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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that ds's homework is 'buy 6 slices of chicken and bring into school'

76 replies

zipzap · 05/02/2011 21:23

All very trivial I know but...

Was a bit Hmm by ds1's homework (Y1) - to buy 6 slices of chicken and bring in on a given day of the week. The class is apparently doing healthy eating and they are going to make healthy sandwiches so everybody has been given something to bring in.

This just makes me Hmm on so many different levels. What if I couldn't have afforded it (OK, so I can but they don't necessarily know that) or couldn't get to the shop on the right day? And given that they have specified it is for healthy eating lessons, I'm hardly going to want to buy some pre-processed dodgy chicken slices that I wouldn't usually touch with a bargepole. Which means hunting out some in somewhere like M&S or Waitrose and even then they charge a fortune for bits of 'real' chicken and they still don't taste very nice albeit a bit better than the pre-processed stuff.

which also means going to the shop on mon or tues to buy it, both really busy week nights when ds has his activities and is really pooped and hates going to the shop whereas he's not too bad other nights.

which also means the night before I have to cook a chicken breast and slice it into 6 - and chances are that if they are expecting a pre-processed slice what I send will be all wrong size/shape for the sandwiches. Tuesday nights are always really busy so a bad night for doing extra things like this; I usually get organised and have a simple supper from the freezer or leftovers from day before but don't want to send in defrosted or 2 day old chicken.

DS barely eats chicken as it is; wondering how wrong it would be to send in a pot of hummus instead as ds will eat this by the pot if he can dip it so would be good to get him to eat in sarnies too, which if he tried them at school he just might start to do whereas I can just see that chicken might be a step too far.

would obviously run this past the teacher first but just wondered if I was unreasonable in asking her if it was OK to bring something different in or, if she wants a packet of processed sliced chicken, asking if ds can have the veggie option as I don't like the packet stuff?

Plus the last time they asked for Caribbean fruit to be sent in (all ready prepared and pre-chopped) they didn't actually eat it until a couple of days later by which time I would have thought it was potentially somewhat past it - not so bad with fruit but would be worried about the chicken (especially as when I went to get my box from the pile on the day the fruit was sent in, it was still sitting there and they hadn't got around to putting it in the fridge).

I know, it's trivial, but for some reason it seems to be the straw that has snapped this camel's back and I'm just venting.

OP posts:
Takver · 05/02/2011 21:32

Well, I reckon YANBU at all.

I would happily help DD if she was told to bring in 'a healthy ingredient to put in sandwiches', but I would be very unimpressed to be given specific instructions.

I hope you will be priming your ds thoroughly on the negative health implications of cheap chicken both direct (hormones etc) and indirect (environmental effects et al) Grin

kittybuttoon · 05/02/2011 21:33

If your DS was older, it would be an excellent education for him to go round the shops with you, read some labels and learn how difficult it is to find a 'healthy' pre-cooked chicken slice that isn't full of sh*t.

But in Year One? Teaching them that chicken slices are healthy? (Yes I know that some are, but let's face it, mostly they're full of salt, sugar and preservatives, which clearly you wouldn't want your child eating).

I'd be straight on the phone explaining to the teacher that you don't feel comfy in sending in anything processed for the children, so you'll be supplying him with a substitute from your fridge, and will attach a note explaining what is nice and healthy about it, so she can relay this to the class.

Then send in whatever is most convenient for you.

Takver · 05/02/2011 21:34

I also would like to know on what planet pre-processed chicken slices constitute a 'healthy ingredient'?

itsybitsy08 · 05/02/2011 21:55

YANBU.
For same reasons as above.
healthy eating indeed!
I do also object to being told exactly what to do - it rubs me right up the wrong way! A non-specific ingredient i wouldnt mind.

LindyHemming · 05/02/2011 22:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

janelikesjam · 05/02/2011 22:12

yes, trivial zipzap, but understandable reaction to teacher's request.

chicken idea - creative or loopy?

there is an obsession with healthy eating in primary schools now IMO - but what would Y1 understand about that? unless setting up food disorders for the future. it seems to be "brainwashing" at a stage where children cannot understand intellectually the concept I would have thought.

What you can do about it, if anything, is another question.

Personally, I would just ignore the teacher's request and not send the chicken in - if thats possible. Unless the school decided to make a big deal out of it, I can't imagine they would take action about the six slices of chicken Confused

GloriaSmut · 05/02/2011 22:31

YANBU.

This sounds like a completely barmy idea. Farm from being healthy eating, processed chicken slices are crap. In fact, not a single one has never entered my house, let alone accompanied any child of mine to school. But in any case, where's the veggie option?

Go for the hummus option.

WimpleOfTheBallet · 05/02/2011 22:36

YABU to buy and cook a breast! Get the shitty chicken...it won't hurt.

WimpleOfTheBallet · 05/02/2011 22:36

Tell DS not to eat it.

{joking}

Sort of! Grin

activate · 05/02/2011 22:40

buy a pack of chicken slices and keep it in your fridge

wtf?

harecare · 05/02/2011 22:42

If you usually eat chicken just cut a bit off. If you don't ever cook chicken bring something else that's similar. I wouldn't buy chicken slices, but a nice bit of ham would surely be just as good? If DS likes hummus, then that could also do the trick. Stop worrying about it though. Just tell the teacher what you plan to do and why.

rupaul · 05/02/2011 22:45

Just do it.

megapixels · 05/02/2011 22:51

Am I missing something here? Seems like a perfectly reasonable and easy thing to do. You seem to be finding all sorts of excuses because you don't want to do it!

Carrotsandcelery · 05/02/2011 22:54

Take in Quorn chicken slices - no issues about organic chicken, fewer terrors of food poisoning, arguably healthier, less offensive to vegetarian pupils, comes in a sealed packet so the teacher will be allowed to serve it...

GloriaSmut · 05/02/2011 22:56

It's not making excuses or being difficult to point out that not everyone eats processed chicken - or indeed any sort of chicken - and that a school ought really to have realised this before setting the task.

mitochondria · 05/02/2011 23:01

I'd be worried about giving the class food poisoning. Are they going to put the chicken in the fridge until lunchtime?

fifi25 · 05/02/2011 23:07

I wish i could take in 6 slices of chicken. Im currently makeing a model of Pendennis Castle whilst helping the other one make a Board game with a modern twist Confused

amberleaf · 05/02/2011 23:15

Just buy a pack and send it in ffs!

its not the end uf the world is it?

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 06/02/2011 00:21

Fifi - it's all relative isn't it Grin

ZipZap - it's ridiculous on many levels, most of which have already been mentioned (most of them by you!). It would depend on my child what I did about it - super sensitive teacher pleasing, don't make waves little bugger I'd send in Quorn Chicken Slices (veggies), non sensitive, non teacher pleasing I'd send in something actually healthy like sliced tomatoes Grin

Sounds like a recipe for disaster if you ask me!

tigana · 06/02/2011 00:30

Go for the quorn option or ask about veggie option.
I wouldn't send ds in with a pack of processed chicken slices. We don't eat them at home. I might buy a chicken breast and cut slices of that. But I would be grumpy about it.

JaquesTouatte · 06/02/2011 00:50

Buy a tiny tin of Ye Olde Oak chicken. Fulfils all the criteria, providing the teacher has a tin-opener and knife, and you can make the point that it is not hygienically sound to keep cooked chicken at room temperature for long periods.

Tell your son that he doesn't have to eat it.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 06/02/2011 05:54

Fgs what a total and utter overreaction. Can you hear yourself? Just buy a packet and send it in. If he doesn't eat it then so be it. What a load of fuss about nothing.

GotArt · 06/02/2011 06:03

I understood '6 slices of chicken' as being sandwich meat you get from the deli counter which you can find just plain cooked chicken breast variety, not processed or anything. YANBU though. Why can't she just do a powerpoint presentation on healthy eating for this age group. Is it Montessori or something? Grin

MorticiaAddams · 06/02/2011 06:23

You seem to be making a mountain out of a molehill.

When you next go shopping buy chicken breasts that will either last until you need them or put them in the freezer. Cook and slice the night before.

Why is it so difficult and who cares if it's the wrong shape for the sandwiches, the kids won't.

If they're learning about healthy eating it seems ridiculous to expect you to send in processed, reformed crap and the nicer sliced chicken is very expensive pre-packed.

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