School complaining about dd perfectly normal packed lunch.

[Juk3]

The class TA came out to talk to me yesterday (from a distance) to discuss dd unhealthy lunch and the lunch box policy. The dinner lady assigned to dd raised it and the TA did say she wasn't in the class room during lunch so was just passing on info she had been given. She asked me to have a look on the website for the lunch box policy and try to adhere to it if possible, she was perfectly pleasant and I took my telling off but after reading the policy dd's lunch has not broken any rules. I try to make a variety of different lunches as I wouldn't want to eat the same thing every day myself. If I list yesterday's and today's lunch below could you tell me what's so bad about them as I just don't get it. I am wondering if the there has been a mix up with kids not that I will bring this up with school.

Yesterday:- grilled chicken breast with mayo on a mini wrap with lettuce, cucumber and tomato.
Carrot and red pepper sticks with a single serve pot of humous.
Pot of honeydew melon.
A tube yogurt.
A square of homemade shortbread.
A bag of sliced apple (she usually will have this at break).
Carton of juice

Today:- sliced boiled egg sandwich on 50/50 bread with crusts removed.
Pot of sliced red grapes.
2 mini cucumbers and celery sticks with a single serve pot of humous.
Small bag of mini pretzels.
A bag of sliced apple (usually eaten at break)
Carton of juice

She is 8 (9 in dec) in year 4 perfectly normal height and weight.

Sounds perfectly reasonable. I’d be inclined to write a letter stating what your daughter had on the day the issue was raised and ask for a written response detailing where you have gone against their rules.

No idea OP. Nutritionally there’s nothing wrong with what you’re giving her but penny to a punt it’ll be shortbread and juice they’re overthinking.

Penny to a POUND not punt they don’t exist (anymore...)

That's ridiculous that she brought it up (currently ds1 is telling me that his school despite a ridiculously complicated lunchbox advisory ....is basically turning a blind eye as long as parents don't push it .....I risked 5 small mini marshmallows as a treat which got through) and it seems fine it's the sort of lunch I send DC through with.

What was her issue exactly ? What does the policy say?

Ours are fine with homemade cakes or flap jacks etc (although last year if you sent it in more than a couple of times a week you got a little "chat") but not with pre bought ones.

Ds2 can't have egg or even egg for breakfast as there is a child in his class with an egg allergy ....is there any chance it is that?

Juice isn't allowed at our school so might be that? Otherwise sounds lovely!

Might be that juice isn’t allowed. What does the policy say?

Well your dds lunch sounds absolutely fine and it's a lot better than my dds lunch (asd fuzzy eater) and I have never had any complaints.
I'd me speaking to the ta and telling her what dd had and askibg which bit was against the rules.

My first thought was it’s an awful lot. I , as an adult, might struggle to get through all that particularly in a possibly limited time,

If you're pushing it, you could say that the first day with the shortbread, and the yoghurt and the melon and the juice is rather sugary but it's far from being "unhealthy" IMHO. I think it is most likely the juice they have issue with, or they've got your DD mixed up with another child.

That sounds like an amazing lunch generally and I wish I had time to make something like that for mine. She's going to be getting school packed lunch, which is pretty sad looking, after half term when her year switches to no hot meals (due to social distancing). My assumption would be it's the juice. I don't think we're allowed to send juice, only water.

How bizarre! It sounds like you make a real effort with her lunch and she’s getting a nice, balanced, mix!

They look lovely lunches, but my money's on the shortbread or maybe the tube Yog (full of sugar probably). It's pathetic as the school dinners will have a pudding.

Fussy not fuzzy.... She definitely won't eat anything fuzzy

The TA was unaware of the exact problem and just said the dinner lady had mentioned it was unhealthy and did follow the school policy. The policy says its a healthy school so no sweets, chocolate or fizzy drinks allowed in lunch boxes. Crisps and baked goods can be given in moderation.

That's weird, if the dinner lady raised it to the TA I'd expect some specifics!

I'm sure some posters will be along soon to say you're overdosing your child on sugar and salt but sounds great to me.

Could it maybe be the juice?

I’d be inclined to ask which exact bits of the lunch were the problem, it doesn’t sound like an unhealthy pack lunch.

I'd be asking what specifically was the problem with that days lunch, it all seems fine to me.

shiny What's the thinking behind "no egg for breakfast"? Haven't heard of that before!

My money is also on the juice being the issue. My son's primary had a huge issue with a carton of apple juice and a slice of malt loaf. You'd swear I'd sent a can of Coke or crack.

You should email someone about this in case it's a mix up and another kid is bringing in cold McNuggets unchallenged. Perfectly healthy lunch.

Is it the humus ? Does the school have a no nuts and seeds policy ?

Is it possible that the Shortbread looked large? Like if it was thin it could look huge if someone glanced over her shoulder and only saw the view from above

Weird. I reckon it is the juice but why not just be clear?!

It sounds a sensible lunch. If your DC are anything like mine were, they will dip into bits of that and pick so good to give lots of bits.

Have they possibly mixed your dd up with another child?