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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to complain about this lunch?

35 replies

twosmallbuttons · 02/10/2014 18:09

DS (2.4) goes to a childminder 2.5 days a week. He has lunch there each day plus dinner on one day.

Yesterday the CM said he ate:
cheese, ham lunchables with crackers, mini sausages, an apple.

I think this was a pretty poor choice of food - the salt content first of all...
CM said that she let him choose his lunch, but I'm annoyed that she didn't offer healthy options for him to choose from. He loves fruit & veg so no problem there.

Today DS has been constipated. He is normally pretty reliable going to the toilet after meals (sorry tmi).

For other background, CM bakes cakes or biscuits with him almost every time he's there. Great fun for him but hardly supporting a healthy diet Hmm

WIBU to ask her to make his meals more balanced/healthy in future?

OP posts:
catgirl1976 · 02/10/2014 18:11

You could ask

It's not the best meal but it's not the worst either.

He got an apple. Cheese is good in moderation. I wouldn't want the mini sausages and lunchables to be a regular thing but in the grand scheme of things.....

Did you discuss menus before you chose her?

Nicknacky · 02/10/2014 18:12

Provide your own lunches if you aren't happy?

But this lunch wouldn't overly bother me, it's what? 3 meals a week?

Gileswithachainsaw · 02/10/2014 18:12

It would depend vastly on whether it was every time or this was a one off tbh.

It's a crappy lunch but ok as part of a balanced diet. She really should only be offering choices in the sense of "would you like cheese or chicken in your sandwich" "banana or apple today?" It shouldn't he a choice enabling crap high salt processed foods.

If he usually eats ok there I'd let it go but if that's how she normally feeds him I'd say something

IHeartKingThistle · 02/10/2014 18:13

Meh. It could be a lot worse. Lunchables not great but complaining about home baking is a bit Hmm. Send a packed lunch?

Groovee · 02/10/2014 18:17

Provide a packed lunch if you aren't happy. I chose that option with my ds rather than my childminder having to sort something out. Then I couldn't complain.

Tapewormuprisings · 02/10/2014 18:17

I think it's nice for them to choose once in a while. I usually divide the food up into groups and let them choose 1 from each. And we talk about being healthy and eating well. What are his other meals like?

The cakes- really every time? I would definitely take issue with this. I make biscuits perhaps every 2 weeks, usually less. Does she have a health eating policy?

loveandsmiles · 02/10/2014 18:19

Would it be an option for him to take a packed lunch? When my DD went to childminder, I gave her lunchbox to take with her, that way I knew exactly what she was getting Smile

handcream · 02/10/2014 18:22

Not the worst I have heard. When I do the school run I see kids eating sweets and knocking back Red Bull at 8.30 in the morning!

LeftRightCentre · 02/10/2014 18:23

Another healthy eating/food thread. Jesus wept, someone is busy.

partialderivative · 02/10/2014 18:24
Biscuit
Original poster
twosmallbuttons · 02/10/2014 18:25

Good grief, that people should care what goes into their DC's body HmmConfused

OP posts:
furcoatbigknickers · 02/10/2014 18:26

I wouldn't be happy with that on a regular basis. Talk to her.

LeftRightCentre · 02/10/2014 18:26

It's two days a week.

Meh. This is all growing tiresome. Have fun slagging her off and pontificating about 'healthy eating'.

mamasilla · 02/10/2014 18:28

YABU and ridiculous

Nicknacky · 02/10/2014 18:41

Who said they didn't care? But everything in moderation if the rest of her diet is fab.

milkysmum · 02/10/2014 18:44

It really could be a whole lot worse and if it's only a couple of times a week.......?

DeWee · 02/10/2014 18:46

How do you know she didn't offer healthy options?

Just because he would choose healthy options some of the time doesn't mean he will always.
Ds amazed me as a small boy when he was offered a piece of chocolate or a carrot. He would consistantly choose the carrot. Of course the time I was out with a friend and told her about this and she gave him the option he went straight for the chocolate. Grin

ClapHandsIfYouBelieveInFatties · 02/10/2014 18:47

YANBU. I would ask for no processed food. If she "can't" then offer to provide your own.

LadyLuck10 · 02/10/2014 18:47

Yes you're being ridiculous. Can you guarantee for the rest of his life you will only ever give him a healthy meal?

KoalaDownUnder · 02/10/2014 19:01

I'm not sure what a lunchable is. Is it just a small prepackaged portion of ham and crackers?

If so, I think you're being a bit unreasonable. Ham and sausage in one meal is a bit heavy on the processed meat, I suppose, but he had dairy/protein (cheese) and fresh fruit (apple) as well, so...?

Lottieandmia · 02/10/2014 19:06

Sorry, you sound like you have way too little to really really worry about.

TeracottaTurtle · 02/10/2014 19:11

If that's what he was having every day I would probably say something.

But as a one off...so what? It's not great but not the worst thing ever.

My dc go to a cm 3 nights a week after school and have dinner there. Yesterday when I dropped them off after school she told me she'd been so busy that morning as she'd had an inspection that she hadn't had time to cook, so was taking my dc and her ds to mcdonalds for tea. Much as I do occasionally (once every 6 weeks or so probably) if I've been rushed off my feet all day and not had any time.

I didn't mind at all and the dc were thrilled. She's a cm, a bloody brilliant one, but I didn't choose her because she was superwoman. I chose her because she's brilliant with the kids, feeds them a healthy meal 90% of the time but isn't so anal she doesn't sometimes do ^that. Which is a perfect mix IMO.

dottytablecloth · 02/10/2014 19:11

What sort of food does he eat there normally for lunch?

NowWhatIsit · 02/10/2014 19:15

YANBU. It would bother me, you're paying for care, I would request no processed food - bread, cheese fruit, veg - doesnt have to be difficult or expensive.
You're setting up their tastes and habits.

Asteria · 02/10/2014 19:25

YANBU - where some people are comfortable with feeding their children processed foods, others are not.
I do get bored of the reverse food snobbery. People are being very quick to get outraged by a mother who wants her child to have a healthy and nutritious diet. Throwing an apple in does not make processed meat, cheese and a cracker (at best flour, salt and water) a healthy meal. The home made cakes and biscuits are ok very occasionally, but anyone who makes them will be aware that they are at least 30% sugar which is one of the most dangerous ingredients in our diets!
If you want to ensure your child has the food that you want it to, you should really provide it. Lots of people have very differing ideas about what they will and won't eat.