wrapped cakes etc. contain just as many nasties as a non-water drink might?

As for oily fish I think it's only on the menu once per month. It's salmon bites in parsley sauce, but my son hasn't tried it because there might not be a 'without sauce' option so he has packed lunch that day. He eats salmon at home, but he likes it plain with lemon or lime juice and a bit of butter.

elle79

retepetsir wrote: »

Wheat based products will not give someone diabetes , its all about things in moderation.

Exactly! Whole grains, including whole wheat, are good for you. I don't think any main food groups should be cut out of anyone's diet, especially children.

miss_renegade

gardenia101 wrote: »

My DS's lunchbox is also left on a shelf that sits in full sunlight all day & even if I put 2 ice thingys in by lunchtime his food is usually warm so I'm reluctant to put chicken etc. in. He does love egg, but I was asked to stop this as one of the MDS ladies can't stand the smell

Asked to stop as one of them can't stand the smell....why is she a dinner lady then?! I'd have told her to get over it!

newcook

miss_renegade wrote: »

Asked to stop as one of them can't stand the smell....why is she a dinner lady then?! I'd have told her to get over it!

Or tell them not to store food in direct sunlight!!