Lunchbox suspension..

[JunoMacGuff]

here

It's from a DM article apparently though I refuse to investigate that.

A school have really suspended a child based on his parents actions? And those actions were to give him mini cheddars?

So MarianneM...what should go in a healthy packed lunch then?

Packed lunches should be banned outright!

And there you have it; the completely sane and rational side of the packed lunch thread. Nothing like a bit of outrage over the lunches of children who don't belong to you is there? Or are you just 'noising up' the crowd Marianne?

The packed lunch Third Reich. Heil crappy, over priced school dinners.

As for the story I sincerely hope there is more to it than some bags of Mini Cheddars because it really would be insanity to not educate the child over a bag of crisps.

Read the letter sent from the school to the parents. There's more to this than mini cheddars.

I don't mind Frubes, we can't all be perfect all of the time. As it happens my son hates yogurt so I don't buy them. I wish my DS would have school meals but he dislikes them. I have given my son cheddars on the rare occasion - with cheese cubes along with mixed fruit and raw veg amongst other things. Depends on what I have in. I know my son gets a nutritional home cooked meal everyday so I am not obsessed with every single item in his lunch box being healthy every day, but I like to ensure he has some slow burning energy food just so that he doesn't start feeling hungry later on in the afternoon. In my opinion the school mentioned in the article have taken it too far by excluding the boy.

JellyBabiesSaveLives sadly I think it might be a bit of a hit and miss way of getting authorised absence, hence my idea of camping as a holiday - no need to book you see.

We did get told off for sending DD with a nut-bar after we had done so every day for two terms, but sadly I don't know if we'd have got a few days off DD suspended if we'd carried on.

formerbabe

I wouldn't give my child a packed lunch - I think they should eat what they are given at school.

If I did give my girls a packed lunch it would be along the lines of what they eat at home: a hot main course or a sandwich, some veg such as carrot, tomato and cucumber, maybe fruit...grapes or an apple, and milk.

I don't think packed lunches should be banned. In fact, when the free meals for KS1 cones into for e I won't be taking them up as I think school dinners aren't a healthy option either (which I'm gutted about as we could really do with the money saving).

A healthy lunch, in my opinion, should simply be:

1. savoury option sandwich/bagel/wrap/pasta or rice dish for older kids maybe/hard boiled egg/piece of cold chicken/cheese and crackers/houmous and veg sticks

2. Fruit

3. Treat (optional, maybe not every day)
   Homemade muffin/cake, flapjack etc. yes, full of sugars but a healthier option as just oats/syrup/butter, not extra chemicals and unnecessary fats)

Other options: chunks/sticks of cheese (cut from a block so it's pure, unadulterated cheese), carrot or cucumber sticks etc

Read the letter sent from the school to the parents. There's more to this than mini cheddars

I read the letter in the link - is there another one? It sounds like the parents were aggressive (I don't know if I'd want to send the boy there for more time if that was the case but I'm not the head teacher) they still cited the packed lunch as the reason for being excluded in the letter I read.

Tomato and cucumber are vegetables, not fruit MarianneM

I have to say schools are far from perfect themselves anyway. My son was being taught about healthy eating at school of which they were told that Pizza was unhealthy.....the following day pizza was on the school dinner menu!

I don't consider a bagel to be healthy but thanks for the low-down on a healthy lunch box!

I understand that cakes are fine too, as long as the school is selling them in aid of school funds or charity, Kaekae

Milk - massive fail already in the schools eyes...water only!

Your pedantry is inaccurate Queen!

That's the point kaekae. A cake at a school fayre or an event won't harm your child. Everyday will.

Sorry, that last point was to queen

Oh thanks sibling

I do know how to put together a lunchbox.

The first two rules you have imposed I generally follow (save for the fruit half the time as it's a waste) but wouldn't give rice or pasta (high risk of bacillus cereus in rice and pasta, plus they are rank when cold) or bagels, personally. Nor a boiled egg (the smell!)

Mine tend to be:

Wrap or sandwich
Carrot sticks OR grapes OR cheese
Dairylea dunker OR Apple OR yoghurt tube/fruit tube
Smoothie

Sometimes, I go for pom bears* or cheddars in place of something else. Whatevs.

Judge all you like. But I make everything at home for dinners from scratch. Everything. I've never even bought a tin of soup before.

*disclaimer - I don't buy pom bears for parties.

This would be an ideal measure to get a term time holiday

Parent packs two or three terrible packed lunch boxes asks child to wave said lunch under teachers nose and hay presto time off in school term

Off you trott on your hold and no fines

Oh thanks sibling

I do know how to put together a lunchbox.

The first two rules you have imposed I generally follow (save for the fruit half the time as it's a waste) but wouldn't give rice or pasta (high risk of bacillus cereus in rice and pasta, plus they are rank when cold) or bagels, personally. Nor a boiled egg (the smell!)

Mine tend to be:

Wrap or sandwich
Carrot sticks OR grapes OR cheese
Dairylea dunker OR Apple OR yoghurt tube/fruit tube
Smoothie

Sometimes, I go for pom bears* or cheddars in place of something else. Whatevs.

Judge all you like. But I make everything at home for dinners from scratch. Everything. I've never even bought a tin of soup before.

*disclaimer - I don't buy pom bears for parties.

magnumicelolly that's because I meant they are fruit, not vegetables, and typed it the wrong way round because I'm an eejit :)

See, I read these lunchbox threads and I wonder why.

I think all schools should have school lunches that are nutritional, healthy and hot (after all we live in a cold climate) AND free of charge to all parents.

This would prevent the feckless from feeding the wrong stuff to their kids, and it would be a blessing to busy non-feckless parents. Win win.

I think secondary schools should do the same for breakfast tbh.

My DS1 lunch box consists of a chocolate spread sandwich, white bread natch! a bag of crisps and maybe a cereal bar. Oh and squash.

He doesn't eat anything, he would rather not eat if its something he doesn't like, and has refused meals for three days until he was dizzy and floppy in the past. I cant even pretend that his dinners at home are any better. Generally beans on toast, occasional fish and chips, often nothing at all. Breakfast is two Weetabix and milk.

The rest of us eat a varied diet, its just him. He is just above average height and weight is in line with that, no special needs, just stubborn. I was the same when small but I did get over my food aversion around 5 years old, he is 6 and going strong.

The doctor and dietician say to give him what he wants... should I starve him until he gives in so the lunch box police are happy?

formerbabe was asking what should go in a healthy lunch, hence my suggestions.

Nah. Under my regime you are relieved from lunchboxing. The school would provide healthy nutritional meals following national guidelines. Your DS would succumb instantly to peer pressure and mashed potato. Win win.

THese lunchboxes are torture.

I think school lunches should be heavily subsidised but not free unless you are eligible, that way everyone could get lunch for a pound and at that sort of price even with three children £21 a week for three hot dinners it would be cheaper than packed lunches and so encourage uptake

But bann pudding with school dinner and replace with soup starters