AIBU - restrictive school snack policy, hungry child

[nemoni]

Our children's school (primary) has a policy of only allowing fruit and vegetables for snacks at school. Completely get the rationale - healthy eating, relatively easy to set parameters, no overly complex education needed around it etc.

The only problem is I have an active child - plays sport (on top of PE etc) 5 days a week and generally on the go. He comes home from school ravenously hungry, grumpy and tired. He's also going through a growth spurt. I'd like to be able to give him more carbohydrates, even protein, during the day as snacks, as I do on weekends, particularly on days he goes to after school sports sessions. I'm not asking for crisps/chocolate/jam sandwiches etc.

School so far saying no, no, no.

I think it's a cop out, it means they get to look like they're promoting healthy eating while not really promoting a balanced diet, kids are scoffing loads of dried fruit, and don't have access to a water fountain during school hours except at lunch. And don't get me started on school dinners.

Am I being unreasonable?! What parameters does your school set? How do they promote and support healthy eating? Thoughts welcome before I book a chat with the headteacher :)

[MadMags]

What do you mean by snack? At break times??

[ComtesseDeSpair]

The school I'm a governer at is also a fruit snack only school. I can see why, they can't have some more active DC sitting there eating flapjack and extra sandwiches or whatever whilst the DC who will just go home to flop in front of the TV are given fruit and veg, it wouldn't work.

Agree on bigger breakfast and lunch. Honestly, constant snacking really isn't necessary even for active people.

[greeeen]

I had a very physically demanding hobby at one point and larger meals with bananas and mango to snack on kept me going.

[Primaryteach87]

Avacado

[arethereanyleftatall]

Echo others - bigger breakfasts, bigger packed lunch are the obvious options.

Wrinkles - if someone can afford to send their child to a sports club every day, I would guess they could also afford to forgo the fsm and provide their own child's lunch if it's causing this much of an issue.

[WorraLiberty]

Don't most kids come home from school hungry, grumpy and tired?

I thought it was par for the course?

[arethereanyleftatall]

Once again, lol and good point worra.

[Sirzy]

How many snacks does he need?

Surely there is only going up be 3-4 hours before eating opportunities in school anyway?

The only snack ds has at school is the free fruit, that tends to be mid afternoon.

[SchnitzelVonCrumb]

at all these 7 year olds doing 5 days of sport (assuming weekend comps too)

[Shiraznowplease]

My ds is similarly very active and generally does a minimum of one hour of activity(taekwondo, cricket, rugby, tennis, swimming and athletics) every day. I give him beans on wholemeal toast for breakfast and that tends to keep him going as we have same fruit only policy. I also give him a protein heavy packed lunch and a snack to be eaten before his after school activity and he copes well.
The school have enough to do so simplicity is the key for them

[arethereanyleftatall]

Crumb - 5 times per week wouldn't be unusual in the area I live. 1.swimming 2 &3. Football practise + match 4. Dance/gymnastics/acrobatics 5. Running club. Done.

[WorraLiberty]

I'm surprised they're not allowed to bring water to school with them though. I thought most primary schools allowed it.

WRT the PE lessons though, they're mostly about an hour long and that includes all the kids getting undressed/dressed etc, so the amount of actual exercise they'll get, shouldn't make them particularly hungry.

A banana should keep him going for the extra sport, assuming he eats a good breakfast and lunch.

It's good to come home hungry as that generally means they'll eat a fair amount of dinner, and won't end up looking for snacks later in the evening.

[00100001]

YY to bananas as snacks :)

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

Unless DS is at a school where packed lunches are forbidden, I would agree with packing a big, healthy, lunch and keeping to the fruit at break policy.

A PP is spot on - school cannot possibly manage a "carby snacks for sporty people and fruit for non-sporty people" policy. Can you imagine the fallout of that?

[Socksey]

Hmmmmm..... I can see the problem... if your DC is anything like mine then he won't eat more at 6am.... trying to get anything into him at that hour is a problem.... big lunch helps but it's not until 12.30 so a long time and realistically a snack is needed... banana snack for then does help as it's more filling than other fruits.

[Socksey]

Hmmmmm..... I can see the problem... if your DC is anything like mine then he won't eat more at 6am.... trying to get anything into him at that hour is a problem.... big lunch helps but it's not until 12.30 so a long time and realistically a snack is needed... banana snack for then does help as it's more filling than other fruits.

[ifonly4]

I totally get the school are promoting fruit and veg, but just having a piece of fruit mid morning doesn't work for all. I'm a real snacker and get really cranky if I can't eat. I have breakfast, sandwich, decent salad and fruit for lunch, and a proper cooked meal. On top of this I'll probably snack 10am, (I have my lunch at 11.30am as I'm really hungary) so am ready for another snack around 2pm, then another 4pm and if tea is likely to be later, I'll probably have a couple of pieces of toast late afternoon. I weight 7st 4lbs (always have done) so I'm obviously burning it up.

My friend's daughter goes to a school were biscuits, chocolate, crisps, sweets, cakes are banned - parents are told about this before they apply, so are fully aware. Maybe this would be the better option as kids will have to eat fruit or veg some time in the day along side sandwiches, cheese, yogurt to keep them going.

OP the only thing I can think of is a big breakfast, maybe a piece of cheese/nuts on the walk to school, a couple of pieces of fruit, as much as he can eat for lunch and a snack for the walk home.

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

I'm surprised they're not allowed to bring water to school with them though. I thought most primary schools allowed it.

I'd go so far as to say it's compulsory at DD's school. When DD forgot her water bottle one day, I had a phone call asking me to drop it in "as soon as possible because she's thirsty." I would have thought school might have access to a cup & drinking water but never mind........

[Theresnonamesleft]

What snacks are you wanting to take in?

[ittakes2]

My son is very sporty, 3 football teams, tennis, athletics etc. Our school also has a fruit only snack policy. I give him porridge made with milk for breakfast and he doesn't want to even take a snack! Interferes with his running around time and I guess the porridge keeps him full.

[cantkeepawayforever]

I am presuming that he is in school for the normal 9uish - 3ish, rather than having a before or after school cklub?

So a decent breakfast - beans on toast or egg, porridge - at say 8ish? Then fruit at 11 at breaktime can be a banana. A good nutritious packed lunch, with lots of protein - or even eating the whole of a school lunch, including all the veg and salad - at c. 12.30-1ish? Then just a couple of hours to the end of school, when you can greet him with another snack - cheese cubes always went down well with mine, or cheese scones with cream cheese spread.

That all adds up to plenty?

If his sports sessions are within school, without a break - ours are often until say 4.30 pm - them you might want to ask whether he could, for example, have an extra babybel or cheese cubes or something in his lunchbox to have a quick snack before he starts. That would be reasonable, while asking for different snacks within the school day would not.

[pleasecomesoonspring]

A big carrot, big banana or large pear are all filling

[Lugeeta]

Send a banana and avacado, they are both quite filling? Our school is fruit/veg only too but dried fruit not allowed for snack time.

[pennypeony]

Many children don't finish their snacks or lunches as many schools don't actually make it a priority!
The lunchtime halls normally smell undesirable and that doesn't help.
That is why so many kids come out of school ravenous

[IamFriedSpam]

I can see why they do it but it does sound silly - not very balanced or healthy to consume enormous quantities of fruit, especially dried fruit! Can you send bananas for carbs? I would agree with sending a huge packed lunch though!