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Original poster

Angry over salad bar for free school meals

208 replies

Jotim02 · 28/01/2016 20:19

My son gets free school meals in KS1, the school lets them choose salad bar or hot school dinner. We thought he had been eating a hot dinner, until his friend came home for a play and told us he had salad bar.

Today he had a wrap - probably with added salt and sugar, cheese, raisins and carrots. For this the government was charged £2:30. Am I unreasonable to think the government are giving kids free school meals so they can have a hot dinner, not a sandwich?

The school say it's the kids choice what they have. My very unfussy son, has now become fussy because his friends have salad bar, so he wants it too and - doesn't like hot dinners.

I am really furious and thinking of writing to the catering company and David Cameron. It's mostly about the principle that the government is paying for this crap...

OP posts:
Behooven · 28/01/2016 20:52

Dear Mr Cameron
I am writing to complain because there is a choice of free lunch in my child's school. It is rediculous, and I am defiantly not happy about it. There should be less choice to reduce the chance of salad.

LilacSpunkMonkey · 28/01/2016 20:52

My children are all FSM too. I give the youngest two a packed lunch because the dinners provided at the local schools are rank, whether hot or cold.

Please do write to David Cameron because he's all about the less well-off children, as well we all know. I'm sure he'll give a massive shit.

Zippidydoodah · 28/01/2016 20:52

Purple- there's no stigma attached here, as all key stage 1 children get fsm regardless of income. You're missing the point, perhaps?

However I must agree that there isn't really a point to miss.....salad bar sounds perfectly acceptable. My daughter has come home before proudly telling me that she had pasta and chips, or something like that...I give her packed lunches occasionally.

hopelesslydevotedtoGu · 28/01/2016 20:53

If you are so fixed on your son eating a hot meal, then you will have to tell him to order that, not expect David Cameron to sort it out for you. Other families want the choice- I would be happy that my child had the option, at school I had a packed lunch most days, I wouldn't have wanted a big hot meal every day.

I'm bemused that you think the hot meal is intrinsically healthy- hot school meals can be carb and cheese fests.

Zippidydoodah · 28/01/2016 20:55

Saladbarworker- your salad bar sounds great!

Gruntfuttock · 28/01/2016 20:55

Behooven Grin

It's a scandal, the likes of which I ain't never 'eard of in all my days!

Please excuse me, I've just been watching Dickensian.

tictactoad · 28/01/2016 20:56

Fucks sake. I think I've heard it all now Hmm

The lunch sounds fine to me. If you're not happy with the standard pay for and send him in with your own choice. Sorted.

Bunbaker · 28/01/2016 20:56

"I'm assuming hot meals don't have added salt and sugar which wraps do"

That is utter nonsense. The meal you described sounded fine to me. Turkey twizzlers with chips and beans is far, far more unhealthy than the wrap you describe.

I am failing to understand what your issue is.

Behooven · 28/01/2016 20:57

Dickensian! That's it give them gruel - sorted Grin

madmomma · 28/01/2016 20:57

I'm just too controlling to do the school dinners thing. The thought of them just choosing a random collection of foods and then ignoring most of it makes me anxious. I'd rather do a packed lunch so I know what they're having and what they've left. And I bet the meat in school dinners is lips & arseholes

Clutterbugsmum · 28/01/2016 20:57

The free school meals are rubbish. Your ds is probably getting more to eat by choosing from the salad bar.

FWIW I've just swapped my dc's over to packed lunch because the school meals are just too small, and too expensive for my KS2 child. We pay £1.90 a day for her and £2.50 for my high school child who get's a proper size meal.

I see what's given as i'm a dinner lady and it's pitiful especially as the government keep on about it being the only 'proper' dinner 50% of children will get.

Jesabel · 28/01/2016 20:57

If you want your child to choose the hot option every day, then YOU have to tell him he must have the hot option.

My Year 1 boy always has the salad bar option too, except on Fridays (fish fingers and chips day!) or if there is a roast dinner.

So most days he has a wrap, grated cheese, sometimes ham, sometimes plain pasta, raw carrots or sweetcorn. Plus fruit and yoghurt.

I don't see the problem, it's the same as I'd make him for packed lunch. And it's free.

queensansastark · 28/01/2016 20:58

You mostly sound chippy and prickly about the fact that the government is paying for your son's school meal.

PurpleDaisies · 28/01/2016 20:58

Purple- there's no stigma attached here, as all key stage 1 children get fsm regardless of income. You're missing the point, perhaps?

You're right I totally missed that the child was in ks1. Thanks!

Galena · 28/01/2016 20:58

I'd be more concerned that it wasn't your child who told you, but his friend. Does this mean your DS know that you would react like this, which is why he didn't tell you? Have you not asked him before this what he had for lunch?

I am thoroughly grateful that DD is being given a meal at lunch time which means I don't need to provide her with a packed lunch. I wouldn't be surprised if she'd chosen wrap and cheese if it were an option. She loves wraps with cheese. However, her school doesn't have a cold option.

MadHattersWineParty · 28/01/2016 20:58

Eh? He gets a choice of a free school meal and he chooses a meal from the salad bar.

But you're pissed off?

Is there something I'm missing? Maybe I'm having a really slow day it I just don't get it.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 28/01/2016 20:59

All KS1 school,meals are free now though aren't they, and in some schools you are very much under pressure to take them up. So I don't think the OP needs to be madly grateful or anything.

SmallLegsOrSmallEggs · 28/01/2016 20:59

If that is the worst thing your kid eats is a wrap you are onto a winner there.

Out of curiosity, what did you give him for tea?

saladbarworker · 28/01/2016 21:00

Just to add, all children have the option of a hot meal, most of the KS2 children choose a hot meal, most of the KS1 children choose the salad bar. I

t has always been like this. We think it is because the KS1 children are free to choose their lunch for the first time away from Mums choices.

The most frustrating part of my job is when Mum signs up a fussy eater for school dinners (we don't have FSM here) & then gets cross that her DC isn't eating enough.

If the parent can't get their child to eat cucumber, what hope do I have!?! Although I did get a child to try a strand of cheese today & they said they liked it. I felt like I had found the £33 million lottery ticket :)

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 28/01/2016 21:00

Ignore everyone OP and send that letter.

Just be sure to post it on a thread here too.

KielyKiely · 28/01/2016 21:00

If you don't like the variety on offer or the choices he is making then reject the FSM and revert to providing him with a packed lunch. Problem solved.

Obs2016 · 28/01/2016 21:02

Good luck with getting anywhere with your complaint!

rosewithoutthorns · 28/01/2016 21:02

Surely the people that are saying they want their child to have a hot school meal are the ones that don't provide it at home?

How bizarre that you would blame the school for healthy lunch options.

NewBallsPlease00 · 28/01/2016 21:03

My sons nutritious school meal this week was so carb heavy he was uncomfortably ballasted for 3 days...
Burger in a roll, with pasta, baked beans and a bread roll on side, and flapjack for pudding. At 4 years old.
We select main bit but not sides, however it turns out there was carrots or peas options but only of you had the Quinn sausage option.
Wtf?!

Sirzy · 28/01/2016 21:07

So he is eating what he wants from the options available, I can't see what the problem is or why it would be assumed a hot meal is better.