to ask if your DCs school has a healthy lunch box policy and what you think of it?

[NorfolkBroad]

Is it "enforced"? Do you find it annoying and intefering? Does your child eat what you put in their lunchbox? I'm asking as a mum but also as a teacher.

What kind of information would.you offer new parents Ecclesiastical? A few years ago I had an obese mother and daughter in tears in clinic, after I suggested that no one needed a chocolate nuts biscuit every day

The school food trust website is a useful place for ideas as will be your healthy school programme (if you still have one, many are disbanded under new government... mine included ) Cornwall have a great programme still up and running they can be contacted from their website also google Grab 5 for ides and the ood in schools toolkit online has a section about food policies hth

Thing is, it's all well and good you packing a healthy lunch - but if their best friend has chocolate and crisps and what not they'll soon be begging you for it.

So I prefer a healthy lunch box policy.

Well said Indigo

Ecclesiastical? assume that one was for me? its about gentle advice and encouragement, looking at the balance of good health model and offering suggestions for healthier alternatives, in that situation i would be looking at labels with the family and comparing with something like a flapjack or cereal bar or a non chocolate biscuit and trying to first of all cut down on the sugar and fat with a different choice then suggesting they try something new, offer tasting sessions with a wider group that included them and see if the family could be encouraged to try new things. I would also suggest they sign up to the change 4 life scheme, you will have seen the advert with the cartoon people on TV well if you aren't already familiar with it once signed up they send out all sorts of information for families some of it is great. as does the Artie beat club with the british heart foundation which is aimed at kids. they do a fab fridge magnet thing that encourages kids to eat their five a day and record it on the fridge thing. my kids loved it, and ate loads more fruit and veg than usual when we had it up.

indigobell not always, my ds2 used to be envied by his friend who always had a chocolate biscuit and was fed up with them, his mum put them in as she thought that is what he would want but he used to try and swap with my ds2 for his pepper and cucumber, or his strawberries. sure sometimes it worked but DS2 actually like and wanted to eat his 'goodies' himself.

Norfolkbroad have a look at this for inspiration as to what kids can achieve

www.hydepark-inf.plymouth.sch.uk/film/07_HealthyNews/01.html

Yes, very familiar with change for life.Like so many other government schemes Important not sure it reached or is reaching those it is intended for. The chocolate biscuit story pre dates, the change for life campaign . I was just trying to illustrate how difficult change can be to effect. So I support the healthy lunch box scheme in our school.Then the rules are the same for every one.With a little imagination one can produce a lunch box with treats which contains no contraband. Sorry spell checker is mad.

I think it's a good thing. We feed our kids sensibly, but they do get treats; it's a balance thing.

Lunch may be the only meal in the day that some kids get without chocolate or sweets. Our school run passes the corner shop and we regularly see very young kids eating chocolate bars, sweets & fizzy drinks on the way into school. I find it disturbing to be honest.

BTw flashbacks.are very calorie, not sure it would be.a healthy choice for an obese child.Surely better to give.the message chocolate biscuit s are fine.but not.everyday

naughtymummy yes I agree, change is hard even for those with all the right knowledge and skills, including me hope I didn't come across as patronising, I am aware I can be a bit 'over enthusiastic' about what was my job and I have rather dominated the last few posts with all my ideas

The only rule I am aware of for lunch boxes is no choc biscuits which doesn't cause me a problem as it makes after school snack when he gets home easier! I haven't oushed my luck and given him choc spread sandwiches though, so don't know how much 'policing' of lunch boxes goeson or what consequences wouldbe if a penguin fell into his lunchbox by mistake

Flapjacks not flashbacks calorie!

Tucking phone

I think it's a good idea. If not enforced, there's a significant minority in my school who would come with crisps, biscuits and fizzy drinks every day.

thought flashbacks were some new funky biscuit! yes and cereal bars actually, neither are always healthiest depends on what's in them I guess, hence the need for easy to read labels that we all can understand without a degree in nutrition!

But why cater to a minority of parents who can't manage a balance? That's my problem with it. Why not target those parents specifically?

DD has school meals, but recently came home with a letter about a trip specifying that "All children should bring a healthy packed lunch". Crossing out appeared to have been carried out in purple glittery gel pen .

DD appears to believe that it's only the school's specification that pack lunches should be healthy that's preventing me from sending her off to each trip with a family sized bag of Doritos, a can of Red Bull, a ham sandwich and a Mars Bar like all her mates.

anyone she is clearly a future MN

Ha ha sorry the UK cracks me up more each day. A healthy lunch box policy?

That's incredible. Not only that schools have that kind of policy (what happened to parental responsibility?) but also that there is even a need for such a thing.

I went to a school with a broad mix of pupils. We all had sandwiches, fruit, often a bag of crisps and a chocolate bar in our lunch boxes. By the time I got to sixth form sometimes there would be an adventurous one who woul dhave a rice salad instead of a sandwich.

Do people over there really need everything spelt out or are there some people who feel patronised by everything being spelt out for hem all the time?

loving a policy should lay out what the school requires and why so that all parents are clear, those already doing it can shrug and get on with things but parents who have no clue can also be targeted for support in advice, info, practical help etc, but also useful for some parents who struggle to get their dc to eat healthier choices as they can say ' have to put this in DC the school policy says so . as someone said consistant message for all so no misunderstanding or stigma for those 'targeted'.

Do people over there really need everything spelt out or are there some people who feel patronised by everything being spelt out for hem all the time? both I am afraid

I agree stepaway. For instance, the parent whose child's "lunch" was a packet of biscuits

Flapjacks loving the coast ,how much does it really inconvenience you to abide by the rules if it lowers your dcs classmates chances.of cardiovascular disease and.type.2 diabetes? You can feed them what you like at home

I have no school age children, and it is probably a good job or I would spend most of my days in a state of fury at the nonsense spouted by schools these days.

Is there actually someone who goes around inspecting each childs lunchbox contents each day?