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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To make ds have school dinners even though he wants to take sandwiches?

45 replies

anditwasallyellow · 12/09/2012 20:16

He's just started reception, won't have his first dinner at school until next week. He says he wants to take sandwiches in a lunchbox. I'd prefer him to have school dinners.

My reasons being; the teachers reckons that most of the children do have school dinners, it's all prepared on site fresh and the menu looks tasty and healthy, I like the idea of him having a full hot meal at school as that's what he's always had at nursery, I work so have less time either end of the day to make an extra packed lunch I'm a lazy cow and would rather spend the extra 10 minutes in bed I can't really be bothered to think of different things to give him each day that are nutritious of a different variety eacxh day and will stay fresh in a lunchbox.

OP posts:

Socknickingpixie · 12/09/2012 20:17

yanbu you are the parent he is the child.

Noqontrol · 12/09/2012 20:25

Why does he want to take sandwiches? I'd jump at the chance of school dinners, ours is lunchbox only. (No kitchen)

kilmuir · 12/09/2012 20:26

can't he have mon, weds, fri meals and other days packed lunch

mummynoseynora · 12/09/2012 20:28

could you not agree one day a week of sanwhiches (for now at least) and the rest dinners?

DD has always had a combination - some weeks its almost all dinners if she likes the menu, others all packed lunch if she doesn't

Shinyshoes1 · 12/09/2012 20:28

Thing is...If he really doen't want school dinners he mght not eat it and therefore isn't having anything to eat

Squeegle · 12/09/2012 20:33

YANBU, you're in charge, school dinners are miles better and healthier than sandwiches.

And why make your working life harder every day by having to make sure you've got stuff in for sandwiches and then making them.

Both my kids wanted packed lunches, I didn't entertain the idea!! And they're very happy with school dinners now.

Original poster

anditwasallyellow · 12/09/2012 20:34

Well, I think that he only wants to take sandwiches as he has a shiny brand new Ben 10 lunch box unused (gift from grandparent) so who can blame him for wanting to use it for school?

I can't mix it up because school require a weeks notice to change, teacher said that they monitor what they're eating at first and let you know if they're not, I'm fairly sure he will as he always ate well at nursery. I've basically said give it a few weeks and if he still want sandwiches I'll change him. I know sounds as though I've made my mind up already!

OP posts:

ash6605 · 12/09/2012 20:35

I have this argument with DD every school term. I have told her(blackmail) she will have to give up a hobby if she insists on packed lunches as I can just say fit time in to make tea, do homework with her etc around all of her hobbies so making packed lunches will leave even less time(obv a total exaggeration ha) school do sandwiches and bread buns with salad as an alternative to the hot meal so I tell her if she wants a sandwich she can have the school one.

LindyHemming · 12/09/2012 20:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cardibach · 12/09/2012 20:36

Nigella Lawson's kids have school dinners as she says it is pretty much impossible to get the necessary number of calories into a lunch box without relying on fat or sugar. Or so I read. In any case, DD has always had dinners.

googietheegg · 12/09/2012 20:36

Say he can have his tea in his lunchbox, or plan a picnic

rempy · 12/09/2012 20:36

Both my kids have been given lovely packup boxes.

They both have school dinners.

They get to use the lovely packup boxes when they go on school visits/sports day/jubilee etc.

Its a no guilt decision......

louismummy · 12/09/2012 20:37

Can't you give him some sandwiches in the Ben 10 unch box at the weekend instead?

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 12/09/2012 20:40

Can you talk to other parents and see what they are doing? I compromise with mine and they have school dinners on Monday's and Fridays, as those are the days with the menu they like the best and it works well for me because those are the days I least want to make packed lunches. Then they have a lunchbox on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

I'd have thought they would let you have certain dys of dinners, as long as you choose them in advance.

GoodHeavensNo · 12/09/2012 20:41

I insisted on school dinners...until I realised DD was just picking the sandwich option every day (they have a choice of 2 types of hot dinner or jacket potatoes with filling or sandwiches) and I was paying £1.90 a day for this!

amck5700 · 12/09/2012 20:41

let him put his gym stuff in his lunchbox :)

Having said that, I am into year 8 of making pack lunches every day - even in th holidays as they go to out of school care and then some weekends we take stuff with us when we go out - drives me demented!!! However, we both work full time and I just get up earlier and do it - I don't like the thought of doing it the night before as it interferes with the 1 hr relaxation I have after the work/school/dinner/housework/activities are finished!

Jenny70 · 12/09/2012 20:43

I think YANBU, because I am doing the same.

I think school dinner will be good for him to encourage eating different foods, eat more independently etc. But I doubt he's going to like it... and I think most reception mums are PFB are give their darlings packed lunch full of tasty niblets that will tempt them, and I don't want to do this.

We have to do the full week dinners, can't opt for 3 days week, but that would be a good compromise.

I am trying it, and if he won't eat it, gets starving and unreasonable then I'll reconsider.

Original poster

anditwasallyellow · 12/09/2012 20:45

Yep I've told him that we'll still use the lunchbox didn't sway him but you've convinced me that I'll just stand firm at least for now.

Just having another glance over the menu and it really does look nice there's a 4 week menu plan with 3 different options each day healthy but tasty, I'm sure that the puddings will convince him anyway.

OP posts:

racingheart · 12/09/2012 20:45

Put fruit snack and a healthy after school snack in the lunch box?
YNBU - you're in charge.

Mutt · 12/09/2012 20:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DilysPrice · 12/09/2012 20:50

YANBU, I'm sure they'll do trips he can take his lunch box on. When he does the meal plan (nutritionally balanced), shopping and preparation then he can choose to have packed lunch.

amck5700 · 12/09/2012 20:50

we put my eldest into school lunch for his first week at school but he didn't really eat anything. His 5 year old view: "it sounds tasty when they read it out but when you get it it isn't" theirs are cooked off-site and brought in - think they tend to be overcooked and not too appetising after the journey!

2rebecca · 12/09/2012 20:51

We made our kids have school dinners, we both worked and neither of us had any desire to add sandwich making to the list of chores. When they are old enough to make their own sandwiches they can take sandwiches, although now the eldest just goes to greggs!

Cat98 · 12/09/2012 20:51

Hmm, I beg to differ that school dinners are healthier - depends on a lot of things of course (namely what type of meals your school gives, and what you put in a lunch box that they will eat!)
For example on Friday ds (new reception starter) had battered fish, chips, sweetcorn and choc cake. This week he had packed lunch (his choice) and today was: a hard boiled egg sandwich, carrots, cucumber, strawberries and a yoghurt. Certainly not much worse than school dinners. Also I intend to let him choose as he's the one who has to eat it; as long as he doesn't keep chopping and changing!
However, if he wanted to keep up school meals I'd be fine with that too, in fact it's easier for me. And re the calories he earls a good breakfast, mid morning snack (provided by school), after school snack and cooked tea, so I have no worries there.
Do what works for you! But I don't think dinners are necessarily the best option though they may well be for your dc.

thepeoplesprincess · 12/09/2012 20:52

It's up to you, but lunchboxes really don't have to be anything special, despite the massive pressure from the supermum brigade.

My two like Marmite sarnies and bananas. F*cking fine by me, kiddos.

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