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Original poster

How many lunch options does your child's primary school offer for lunch?

108 replies

belowwdeckk · 12/09/2024 14:49

Ours is a two week rolling menu with a different main meal every day. Jacket potatoes available everyday for those who don't want the main meal.

OP posts:
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5
alinetokill · 12/09/2024 15:57

Cobblersorchard · 12/09/2024 15:13

Meat Main
Veggie Main
Jacket potato with filling options
Salad box with options
Packed lunch with options
Soup with options

3 week rolling menu

See photos - this is one day

I think that's such a poor choice, hot dogs or Heinz soups?!
Honestly it's no wonder we have an obesity epidemic on our hands!

mrsed1987 · 12/09/2024 15:56

Main, veggie, jacket potato, sandwich

2 week menu

Caterina99 · 12/09/2024 15:55

Rural Scottish school

A main, a vegetarian option and a “deli” option, which is usually pizza, panini or some kind of wrap. Plus sandwiches or jacket potatoes with varying fillings.

I think it’s pretty decent. We can order in advance or they can order on the morning. The school requests you order in advance.

onwardandupwards · 12/09/2024 15:54

4 week rotating menu, 5 options each day, must order by 9am. The jacket potato option comes with a choice of 6 fillings, sandwich/ roll/ wrap also has a choice of 6 fillings. Really nice menu, choice of 2 puddings also fruit, yoghurt and unlimited salad available daily.

Mostunexpected · 12/09/2024 15:50

2: standard and veggie. No other options.

insomniacalways · 12/09/2024 15:49

3 week rotating menu : meat/fish option, veggie option and sandwich option . Pudding or fruit.

Cobblersorchard · 12/09/2024 15:45

foobio · 12/09/2024 15:42

Preordered weekly:
Meat option
Veggie option
Pasta or rice pot option
Jacket potato (3 filling choices)
Sandwich option (3 filling choices x 2 bread options)

Primary school with 3 form intake though, I wouldn't expect this level of choice in a smaller school.

Ours is very similar and our primary has under 70 kids 4-11! Intake of 5 in reception- all the schools here are tiny and mange to do it so I don’t think size is a barrier.

Curtainpoles · 12/09/2024 15:45

State primary in London (so all free)
They can choose between:
Meat option
Halal meat option
Veggie option
Jacket potato
We have to choose in advance via an app. If a kid wants packed lunch you just don't select anything for that day. I think it's fine, avoids food waste as the school only make what was pre-ordered and you can do a mix and match of school lunch or packed lunch if you don't like what's on offer that day / if that's your preference. Plus offering both a halal and non halal option to cater to everyone.
It's usually things like shepherd's pie / fish and chips / vegan sausages in sauce / roast turkey etc.

foobio · 12/09/2024 15:42

Preordered weekly:
Meat option
Veggie option
Pasta or rice pot option
Jacket potato (3 filling choices)
Sandwich option (3 filling choices x 2 bread options)

Primary school with 3 form intake though, I wouldn't expect this level of choice in a smaller school.

Brainded · 12/09/2024 15:40

My dc’s school offers nothing, no school dinners. Packed lunch only…

DancingPhantomsOnTheTerrace · 12/09/2024 15:39

We have jacket potato option every day, then a different main and veggie main on a two week schedule.

Plus they can take packed lunch.

CastleTower · 12/09/2024 15:38

I should say, ours is a state primary. The kids choose what they want with the TA that morning, we don't book it in advance. But I suppose it saves on waste too if the kitchen knows what to make.

I think it sounds pretty good.

Fontainebleau007 · 12/09/2024 15:36

4 week menu
One select meal or sandwich and fruit

Soubriquet · 12/09/2024 15:35

3 different main meals and two choices of desert.

You order it a week in advance

CastleTower · 12/09/2024 15:34

Three week rotating menu

Meat option
Veggie option
Jacket potato (topping rotates, cheese/tuna/beans)
Sandwich (rotates ham/cheese/tuna)

Two different veg sides each day

Pudding
Fruit and yoghurt

Bread and salad always available

Seems like lots of choice to me! I don't care if mine have jacket potatoes everyday. The topping changes and the fruit and veg change. Seems fine, and more importantly I didn't have to make it!

rosesareredvioletsareblueaimverytiredandsoareyou · 12/09/2024 15:30

belowwdeckk · 12/09/2024 15:21

My eldest is very fussy with food so I'll be very cross if the potatoes get taken away!

He would starve despite what people may say

Some people might feel this way about the lack of sandwiches.

rosesareredvioletsareblueaimverytiredandsoareyou · 12/09/2024 15:28

Standard options normally include:
Hot non-veggie/vegan
Hot veggie/vegan
Soup and/or Baked Tattie
Sandwich and/or wrap - salad normally included alongside cold fillings.

It's also good if they can get a sandwich and soup, combines something warm (good in cold weather) with a lighter meal (for those who don't want a main meal at lunch).

If packed lunches are not allowed then I would expect a sandwich/wrap option to be available tbh.

Getting up in arms isn't going to help, but it might be worth approaching the school to find out if there are other options (e.g. introduce sandwiches or soup instead of baked tatties).

Beezknees · 12/09/2024 15:28

DS left primary a while ago but they had a 3 week rotating seasonal menu, always jacket potatoes on offer. Wednesday was always a roast and Friday fish.

Didimum · 12/09/2024 15:25

Sunshineandpool · 12/09/2024 15:22

No vegetarian option?

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Meat-free Mondays, but that's it

GigiAnnna · 12/09/2024 15:25

They provide a veggie option as an alternative to the meat option, jacket potato every day and sandwiches every day, so 4.

Sunshineandpool · 12/09/2024 15:22

Didimum · 12/09/2024 15:19

2 week rolling menu. One hot meal option daily + salad bar for KS1. And then KS2 have the additional option of a cold lunch (rolls and sandwiches of various fillings).

No vegetarian option?

ShoeJunkie · 12/09/2024 15:22

Three week rolling menu with meat/veggie choices.

Plus in colder months jacket potato option, in warmer months picnic lunch option.

Sunshineandpool · 12/09/2024 15:21

Oh and it was a 3 week rolling menu at Primary and same at Secondary - although an extensive range of cakes is available everyday!

Original poster
belowwdeckk · 12/09/2024 15:21

My eldest is very fussy with food so I'll be very cross if the potatoes get taken away!

He would starve despite what people may say

OP posts:
Sunshineandpool · 12/09/2024 15:20

belowwdeckk · 12/09/2024 15:17

Ours is also an independent.

Everything cooked on site from scratch.

Show quote history

If the food was cooked fresh with decent ingredients and options for autistic DC that struggle with food I would be ok with no packed lunch. I think on balance it should be flexible as some ASD DC just wouldn't be able to eat the school food.