To get annoyed with the hypocricy of schools lunch policy.

[GossamerHailfilter]

At our school we have a system of 'red cards' if you send something that is deemed to be bad. Its a new system that utr new head had implimented.

on Monday I sent DD in with some cubes of cheese - got a card, but on the school dinners menu was Macaroni Cheese. FriDAY I sent her in with a packet on animal biscuits, again a red card but pudding for those on HSD was pineapple upsidedown cake and custard.

AIBU to think it doesnt balance and doesnt make any sense to punish one set of children while doling out treats to the other, especially if they will all be eating it come September?

What's wrong with cheese?

Yanbu.

It's BS that they state things like no crisps or no chocolate then serve processed shit and massive slabs of cake for pudding. If they used a little fat or sugar in them then maybe they wouldn't need such a massive piece as they would be full or satisfied with a smaller piece.

Oh and I'm not a dairy fan but what's the problem with cheese cubes vs macaroni cheese??

Bonkers

They're probably using low fat cheese to meet the government standards.

But, here's my take on it, the jury is out as to whether government standard diets (as recommended by drs, nurses, schools etc) have (and continue to) contribute to the obesity epidemic. High carb, low fat and therefore high sugar.
Most of the advice given by Change4Life is dodgy and based on information that is fast becoming outdated.
One school near us gives house points to dc who have milk in school if they switch from full fat to semi skimmed, because it's healthier. Actually, full fat milk has higher levels of vitamins and minerals, semi skimmed has comparatively more lactase (sugar).

Children need fat, their brains need fat. They also need plenty of protein. They do not need the amount of sugar that they are currently being fed in school meals.
Children shouldn't be having he low fat yoghurts served in school, and hospital for that matter, they shouldn't be having mucked about, chemical laden spread that is used in schools, and hospital, they should have proper butter.

I am forever hearing complaints about behaviour in school gong downhill, and I wonder if the reasons contributing are less sport and mucked about with menus following government guidelines, instead of feeding children real, proper food.

God yeah, faverolles they are doing 'healthy' eating at school this term and DS came home upset because the teacher said children should be drinking semi-skimmed milk as it's more healthy than full fat.

Erm, not for you DS as you are underweight with a restricted diet (ASD issues) so you need the calories and the enhanced absorption of vitamins. Like most kids do.

I'm very pleased that our school are lenient about their healthy eating policy.
Ds has AS, the only thing he will eat in school is chocolate spread sandwiches. Anything else comes back untouched. He eats very healthily at home.
Luckily the teacher is understanding :)

I totally agree and mine have school dinners which I pay for- even I wish there wasn't pudding every day. I just don't understand why they have to have a huge carby pudding (giant cookie, sponge and custard) every single day- although my dd says it is because the mains are so tiny!

I do wonder whether rolling out these school dinners is going to be healthy for the nation as a whole. I like the main part of the dinners at our school, they are fresh, use good ingredients and in the main the children like them- but it all falls down at the point they present the children with a sticky iced bun for pudding and then expect them to make the healthy choice- fruit or yoghurt. Mine just can't make it and then end up feeling guilty for something that the school should not have presented to them in the first place- or perhaps twice a week?

the teacher said children should be drinking semi-skimmed milk as it's more healthy than full fat

^^ This is the problem! adults are conditioned to think that fat is bad - kids need it, unless they have a health/weight issue they should be on full fat versions. and even then 'low fat' isn't necessarily the answer. more exercise would be my first choice to help a child lose weight. the amount of sugar kids end up having because the focus is on 'low fat' is crazy.

There is just no that they can maintain quality cheaply for bigger numbers. I'd put money on all those schools that have the better meals being forced to switch to cheaper suppliers and loosing the standards. Nutritionally compliment and healthy/tasty are not the same thing.

Pet food is nutritionally balanced. Doesn't stop some brands being shit.

So glad dd1 will avoid them as she will be in yr three.

Compliant

School meals will be healthier for those who have a really bad diet and less healthy for people who currently eat very well. The food will be of medium quality and often cooked in advance then reheated. In our area it is reheated in microwaves, which some people might not like.

hang on, is the free school meals for all thing compulsory giles ???

And less healthy for people who just have a balanced diet.

White carb heavy meals,low in veg are not balanced.That's before we even get on to the sugar content.

Exactly live

Many kids will end up worse off which clearly hasn't been thought about. The government want all the brownie points for helping the under privalaged kids and don't care that many will end up ill on shit food.

I don't think it's compulsory but it does seen to be getting increasingly difficult to provide packed lunches that are approved going by all the threads on mn. So sees as if tey are trying to push people into taking them
Up

ok, just had a panicky google - the FSM is to be offered to all infants but it does not have to be taken up. the official document advises schools not to make it mandatory. phew! panic over!!

Over my dead body will my kids have them!!

Been there done that and taken months to repair the damage.

Never Again

Mandatory or not though just take a look in primary education boards to see just how ridiculous it's getting with regards to packed lunches. Three years ago cheese wouldn't have been an issue. Now look.

There's no explanation for it other than pushing parents into taking them up

I am stunned. How dare they?

They're banking on everybody having them though to make them viable.I suspect they're hoping those with ks2 kids will cough up.

I had read on here of schools charging for bringing in lunch boxes.Wouldn't put it past this gov to fine their way into forcing parents to have them.

I would go ballistic if I were given a red card for some CHEESE (or anything else actually).

Cheese is a healthy food for a growing child! I would really get my arse out about this, the HT clearly has no real knowledge of nutrition

What damage was that Giles?

Our school has no problem with cheese. In fact the only thing not allowed is sweets and chocolate bars. I wonder why schools differ so much on their rules.

I think lunch box policies will go beyond daft when fsm come in.