It's Time For the Lunch Box Police to Back Off

[Wobbles]

The lunch box police (aka teachers) are getting way out of hand with their 'red food' sad face notes. It makes a kid feel awful and doesn't change a thing.

Click HERE!

 

[OnErth&InHvn]

My kids arent in public school (#ThankGodForHomeschool) but i do know they are VERY picky on homemade snacks due to allergies.

 

[SophiasMummy]

Our schools pretty easy going on foods in packed lunch like chocolate, crisps etc, I guess cause parents here are quite good at putting healthy things in packed lunches too.

Apart from things which can cause allergies. We have a student who has a serious allergy to nuts and fish, so neither are allowed in packed lunches. Though I'm not sure what they do on Fridays as school dinner's always some type of fish on fridays and apparently just bing in a room that fish has been causes her to go into anaphylactic shock.

 

[lau86]

My son came home with a snickers in his bag the other day, apparently it was another child's birthday and their parent thought it was a good idea to give them all a snicker!! I'm quite easy going with food but i think that's a big no no

 

[Bevziibubble]

My daughter's school seem to be quite laid back. Children are even allowed to take in a birthday cake around their birthday and all the class have a piece

 

[jd83]

Our schools are pretty ridiculous with this, unfortunately. Jaxon buys lunch, so I haven't had to deal with it personally, but I have friends who have had notes sent home about specific packed items not being "healthy" enough. Who are they to judge? LOL. Many of the lunches they serve themselves are hardly fantastic when it comes to health standards. They are just ok. Just funny the double standard on them sending notes home about packed lunches, but what they serve is just fine.

 

[klcuk3]

My daughters both have hot dinners, one at nursery has what she's given. The one at school can choose.....most days she makes good choices but I have had her come home to tell me she had plain pasta, potatoes and bread once for lunch! She'd love to take a packed lunch but as school dinners are free for her for now I won't let her!

 

[Eleanor ace]

I think my children's school is fairly strict on what children take in their packed lunches. I got a message once (via DS) that he wasn't supposed to have chocolate as it is unhealthy and said chocolate was sent back with him. It was 2 mini eggs and I thought that was overkill considering a) it was the only time he'd had chocolate in his lunch box and was a treat, and personally I think treats now and then are totally fine! and b) they have pudding every lunchtime if they have school dinners and this 3x a week it is cake and custard, often something with chocolate.

It is definitely important to make sure children have good nutrition but I don't think it is fair to make the child feel bad if they have something which isn't allowed, as presumably they're not the ones packing their lunch.

 

[.Mrs.B.]

When my son was in preschool I would drop him straight into his lunch club and stay with him for a few minutes sitting him down and settling him.
My sons packed lunch always consisted of; a wholemeal cheese and cucumber sandwich, a mixed salad, 2-3 types of fruit, a natural yoghurt and a 15g plain chocolate bar.
Well every week the chocolate bar came home uneaten, I just assumed he hadn't wanted it. Until after about 6 weeks it came home with a STICKER on it saying "please be aware children are not allowed sweets or chocolate in their packed lunch, a chocolate covered biscuit bar or cake is OK".
Although I get the idea behind it I was quite offended that staff hadn't told me this to my face since I was there at lunch club every day. It also meant my son must have been watching other kids eat the allowed versions of chocolate; muller corners, penguin bars, cookies and cakes etc while not really understanding why he couldn't have his.

 

[lau86]

I think my children's school is fairly strict on what children take in their packed lunches. I got a message once (via DS) that he wasn't supposed to have chocolate as it is unhealthy and said chocolate was sent back with him. It was 2 mini eggs and I thought that was overkill considering a) it was the only time he'd had chocolate in his lunch box and was a treat, and personally I think treats now and then are totally fine! and b) they have pudding every lunchtime if they have school dinners and this 3x a week it is cake and custard, often something with chocolate.

It is definitely important to make sure children have good nutrition but I don't think it is fair to make the child feel bad if they have something which isn't allowed, as presumably they're not the ones packing their lunch.

This hypocrisy just drives me mad! I really don't see why a child needs a cookie and ice cream or cake every day. There are plenty of healthy desserts out there- sugar free jelly, bread and butter pudding made with fruit, rice pudding etc
If they're going to allow a cake complete with sugary icing every day I don't see why they are complaining about chocolate

 

[mum22ttc#3]

Luckily our school is pretty relaxed about this kind of thing. Dd3 has school dinners (they're free) and dd2 packed lunch. I always pack a treat i.e crisps, homemade cake, cereal bar, it differs, I don't see any difference than the dessert that is given with school meals?
Personally I don't give chocolate, our rules but chocolate and sweets are always after dinner and only once or twice a week. Other than that if I was to get a letter/note home about the 'treat' that they had taken in then without doubt they would be getting a note back, if they deem it acceptable to be giving out treats and desserts as part of they're healthy school meals then no way are they going to be telling me otherwise

 

[CaptainMummy]

Luckily our school is pretty relaxed about this kind of thing. Dd3 has school dinners (they're free) and dd2 packed lunch. I always pack a treat i.e crisps, homemade cake, cereal bar, it differs, I don't see any difference than the dessert that is given with school meals?
Personally I don't give chocolate, our rules but chocolate and sweets are always after dinner and only once or twice a week. Other than that if I was to get a letter/note home about the 'treat' that they had taken in then without doubt they would be getting a note back, if they deem it acceptable to be giving out treats and desserts as part of they're healthy school meals then no way are they going to be telling me otherwise

I do the same as you. Normally my dd1 has a school lunch but there are 1 or two days a week (depending on the weeks menu) that she doesn't like the meal so she takes a packed lunch. I always include a 'treat' for her.

Her school is VERY relaxed. Kids take in those silly sour spray candy/roller things, skittles, chewits, you name it! Break time is the same, they eat whatever they like.
I'm assuming there are no allergies in her school at the moment either because they aren't banned from bringing anything specific (peanuts etc)