Jam sandwiches at wraparound care

They get porridge or soup. Is it odd? They aren't home til after 6. I pay £8 a day for ASC. You're acting like I've said the weirdest thing 😂

£8 a day. How many hours does that £8 cover?

They get porridge or soup. Is it odd? They aren't home til after 6. I pay £8 a day for ASC. You're acting like I've said the weirdest thing 😂

Artificial sweeteners are far worse for your health than sugar. Also sugar free jam is revolting.
Far better to give real jam, but in moderation.

My DH is diabetic and his HCP has warned against using diabetic products. Diabetic jams are around 2.5% sugar from fruit and 60% polyols - calorific sweeteners which raise blood sugars less than normal sugar. These can cause various issues, digestive problems and diarrhoea even in small amounts. They advise strictly controlled use of the standard product instead.

I’m not diabetic and DH’s nurse told me that diabetic products like this are not advisable for non-diabetics, and that generally the use of fruit spreads like St Dalfour are preferable as they are 100% fruit and don’t contain any artificial sweeteners.

This is odd. Your children get something at the after school club and then 'supper' on returning home, which you don't seem to regard as a meal - bowl of cereal? What are they getting at the ASC and what are you paying for it?

It's probably low sugar jam though, to be fair

I buy my kids the sugar free diabetic Jam. Maybe they're buying a low sugar one.

There are a lot of comments on this thread about if you eat healthy at home it will balance out.
My children eat breakfast at school, school dinners, and then tea at after school club. They only eat at home at the weekends and in school holidays, apart from some supper when they get back from school. I really wouldn't be very happy with a daily jam sandwich.

Yes, because what 4yo would consciously make the choice to not eat the sweet food if they have been offered it?

You either have no experience with young kids or have forgotten what they are like - they always gravitate towards sweet foods, which is why at this age is important to not offer it very often so that it doesn’t create bad habits.

Yes! I've only seen one post on this thread from someone who said she ran an after school club and she said they provided toast, spread and a plate of cut up fruit and veg. Nothing else. That came within budget, was quick to prepare and clear away afterwards, and every child could eat it. Toast was very popular, as I wold expect. If people want more, they will have to pay more, and as many parents are struggling to pay the existing charge that will spell the end of the after school club for everybody.

Yes, because what 4yo would consciously make the choice to not eat the sweet food if they have been offered it?

You either have no experience with young kids or have forgotten what they are like - they always gravitate towards sweet foods, which is why at this age is important to not offer it very often so that it doesn’t create bad habits.

Except she’s full from all the jam!
Those talking about what she will eat later in her school life, is not really my issue now. She is 4 and setting the foundations for healthy eating in later life. I did not eat badly at secondary school and we are very consciously educating about real food and do not eat UPF at home, so are willing to bend on this for ease of school.

People really have to start thinking about this from the providers point of view. Very limited budgets, very little prep time or equipment, avoidance of allergens, provision for specialist diets. Their hands are really tied.

If parents don't like that, then they can find other arrangements or provide the food themselves.

Then home school

My reception age DD goes to a really well arranged breakfast club and after school club 4 days a week. It works very well with 2 commuting parents. I only have one gripe and that is with the food they offer. Technically the food should align with the school’s healthy eating policy, as it’s run by the school not an external provider. The school has asked parents not to provide sweet treats in lunch boxes and it’s quite strict about sandwiches.

HOWEVER the school is not transparent about the wraparound food offer and I had to email three times to get them to tell me what they provide. Once they did, they disclosed that the after school options include a range of sandwiches, including jam, plus a pudding of cake and fruit. Of course, my four-year-old always goes for a jam sandwich and ends up with a very sweet tea 4 days a week. The school says they offer carrot sticks etc, however, not one single parent has ever mentioned this in conversation and so I just think it’s something they say but don’t provide.

We do talk at home about the importance of a balanced diet, but she’s still only four and temptation is there! She’s offered something a bit more nutritionally balanced she gets home, but she’s usually just full of jam sandwich!

I emailed the school to ask them if they are able to comment on this or if they ever review the food that they provide at wraparound care, but I haven’t received a reply. AIBU to push this further?

I can sort of see that consistency would be a better choice, as in ensuring that both, parents and school provide healthy options, regardless if it's wraparound or not, that's a red herring.

However, in practice I know my DS (similar age) eats healthy at home, does well with school dinners (which are sort of OK, but could be less processed for my liking and I don't see why they should be having pudding daily, personally, but hey ho). He occasionally has a lunchbox which is healthy food and does very well. I don't put treats in his lunchbox at all and it's totally fine with him.

His wraparound is also in school and the snacks they give them aren't healthy. Not even talking jam! Worse. I haven't kicked up a fuss about it predominantly because it's a very small part of my child's otherwise healthy diet - he eats dinner at home, made fresh from scratch, always. But I am a bit annoyed with the fact he eats this sort of food at wraparound and pudding in school, it's just not needed. I think if I were you, I'd have an open chat with wraparound staff.

Also, in my child's class no one is allowed hummus in their lunch as they've got a child with sesame allergies.

Yet the cheese is available.

Her child just won't eat it.

I don’t trust my eyes, I trust data and the data is clear on the amount of sugar kids in the UK consume.

I agree 100% OP. What a joke that the school is happy to offer taht for their convenience but won't allow parents to offer it for their convenience. Jam sandwiches should not be an option. My DC's school lets the kids havd sugary cereal as their 'snack' and lets them freely access it. So they come home rammed full of sugar and no space for dinner.