to think this is NOT an unhealthy lunch

[ohhifruit]

DStS's teacher (he is in Junior school) pulled me aside after school to say his lunch was deemed 'an unhealthy lunch' and their first step was to give me a 'verbal warning' before writing to me. She even said 'I'm sure you can understand why we think this.'

This is what he had -

• Small pot of home made hummus
• Large wholemeal pitta cut into strips
• A hardboiled egg
• A handful of celery sticks
• A handful of carrot sticks
• A small pot of raisins
• Matchbox sized lump of chedder (which he saved to eat on the way home)
• Satusuma
• Small yoghurt

We've given him sandwiches and he never touches them but dippy types of food are always eaten and he reports how much he enjoys them. He isn't messy, almost to a fault, so I can't see them being bothered about a 'bits and bobs' lunch making a mess.

Is this unhealthy? I am racking my mind to figure out how on earth this is unhealthy? She wouldn't specify, I expect because it wasn't her who saw his lunch but rather it was reported back via lunch time staff.
I feel really annoyed to be told off by the teacher, she was pretty sneery and it wasn't until I got home I realised I should have asked to speak to the head.

My guess is that it is because there was no clear 'main meal'.

Perhaps roll up the pita bread instead of cutting it into strips so it doesn't look so much like a snack?

Weird. I'm guessing she was expecting to see a brown bread sandwich with lettuce hanging out and couldn't deviate from the norm. Nothing to say of any value at all (just marking my place).

Everyone else has already said what I think, but thank you for introducing me to the concept of fairy bread!
Also intrigued by peperami in a pass the parcel, was it the main present or slipped into one of the layers?
Also marking place for update tomorrow

She's an idiot. Complain. This teacher, if she's aware of who YOUR child is, and hasn't confused his lunch with someone else's, is going to be teaching your DS about healthy eating (NC topic). She needs to be educated. I'm a teacher. Tell her that I said so!

My guess is that it is because there was no clear 'main meal'.

It's got all the components for a sandwich though. How is it any worse to have a large, wholemeal pitta cut into strips and the hummus/celery/carrot in little pots or whatever than to keep the pitta intact and put aforementioned ingredients INTO the pitta?!
It's the same bloody meal!
Why would it be anymore acceptable to have a pitta sandwich, fruit and veg than in little dipping pots?
As I said - same bloomin' thing - if that's the reason, then they're absolutely barking.

Desperate to know what on earth they think the problem is. That combination of things for lunch is absolutely fine, in fact much more than fine. Their comments and approach are completely condescending too. You're owed an apology. Let us know if you get one.

Tell them to bugger off as it's none if their business!! (and come and make my lunch for me ?! Sounds amazing!!)

Bonsoir: Hummus, egg, cheese and yogurt all have protein in, as does wholemeal pita.

In fact grain and pulses have the exact complementary amino acids that are needed - beans on toast is a similarly well balanced protein meal.

I really would like to know what happens. How can the teacher be saying the lunch was unhealthy?

I've never tried hummous, but I'd eat the rest of the lunch. Very happily.

The teacher must have it wrong. And as for "verbal warning" I hope that was just something that came out wrong, but as you write their first step was to give me a 'verbal warning' before writing to me I'm not so sure.

I need to know more about pass the peperami. Surely it wouldn't be the main prize.
DH gave Trick or Treaters a packet of prawn cocktail crisps and a pepperami once, it was the end of the night and we had nothing left. They were a bit so he said it was a trick!

It looks like a fab lunch.

I expect all the other children are jealous and his lunches are causing a riot!

Fairy bread!!!!! FAIRY BREAD?!?!?!? Just googled it and I can feel my pancreas twitching......

You're right. It is animal protein. I guess I meant dead animal protein from what Bonsoir was saying.

"I've never tried hummous, but I'd eat the rest of the lunch. Very happily."

I didn't think you were allowed on Mumsnet if you don't eat hummus...

I'm placemarking for your update as I'm baffled!!

The dinnerladies and bonsoir are obviously on glue

Why would it be anymore acceptable to have a pitta sandwich, fruit and veg than in little dipping pots?

I have heard of packed lunches being referred to as the "main meal/part' and "snack parts".

Children are encouraged to eat the "main meal" first before they run out of time/inclination etc.

I don't think the content is the issue, but I can see if the schools guidelines are quite rigid in regards to main meals/snacks how a dinner lady may have seen an issue. I just suggested making the bread part of the lunch appear more like the "main meal" and less of a snack.

Pass the pepperami sounds too close to hide the salami for my liking.

OP you should photograph the lunches because they are not unhealthy. Then you have some evidence with which to progress an official complaint.

Go to the LA and Ofsted if necessary. More people should. This type of lunch box hysteria is giving out all the wrong messages concerning food to our children's generation.

^ that is if this wasn't some dreadful mix up.

Pass the pepperami sounds too close to hide the salami for my liking

maybe they played that too?

Saucyjack

I thought it was just me thinking that!

Your name is very apt.

I got told off for giving DD too much salad!

That is a great lunch in my opinion. Egg is a super food, Cheese is packed full of protein, celery is apparently negative calories, pitta is fibre surely and fills up his little belly. This is madness. I would definitely write a strongly worded letter- perhaps you could dig out the guidelines from the government on healthy food for kids or even better ask them for suggestions on what they think is 'healthy'. WTF.

In my day I got pate or meat paste on white bread, a packet of crisps and a penguin. oh yes and an apple which I never ate.

my hubby is a dentist and a food snob so when our little ones get to this stage, if i ever get a teacher like this, ill be bringing on the big man.

what a cheeky cow!