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 :)

[Verbena37]

00100001
Actually, the OP just said primary.....didn't mention how big the primary is and therefore could be a small village primary with under 100 kids. Therefore making a quick appointment with the HT that actually be the norm. I know it was in ours. Even our second primary which has nearer 400, has drop in sessions with the HT once a week to chat about anything you want.

Also, last week, I emailed the large commpany that does our secondary school catering (for about 1200 students).
I explained that DS has ASD and a very selective diet and would love to have one of their hot dogs (nice chipolata in a baguette) but couldn't as they always come with onions added. As do the burgers, which come with tomato and cheese.
They wrote back in minutes saying they would love to help and that it was easy to remedy by offering the onions and other toppings and dressings separately.
I was overwhelmed with their helpfulness when I was only one person asking them to make a change.

So it can be done.

[Verbena37]

Ooh and the cold baked potato idea......you could have one hot and ready wrapped in foil for him to take each morning.....pretty sure it would still be warm by playtime.

[Porpoiselife]

A few bits of fruit should be fine, Bananas would be a good one for him at school. Mine don't snack, I don't get this whole snack epidemic thats going on.

They have breakfast (cereal), packed lunch of sandwich, fruit and something yummy like a biscuit. They don't snack after school and we eat on average about 6 - 6.30 in the evening. They all have clubs at various times after school and are active and not fat (or starving). (they age range from 3 to 15)

[LizzieMacQueen]

Give him a tin of baked beans and a spoon.

[BarbarianMum]

It depends which research you read Zany. There is a lot of research to show that many people (including children) need to eat less carbs/sugars, a lot more veg and move more. And that restricting the period of the day in which food is eaten is beneficial to health. Constant grazing is not good.

[DaphneDeLaFontaine]

What do you want to send him in with, OP?

[allegretto]

This is an issue close to my heart. DS (7) will not eat breakfast. We have tried and tried and he just won't so I usually give him a roll with marmite or similar for mid-morning snack for 10.30 ish when he actually feels like eating. Last week the school changed their policy to fresh fruit only for snacks (fruit juice not allowed). I sent him with fruit but I know he often won't eat fruit and I wasn't happy about it. Today I got called an hour ago to pick him up as he had fainted in class - not surprising as he basically hadn't eaten since last night! Really annoyed at this stupid policy - let parents decide what is best for their children!

[BarbarianMum]

They've tried that allegretto and the results have been rapidly rising obesity and activity levels dropping from age 7. And really bad teeth. Time for another approach.

[ComtesseDeSpair]

allegretto I'd be concerned about what you say happened. Healthy, well-nourished people don't just faint at 10am because they haven't eaten since dinner the night before. Has it happened before?

[LagunaBubbles]

Is he having a big packed lunch?

[MaryTheCanary]

Dunno about snacks in general but the school needs to stop the kids noshing on all that dried fruit. Even lots of fresh fruit is pretty bad for your teeth. I usually serve fruit after meals, not as a snack.

[Verbena37]

That's worrying allegretto. Could you pop some glucose tablets into his class teacher/first aided for if he feels faint?
That's what we had to do when the same thing happened to DS. After PE one day, he basically passed out and his heart was beating very irratically. The GP said to give him glucose tablets for school just in case.
I would speak to the school and explain that for medical reasons, your DS need to eat carbs at break due to not eating before school.
If not, could you wake him earlier so his body is ready to eat before he leaves for school? Or, like I did for my dd when she went through a stage of eating no brekkie, make her at least have a hot chocolate made with full fat milk. That was just enough to last until break.

[Whatthefreakinwhatnow]

Healthy, well-nourished people don't just faint at 10am because they haven't eaten since dinner the night before

This! DD1 wouldn't eat breakfast until she was 8, just couldn't get her to,so she went daily from 6pm to midday without eating. She never once fainted.

[nelipotter]

Make sure there are heaps of healthy fats and oils as well as the protein/carbs in the breakfast/lunches - these satiate and help fill you up with energy for longer. It was recommended by my nutritionist as a way of having smaller portions less often but feeling full for longer.

[PoppyFleur]

OP what does your child currently eat for breakfast and lunch?

[00100001]

Healthy, well-nourished people don't just faint at 10am because they haven't eaten since dinner the night before

I concur. what does your child eat on an average day allegretto?

[Floggingmolly]

If your child faints at 10am because they've refused to eat breakfast, why would you expect the school to make adjustments for this by allowing snacks to be eaten at will?

[allegretto]

I have spoken to the doctor and we will have tests done for anaemia among other things but I definitely think it doesn't help. He is also underweight.

[pennypeony]

Just beyond child won't/ doesn't faint from no food all day - does not mean another child won't!
We are all balanced differently. I have low blood sugar- with low body fat. I feel crap if l miss a meal/ snack. Obviously children are the same.
For what it's worth. Some of my children were educated in the US. The 'fruit snack' idea just didn't exist. Students used to use the classroom microwave to heat up popcorn!

[pennypeony]

Primarily school aged kids too!

[allegretto]

why would you expect the school to make adjustments for this by allowing snacks to be eaten at will?

I didn't say this though did I?

[BarbarianMum]

Also, there are enough carbs in a large banana (or two) to get him through from break to lunch. Obviously it's be better if he are breakfast but some won't. Will he drink a smoothie or glass of milk.

[Annesmyth123]

I'm at a loss.

Child doesn't eat breakfast at home.

Child faints later in the morning.

Yet somehow it's the fault of the school?

Tell the child to eat their breakfast or they'll faint! Give them toast in their hand on the way or a cereal bar. But why on earth would you make it the school's fault?

[allegretto]

Yet somehow it's the fault of the school?

The school only brought in this rule last week and I am not the only one complaining.

[Annesmyth123]

So what? Fruit veg only is a perfectly reasonable rule at school.

The reason your child fainted is because they didn't eat breakfast. That happened on your time, on your watch.

Tell your child to eat their breakfast and they won't faint.

Surely it's simple? Or am I being simplistic?