Oh god, I could'nt have handled this any worse..

[Mummyyummy2012]

DS is 8 and always loses weight when school starts. I suspect there are issues in school with kids not getting enough time for lunch and rushing out to play. In previous years I have been in to see the head about it. DS is always asking for food at home too.
Anyway, he's looking skinny again already and I am obviously concerned. It's like I have to feed him up during the holidays.
I handled it really badly though earlier as I commented that I thought he was looking skinny again and asked if he was getting enough time to eat in school- he got very upset and cross with me.
Clearly, I handled it REALLY badly as shouldn't have referred to his weight etc but obviously I'm really worried that I am already seeing weight loss.
Aibu to ask for advice about how to handle talking to him about this? I want to tread carefully but obvs I need to know if they are being rushed and not getting time to eat at lunchtime.

[HeCantBeSerious]

My DC hate school meals - partly because they're shit and secondly because they aren't hungry at 12pm. I send packed lunches which they pick at at 12pm and then polish off in the car at 3:30pm (when they are actually hungry). Is that an option?

[Whatsername17]

As he is primary aged I'd ring the school and ask that he is not allowed out to play until he has eaten his lunch. At my dd's school they have to ask the dinner lady if they can leave the table. They don't let them unless they have eaten enough. Kids don't always make meal times a priority and need a bit of adult guidance.

[lalalalyra]

Are they being rushed or is he rushing? I had to ask the school to be strict on my DS (also 8) because he was bolting down one or two forkfuls and then dashing out to play. It only came out because his teacher found him struggling for the last part of the day and we linked that to him coming out of school absolutely starving.

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

Is the weight loss maybe because he is running around more and just generally more active at school?

[RubbleBubble00]

Just feed hi higher calorie meals in morning and night, add supper can help. I wouldn't be stressing too much about lunches at school. One of my dc us on meds that means he's not hungry at lunch so we just make his other meals higher in calories

[GabsAlot]

are you sure its a food thing-he clearly has a problem with school if he eats fine with you

maybe some kids are teasing him?

[Floggingmolly]

He only eats lunch at school . Could eating a smaller lunch than he usually does really make him lose a significant amount of weight?

[RandomMess]

My daughter skipped lunch as much as possible to avoid her bullies

[Salmotrutta]

When you say he's "looking skinny" what exactly do you mean?

I'm thinking BeingATwat is right.

[ineedamoreadultieradult]

8 year old boys can look really skinny but be a perfectly healthy weight. Have you weighed and measured him and checked it against his yellow/red book? Might be he is not underweight but just weighs less than during the holidays when he eats more.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

My DD takes a packed lunch and she chooses something from it at morning break. Could you send him in with a morning snack or encourage him to have a Packed lunch and do the samE?

[Salmotrutta]

I'm probably going to get flamed for this but I think people have a skewed view nowadays on what a "normal" child weight and appetite is.

[APlaceOnTheCouch]

What did the HT say when you asked them before?
Either he's not eating or he's burning off energy. You can ask the school to check how much he is eating but tbh if they single him out to monitor his lunch then that's just as likely to give him issues about food. I'd be tempted to take the approach that he only has one meal at school and the rest of the time he is with you so you can up his calorie intake then.

[Justjoseph]

I'll join you under a hard hat Salmo.

Amazed at how much crap my friends children eat. Amazed at how big their portions are. No you don't need pudding every mealtime.

Mine are considered skinny. They look just how we all did back in the day ( excusing the one fat kid) I am shocked at how big children have got.

[HeCantBeSerious]

At my dd's school they have to ask the dinner lady if they can leave the table. They don't let them unless they have eaten enough.

That's outrageous.

[ChoudeBruxelles]

How skinny is skinny.? Ds is skinny but not underweight. He goes through phases of eating like a horse and will then have a growth spurt.

You're ds is not going to waste away from not eating a massive school lunch. I'd be more worried about why he isn't eating much - bullying etc

[user1474401277]

You do need pudding, thank you very much, Joseph. It's what gives kids the beans to run around all day. My Joseph enjoys nothing more than a frube in the evening, all the best for your friend's kids though, i just don't think it's your place to judge.
~ Louise xx

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

I always need pudding but no one has ever worried about me being too skinny.

[sausagefest]

Do him a packed lunch?

[Pixie2015]

My 8y old the same rushes to get out to play - he is aware that if he is hungry it's his problem for not eating break snacks or lunch - I just make sure he has breakfast and milk and his evening meal at 4 pm x

[BastardGoDarkly]

Are you pissed User ? You're acting a bit strange.

[Justjoseph]

Nope it's why the nation is overweight.
Puddings were traditionally given to pad out cheap/poor meals.

Better quality food gives you the energy to run around not a stodgy pudding.

Not judging you though eat what ever you like.

[Salmotrutta]

No. You don't need pudding user147.

[Salmotrutta]

@ Bastard