At my Lo's school I wholly respect their lunch box policies (yes, theirs a policy) they have a strict no nuts policy as some kids are severely allergic. All parents were sent letters home in regards to this and I'm very understanding of it.If someone had been eating nuts..the oil from it might rub onto anything and can be life threatening. That's why I never send anything containing nuts. There is no harm in it for my LO's and of course if they want something with nuts they can have it after school so they don't miss out.
The school is also part of the government 'healthy eating' initiative. And again I salute it. Meaning no chocolate, crisps..etc.Anything considered ' junk'. Again my kids can eat all that 'junk' (I'm a health conscious mama so I only allow them one store bought junk a day, with their own money otherwise they can indulge in homemade snacks that they/I have made, which they enjoy more ).
In addition the school does not allow pastries or juice, strictly water only. Of course they can have infused water with fresh fruits. My kids love these infused water as they look 'cool'. It's not ideal for every kid but my kids love them and also embrace healthier choices. If they want some 'junk' sometimes we re- make whatever 'junk' it is, like own crisps. It's fun for the kids and you know what is going into it.
For me, there is no harm in me not packing them chocolate, crisp, fizzy. I know they are kids and should enjoy and I do but I want them to make healthier choices. I still allow them junk but at a limit (on parties/occasions they can go knock themselves out with sugar). And if they choose to spend their hard earned money on a junk I let them, reminding them to be wise on what they spend their money on.Something that will satisfy them for that moment or something like a toy or game that will hopefully satisfy them longer.
Because their school is trying to achieve the gold standard for healthy eating (bronze right now) they have also changed their catering supplier 2 years ago and they have joined the 'healthy eating schools' initiative last year. I don't know about the quality of school dinners but according to the catering website they only use fresh products.
On Fridays the school allows one 'junk' in their lunch if they wish. But strictly nothing with peanuts or fizzy. Kids also earn tokens and depending on which year group earns the most point they get a reward.But not really fair, if some kids are constant with their healthy lunches and are not being acknowledged. Yeah, my kids complained. If you get three red tokens you are sent a letter home if no changes are made parents are summoned to the headteacher.
To add to it.Cereal bars are not allowed.But you only get caught out if the lunch people that supervise catch you out, I guess, because even I have been sneaky to see if they ever say anything to my kids.But nothing.My son tells me that he has to show his lunch in order to get a green token. I sometime like to test the patients of the school.
Gah! I typed alot..