I'm a bit miffed about this Food Tech ingredients list

[IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads]

Not feeling brave enough for AIBU, and I'm sure the teacher has her reasons, but this is what DS needs to take to school next week. He's 14/Y9, do not into GCSE course yet, and food tech isn't one on his options. Also, he has food tech after lunch, and has to carry his cooking around for the rest of the day, as the fridges are full of heat the morning lessons have made. OK for scones, but for chicken?

Here is the offending ingredients list:

Thai Green Curry - 1 onion, 1 clove of garlic, 80g sugar snap peas, 2 small chicken breasts, 30ml Thai green curry paste. 200ml coconut milk, ½ lime, small bunch coriander.

My concerns - there's about £8 worth of stuff there, many of which (curry paste, coconut milk, coriander) come in bigger packs than required. That doesn't seem to be considerate of the CoL crisis - it's a big standard academy comp in a not-particularly affluent area.

Also - no veggie alternative ingredients offered - so half our household wouldn't eat the results anyway.

DS is not matey enough with anyone in his FFT class to suggest sharing ingredients. Expensive ingredients!

I'm delighted that the school is teaching the kids to make something other than scones and pizza, but there are so many cheaper curries to mark in an hour! They could start by making the curry paste! Or school providing (and charging for) the ingredients the kids won't need need "all" of.

(DS's previous school/DD's school charge for all FFT and RMT ingredients and materials at the start of the year, abs supply everything. I appreciate limited kitchen space doesn't always make this possible).

Oh, I misunderstood.

Oh actually. Maybe I've misunderstood!

Sorry I'm late to the party, but I was a food tech teacher for 15 years. I've done this exact practical countless times as it was one of the government prescribed 'licence to cook' recipes. It's also now one of my go to quick teas at home. I'm struggling to understand why it's so problematic though? Refrigeration will be available if you ask. The whole point of food tech practicals at ks3 is to effectively cook a family tea, or at least they should be, and there was nothing more offensive as a teacher than being told what you produced with a class wasn't even eaten! Also, I've not rtft, but the reason that food isn't bought in bulk and distributed is that you'd need an entire member of staff employed to do all the shopping, weighing out, collecting money etc. Food tech teachers can have up to 20 practicals a week some weeks, each with 15 or 20 kids. Either you want schools to teach kids to cook or you don't, but don't complain that if it's done it's done properly!

You send in the exact same ingredients but substitute the chicken with tofu or quorn. Therefore your child does not need an entire practical lesson of their own because they have different ingredients to the rest of the class who are all following the same process. Surely this is common sense? 🙄

@TheSnootiestFox I'll see your fifteen and raise you! 15 I couldn't have said it better. Most people don't seem to understand the pressures of this particular subject - which has to finish on time for the next group to come in - and that includes leaving the units clean and tidy

Tbf I think we were nearer 30 at KS3 by the time I left but I try not to think about it 😅 I always say its the hardest subject to teach in the school, not that anyone ever believes me, but it is literally the only subject where you can't say 'right kids, pack away and we'll finish this next lesson' if you run out of time. Once you start, you have to produce something edible for them to take home no matter what, and it is bloody traumatic sometimes 🤣!

@TheSnootiestFox I've found my people. At last someone who thinks the way I do. It was a brilliant job most of the time - seeing little ankle biters turn out something they could be proud of. I was dismayed by some of the earlier comments about food being thrown way. OK teenagers don't have the most sophisticated palates but those mums should think of their tinies bringing home works of art from primary school and how proud the kiddies were of their work. Did the parent through it away immediately?

My older lad is also a huge fan of consuming whatever he has cooked before he comes home. The benefit of being hollow legged.

I send in £10 per term and they provide everything, even for his assessments.