Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think cheese is a healthy snack?

331 replies

insuranceidiot · 31/08/2016 21:07

Maybe I am. I gave my LB cheese chunks in a little pot and a small bottle of water for his Break today on his first day in Primary school. He loves this and has it at home. He came home with a note saying in future to send a healthy nutritious snack in future.

Can I ask what u would send as a Healthy snack to school please?

OP posts:
fastdaytears · 31/08/2016 21:08

Fruit or carrot sticks or something like that I'd have thought. Cheese is good in some ways but I guess their issue is with the high fat content.

Could be a whole lot worse though

crayfish · 31/08/2016 21:09

I often give my one year old chunks of cheese but would also include fruit and maybe some crackers? Cheese itself isn't unhealthy though but maybe they thought something with more vitamins/fibre would be better?

MissBeaHaving · 31/08/2016 21:11

They are like this in Ds's school,when it started they were allowed healthy snacks,over the year it changed to healthy snacks such as fruit or raw veg.

bakeoffcake · 31/08/2016 21:12

Of course it's a healthy snack. It's full of calcium and provides fats which DC need.

This would really boil my piss. Imo a few grapes or a carrot isn't a great snack for a growing, active child.

CantChoose · 31/08/2016 21:12

everything in moderation and all that... I'd be tempted to print off a load of research about the benefits of a small amount of cheese in a healthy diet (or the risks or sugar and acids in fruit) but that probably won't help your relationship with the school.

chitofftheshovel · 31/08/2016 21:13

Sweet Jesus. The food police nonsense does my bloody head in.

Yes, it's a healthy snack. Obviously if you gave him a 250g block of cheese to gnaw on in his break time, or only ever gave him cheese for each meal/snack of the day, then no, that would not be ideal.

Reply with a note "please could you define healthy"

Scarydinosaurs · 31/08/2016 21:13

Is cheese so bad?? I would have thought that was ideal. At least it's filling! Carrot sticks wouldn't really cut it if you're a hungry kid at break time.

Was there loads of cheese?

HermioneJeanGranger · 31/08/2016 21:13

There's nothing wrong with some cheese imo, but maybe send some grapes or cucumber or carrot sticks?

sooperdooper · 31/08/2016 21:13

I think if you add some veg sticks of fruit it'd be fine

Musicaltheatremum · 31/08/2016 21:14

Cheese is a good snack for a growing child. Much better than grapes or carrot. Has calcium and fat which they need.

YouMakeMyDreams · 31/08/2016 21:14

Fruit and raw veg is not going to stop a small child feeling hungry for long. This healthy food message is getting ridiculous in some schools. Children need more fat in their diet for a start. What is a healthy diet for me is not the same as my 6 year old.

chitofftheshovel · 31/08/2016 21:16

And then do as can't says.

Normandy144 · 31/08/2016 21:16

Sounds like the school believe low fat foods are better for you. Protein and fat keep you full. Cheese is a great snack. Send it with some cucumber next time or maybe an oatcake.

WinterIsHereJon · 31/08/2016 21:17

I love cheese misses point entirely

2rebecca · 31/08/2016 21:19

Cheese is fat chunks. I love cheese but it isn't healthy

VimFuego101 · 31/08/2016 21:21

Kids need calcium. As long as the portion size was ok (and it would really be just a few cubes) then it's a healthy snack.

eddiemairswife · 31/08/2016 21:21

It seems that some people think that 'healthy' means raw carrots or rice cakes (whatever they are). Of course cheese is a healthy snack.

bakeoffcake · 31/08/2016 21:21

It is "healthy" if the child is having a balanced diet that day. We NEED fat to be healthy.

PenguinsAreAce · 31/08/2016 21:22

Yes, I think it is fine for a 4 yr old.

This guide has sample menus, including snacks, on pages 16-19 and photo illustrations of portion sizes from a reputable independent charitable source.

School was probably expecting you to send fruit, which actually on it's own is not a nutritionally sufficient snack for a four year old. However, schools tend to be a bit of a blunt instrument and not that well versed on the finer points of nutrition (think lots of 'good' and 'bad' labelling of whole food groups). You can counter this by talking to them yourself at home in a more Monday's way (e.g. About the important things our bodies use fat for).

You'll need to have a think about whether this is a battle you want to choose. If you pick all of them then there will be many, sadly.

PikachuSayBoo · 31/08/2016 21:23

You could argue that cheese is healthier than fruit.

Full of calcium, fat is now considered good in reasonable amounts as it fills you up and helps your body burn fat.

Fruit is full of sucrose, doesn't fill you up as much and worse for your teeth.

PenguinsAreAce · 31/08/2016 21:23

Monday's = moderate Blush

Sunbeam18 · 31/08/2016 21:25

Bloody hell - can't they leave you to make your own decisions about your child's food ?

NotSpartacus · 31/08/2016 21:25

Cheese is absolutely a healthy snack. It contains calcium , fat (which children need), protein and no sugar. I'd rather my child snacked on cheese than a lot of other things. And your dentist will approve too.

MissBeaHaving · 31/08/2016 21:26

I agree completely Dreams,it's baffling to me.

BestZebbie · 31/08/2016 21:27

Yes, cheese is a healthy snack, assuming that there is fruit&veg somewhere in the other meals in the day.
Cheese as the main basis for every meal is unhealthy, but tbh grapes for every meal would probably be worse!