What do you feed your kids if they have a school dinner?

WantToBeSE

I know that in just over a week the summer holidays will start and this wont be as relevant, but i am just wondering.

My kids have a school meal everyday (free school meals), and i also normally do a hot meal in the evening, but i am wondering if this is necessary. The kids dont often eat the full meal, yet just sandwiches and snacks dont really fill them up.

What would you/do you, do?


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GwylimT

If sandwiches don't fill them up of course they need a full meal, school meals are generally very poor quality and I wouldn't rely on them as my childs main meal of the day.

Why don't you just give them a smaller portion?

bossymoo

My DS starts school next term and I've been thinking about this. He will go to school club 2 days and they do a light tea there, so he will just want supper on those days. On the 3rd he has swimming so again, I think 2 smaller snack meals so he doesn't sink (!) and on the remaining two days we'll just carry on as normal (I don't work those 2 days currently) with a proper meal.

There's nothing to say you have to do a full on meal every night. Why not try 3 meal nights and 2 lighter supper nights? Might fit better around any clubs etc.

WantToBeSE

GwylimT wrote: »

If sandwiches don't fill them up of course they need a full meal, school meals are generally very poor quality and I wouldn't rely on them as my childs main meal of the day.

Why don't you just give them a smaller portion?

My childrens school has won several awards for their fantastic school dinners, all locally sourced and made from scratch. So i am not worried about the quality, and the kids love them.

WantToBeSE

bossymoo wrote: »

My DS starts school next term and I've been thinking about this. He will go to school club 2 days and they do a light tea there, so he will just want supper on those days. On the 3rd he has swimming so again, I think 2 smaller snack meals so he doesn't sink (!) and on the remaining two days we'll just carry on as normal (I don't work those 2 days currently) with a proper meal.

There's nothing to say you have to do a full on meal every night. Why not try 3 meal nights and 2 lighter supper nights? Might fit better around any clubs etc.

Good suggestion, thanks bossymoo

babywillow

My 8yr old has a fantastic school dinner but is starving come 3.30 so he always has a proper tea as well!
I hoped he wouldn't want much but that was wishful thinking lol

notanewuser

WantToBeSE wrote: »

My childrens school has won several awards for their fantastic school dinners, all locally sourced and made from scratch. So i am not worried about the quality, and the kids love them.

The local (welsh) school here has too - and that's where I hope DD will go. Children up to year 1 have to have school dinners.

I'm expecting to give her crackers/crumpets and cheese/ham with fruit and yoghurt, beans/egg/cheese on toast type dinners, with cereal/banana before bed if needed.

DD isn't a massive eater and I don't think 2 big cooked dinners a day are necessary.

cyclingyorkie

I'd be asking the school to check that they eat a substantial part of their dinner - my son had a phase of school dinners in primary school. I assumed he was enjoying them (he didn't say he wasn't) until a TA took me aside and told me I wasn't getting value for money - he wasn't eating much. He went back on to packed lunches.

I work as a dinnerlady in the same school and we always pass messages to the class teacher if a child doesn't eat much of the lunch.

School dinners are highly regulated now - gone are the days of chips with everything, turkey twizzlers and orange squash. Most of the dinners we served are made in school ......... but sometimes it really isn't appealing...

WantToBeSE

Thanks cyclingyorkie

Ii am quite confident that they are eating enough, they are just quite active and eat a LOT!

marleyboy

I liken it to having lunch at work. Giving me enough of an energy boost until teatime when I get home.

maman

In my experience, meals are of high quality but portions aren't huge (unless the cook bends the rules and gives seconds;)). Plus there's the issue of whether children finish them or not.

As OP said her children often don't finish their food then they appear not to need a second full meal.

I'd do one of two things: if you're cooking in the evening anyway (for yourself/partner) then give them a smaller portion. If you're not then do a light meal. I'd suggest things like beans/eggs on toast or fish finger sandwiches. If that's not enough do HM soup to start.

My DD always enjoyed a plate of 'bits', so I'd do cucumber, carrot, beetroot, some mayo/ketchup to dip, perhaps a handful of crisps, some cheese, a bit of ham or a frankfurter, a couple of crackers, a cut up apple or some grapes. Maybe not all of these things but a good plateful from whatever I had in.