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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School lunchbox police

238 replies

gertyglossop · 29/09/2016 18:04

My 4 year old daughter came home from school today and informed me that Miss X, her teacher, doesn't like it when children have chocolate in their lunchbox. She was visibly worried about it.

I have been packing her a fun sized (2 inch) Milky Way bar every day this week (last week it was mini ginger bread men, and some other small treat the week before). She also takes a wholemeal sandwich, small packet of savoury snacks and a piece of fruit. She knows that she must eat the sandwich and fruit before she eats the treat.

AIBU to resent:

A. The implication that I, as the parent, am unable to make suitable food choices for my child?

B. The complaint being made to my 4 year old child, rather than to me?

OP posts:
NapQueen · 29/09/2016 18:05

Yabu. The teacher has a preference, which she expressed to the class; and im assuming that as she has them in the afternoon she is witness to the kids on a sugar rush after chocolate.

ThisUsernameIsAvailab1e · 29/09/2016 18:07

You've got a long time ahead of you with this stuff! Just leave out the chocolate. Honestly it's normal for schools to impose this and it's not tricky to replace it with something else

Also have a search in mn. There's a million threads about this going back ten years

Skittlesss · 29/09/2016 18:08

Our school annoys me with this. They have a lunch box policy saying what the boxes should include. They don't allow chocolate at all, except on a Friday when the child may take a chocolate flavoured yogurt. No crisps or biscuits either except on a Friday. No drinks or nuts ever.

FriskyFrog · 29/09/2016 18:10

Tbh I think a 2 inch choc bar every lunchtime for a week for a 4 year old shows that you are indeed not making "suitable food choices for (your) child". Sorry!

YouTheCat · 29/09/2016 18:11

Given that I regularly see lunchboxes containing 2 bags of crisps and several kitkats, I'd say it's entirely reasonable to expect you to keep treats for at home. Your child does not need that chocolate.

UterusUterusGhali · 29/09/2016 18:13

What are the cooked meal dessert options?

When our local school went through a phase of this they'd take out home-made cake, but allow those eating school dinners to eat sugary stodge. It was batshit.

A chocolate bar a day is excessive I think.
Did the school not outline the lunch policy? Ie no fizzy drinks or nuts.

Ylvamoon · 29/09/2016 18:13

gertyglossop- you are lucky you got away with it for a few weeks! At our primary school, you have an A4 sheet dedicated to lunchbox dos and don'ts! Whoever is in charge of supervising pack lunches, has the"right" to take the banned items away.

Tissunnyupnorth · 29/09/2016 18:14

But would you give your child a chocolate bar every day for lunch at home?

No chocolate is a pretty standard lunch box guideline.

What are the packet of savoury snacks?

MakemineaGandT · 29/09/2016 18:15

There is no such thing as a "sugar rush" napqueen - a common misconception recently disproved by science

Doesn't mean sugar is good for you of course!

OP - I would stick to non-controversial items, though I do understand your frustration and annoyance

Wrinklytights · 29/09/2016 18:15

Yabu. I'm sick of my kids coming home complaining that 'everyone' else has treats and chocolate in their lunch boxes every day. It's not healthy to have chocolate every day.

Artandco · 29/09/2016 18:16

Chocolate every day is excessive though, mine only eat at events like Easter/ hallowe'en or parties, not daily

Topseyt · 29/09/2016 18:17

I understand your annoyance.

When your kids are at primary school you really are in the thick of the lunchbox police. It gets much better once they get to secondary school - much harder to police and therefore far less in your face.

Cakescakescakes · 29/09/2016 18:17

I think that's pretty standard? No chocolate or crisps or fuzzy drinks ever allowed at my DC's school. It's fine.

CodyKing · 29/09/2016 18:21

It's down to sticky chocolate fingers all over the school - adds to the cleaning process....

Leave it out or offer to clean up the hall

manyathingyouknow · 29/09/2016 18:23

Christ. George Orwell was right. Big Brother is watching you.

Your child, why shouldn't you decide what goes in their lunch?

How does the teacher even see it? Do they eat in the class room?

Topseyt · 29/09/2016 18:23

Mine have had chocolate most days, not masses and masses. Along with other healthier food.

None have any fillings. None are overweight. Sporty and healthy.

harderandharder2breathe · 29/09/2016 18:25

Isn't this pretty standard these days? Yabu

Topseyt · 29/09/2016 18:25

Many, yes. Primary school lunchtime assistants and teachers do actually snoop in children's lunchboxes.

Original poster
gertyglossop · 29/09/2016 18:26

I am a deputy head (of a different school) so I am aware of the variety of school policies regarding lunch boxes. However, my daughter's school doesn't appear to have one and nor do they have Healthy School status, so this is appears to be a preference of the individual teacher.

I am aware, from samples given out on the school's open day, that children having a school meal are given a daily pudding, including shortbread biscuits, small tubs of ice cream and crumbles with custard. I don't see the difference, personally?

My daughter has a healthy breakfast of fruit and yoghurt followed by wholemeal toast or porridge and eats what the family eats for dinner (including veg). She takes a pot of fruit or cucumber/carrot for her school snack. Her diet is well balanced, and this includes a treat at lunchtime and a pudding after tea (usually an ice lolly made with blended fruit & veg from the Nutribullet).

There have been no reports of hyperactivity in the afternoon, in fact all feedback from the teacher has been positive - so I don't believe that this is the case. I don't know whether the message was delivered to the whole class or whether my child was singled out as I wasn't there - and the teacher hasn't addressed it with me.

OP posts:
Original poster
gertyglossop · 29/09/2016 18:28

I also provide a travel pack of wet wipes in her lunchbox, which she uses to wipe her hands and face afterwards.

Part of my point is that I don't know the reason as the teacher has had the conversation with a worried 4 year old, rather than with me.

OP posts:
PinkSwimGoggles · 29/09/2016 18:29

yabu
dc don't need sugary 'treats' in their lunchbox every day.

chitofftheshovel · 29/09/2016 18:31

Yanbu, this does my head in. My DD school is "healthy eating" endorsed or whatever. They aren't allowed sweets or chocolate in packed lunch BUT they can serve puddings and hand out sweets as rewards. It makes a mockery of the whole thing.

Original poster
gertyglossop · 29/09/2016 18:32

And yes, she does have a daily treat at lunchtime at home - not always chocolate; sometimes a biscuit a pot of jelly or something similar.

I believe that treats are part of a balanced diet. I know and accept that many disagree with this.

OP posts:
PinkSwimGoggles · 29/09/2016 18:33

just have the daily treat at dinner then.