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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be a bit unsure about this?

50 replies

ThisThreadCouldOutMe · 30/06/2012 22:23

Have namechanged as this thread could potentially let other Mumnetters know what school my DDs go to, and combined with a search on my name could out me :)

DD2 is in year R, and going on her 1st school trip next week. All of nursery and 2 year R classes are going, so over 100 children, aged between 3-5, in total. The trip leaves school at 9am and returns at 3pm.

She bought a letter home yesterday with trip info on, ie timings for leaving school etc. But what has worried me is the section regarding lunch. It says that they will have 30 mins max for lunch, and that therefore a sandwich and piece of fruit will be plenty as they won't have time to eat more.

Surely this is not enough to keep them going all day? And they will be on their feet for most of it. Normally DD would have a bigger lunch (sandwich, crisps, fresh fruit and dried fruit, yoghurt and cheese sticks is typical) plus a snack at break.

The letter also said not to send a big lunch as anything not eaten in the break will be binned.

Whenever DD1 has been on trips she has taken her normal lunch, plus 2 snacks as this is what they normally ask for. And I appreciate the point about binning leftovers, as it saves carrying things home again.

Maybe IABU but I just have visions of hungry, tired children being dragged around :(

OP posts:

AgentZigzag · 30/06/2012 22:26

I'd just give her a couple of extra non-expensive bits that she can eat if she wants but you won't mind if she bins.

Surely they won't see them starve, who in their right mind would want 100 hungry, tired children on their hands?

Original poster

ThisThreadCouldOutMe · 30/06/2012 22:28

Well i did think 'surley they won't let them starve' but unless they are taking a secret stash, their won't be any extra food to give them!

I think I will pack more than they have suggested (not masses but a bit) and make she DD knows she has to eat fairly quickly.

OP posts:

AnyoneForTennis · 30/06/2012 22:47

Sandwich and fruit was enough back in the 70's. We oversees kids these days. We never had 'snacks' either..... They will survive!

Yogurt is full of sugar, cheese sticks and crisps? Salt and god knows what...

AnyoneForTennis · 30/06/2012 22:48

*overfeed

CaliforniaLeaving · 30/06/2012 23:04

I agree with Tennis. Half a sandwich and a bag of crisps was all I'd get in the 70's, no snacks, and we all survived.
My 7 year old Dd doesn't get that much for packed lunch at school and usually there are no snacks. She has a half sandwich (peanut butter or cream cheese), a string cheese, a box fruit and veg drink and a tube yoghurt, a she's not small by any means.

Original poster

ThisThreadCouldOutMe · 30/06/2012 23:04

Quite possibly we do overfeed them these days. (DD incidentally is positively tiny so clearly not suffering from being 'overfed') But regardless of if she needs more than just a sandwich or not, she normally eats far more than that so won't be full.

And ok so clearly her lunch is full of crap (despite all things being allowed under schools healthy eating charter ) so what do you suggest I send in?

OP posts:

bobbledunk · 30/06/2012 23:06

Her 'typical' lunch sounds enormous tbh, you should be more worried about the consequences of overfeeding her.

AnyoneForTennis · 30/06/2012 23:07

Send in what they day to send in!

AnyoneForTennis · 30/06/2012 23:07

*say

ThisIsAUsername · 30/06/2012 23:08

Her usual lunch is quite large. For example she doesn't need crisps, fresh fruit and dried fruit, yoghurt and cheese. A sandwich, piece of fruit and a yoghurt/or cheese would be absolutely fine.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 30/06/2012 23:09

Send what you normally send and if the teachers have anything to say tell them you are not comfortable with your child going hungry.

Baffles me how schools seem to think they own the kids these days.

I wouldnt be happy about the rushed lunch at all. Rushed eating practically as bad as eating junk food.

AnyoneForTennis · 30/06/2012 23:12

Half an hour is not rushed!

ThisIsAUsername · 30/06/2012 23:13

I could eat a 3 course meal in half an hour if all put in front of me at the same time it is plenty of time to eat a sandwich and some fruit.

Viviennemary · 30/06/2012 23:15

They're probably trying to avoid kids being given loads of food and then being sick on the bus. Taking it that they are travelling by bus.

Original poster

ThisThreadCouldOutMe · 30/06/2012 23:17

Her lunch is a similar size to that of most of her peers, so seemed normal size to me! (I grew up eating school dinners, but is also similar to what my friends had) She eats most of it, sometimes everything. Crisps often come home untouched/barely touched so I could leave them out. HAlf an hour is rushed IMO, especially for the nursery children.

OP posts:

Original poster

ThisThreadCouldOutMe · 30/06/2012 23:18

Vivienne they are going by coach. whenever DD1 has been on a coach trip they take buckets in case of sick accidents. PLus they are normally told to take normal sized lunch plus 2 snacks. the letter says not to send more than sandwich and fruit as they wont have time to eat it.

OP posts:

TheEnthusiasticTroll · 30/06/2012 23:22

In my experience of helping out on far too many they dont eat much on school trips anyway, what with all the chatting and excitment and after 10 mins they are restless and ready to let off some steam for a little play before cracking on.

zzzzz · 30/06/2012 23:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

soozeedol · 30/06/2012 23:24

my DS gets through his school day on a pint of milk(not always finished) and 2/4 biscuits and maybe the apple if I'm lucky....due to meds effecting appetite....he is nearly 12yrs....been eating like this for 4yrs and is on 91st percentile of growth charts and always has been, with size 7 feet.....he isn't starving!! and does this daily...

Please don't start on about the nutrition of this....I'm just saying your DC won't suffer from a sandwich, drink and piece of fruit for lunch....give a bigger breakfast if you feel you need to compensate

Original poster

ThisThreadCouldOutMe · 30/06/2012 23:24

zzzzz I have considered that, but doubt she will eat it as she isn't a big eater in the morning, (unlike DD1 who eats tons for brekkie and hardly any lunch)

OP posts:

wannabedomesticgoddess · 30/06/2012 23:25

They would get more than 30 minutes of a break between 9 and 3 on a normal day. So I dont see why being on a trip is different.

30 minutes to eat, go to the toilet, wind down etc is nowhere near enough for young children.

ThisIsAUsername · 30/06/2012 23:25

At least she will eat a good dinner if she doesn't manage much lunch.

Honestly though, I think you're over thinking it all. It's one day, she won't starve.

TimrousBeastie · 30/06/2012 23:26

I went on 2 school trips in the past couple of weeks and the pupils didn't really want to eat lunch at all. Most of them took a couple of bites of their sandwiches, something to drink and that was it and they had plenty of energy left afterwards.

I on the otherhand almost fell asleep on the bus

Original poster

ThisThreadCouldOutMe · 30/06/2012 23:26

And I know she won't suffer, it's only one day after all. I just worry that being tired and hungry is going to ruin the trip for them all!

Ahh well, guess IABU and thanks for all the comments :)

OP posts:

LucieMay · 30/06/2012 23:27

sandwich, crisps, fresh fruit and dried fruit, yoghurt and cheese sticks is a very big lunch for a reception child! It's more than I eat for my lunch.

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