...to think that this is an appropriate packed lunch for an 8yo

[sashangel]

My DD is is going on a school trip today so have had to put a packed lunch together. She is very tall and thin for her age. She is also very active doing lots of different sports through the week. It consisted of

A ham and coleslaw wholemeal wrap with watercress salad.
A pot of Carrot, cucumber, baby tomatoes and olives
A pot of Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and kiwi
Light Babybel
Mini Pepperami
Pot of ambrosia rice pudding
With water.

I was speaking to another mum who looked completely horrified (not joking) that she didn't have crisps and at least one chocolate bar to go with it and if she had only gave what I had to her DD she would get a telling off.

I thought what I have put together was a healthy and appropriate amount of food for an 8 year old. Is that right or have I completely fucked up and have a very hungry and grumpy DD later.

I'd love a child that would eat all that healthy food! The only fruit the youngest eats are grapes and raspberries. The only veg is cucumber. He only eats ham or jam in a sandwich. Won't eat cheese either. I've tried many other things but it comes home. He doesn't like crisps either. His packed lunches are very boring and small.
Your daughters sounds great.

Pictish you're absolutely right...How could I forget the obligatory description .... Just in case (god forbid!) anyone got the impression she was short and stout ...

A ham wrap isn't very filling. Chicken might have been better. Neither the fruit or veg. Healthy yes but filling no.

I'd have put a bit more carb in there for energy.

And you know, won't someone think of the environment!? All that out of season imported fruit and veg. Will someone think of the air miles!?

My kids have a small packet of mini cheddars or similar at school every day. I don't really see the problem they also have a small bowl of icecream after their dinner and shock horror they occasionally have haribos and fizzy pop too!

To the people who say "replace with more fruit or veg" , how much fruit and veg, esp veg, do you expect a child to eat?

How is chicken 'more filling' than ham? They're both forms of protein.

You know this is a reasonably balanced and healthy lunch. Just like you know that the inclusion of crisps wouldn't be healthy. Why are you therefore seeking validation on here?

OMG, lozz, they're surely morbidly obese and destined to get every disease known to humankind!

Hahahaha expat

Surely if you're old enough to have a school aged child you'll already know people's opinions vary a lot. Also you'll know what your dd will have. I think people tend to pretend to be taken aback 'well if I/dd/ds did/said that....' blahdeblahblah. Yawn in their face.

Sounds ok, bit stealth boasty but I think I can improve.
I'd take out the processed ham and add lean turkey mince, or maybe some fruit and veg, ditch the high salt content processed peperami, switch with some fruit and veg and also get rid of the full of sugar rice pudding... maybe swap for some fruit and veg?!?!
Can't believe pp have actually suggested taking out the only exciting bits of the meal, your daughter will be tall and thin and very healthy... and starving!

I'm so glad I know none of you are real and that you are, in fact, pixels on a screen and figments of my imaginations because my DD's packed lunches would send most of you into a tizzy of epic proportions.

Her packed lunch is as follows, as it has been since she started school and probably will be until she leaves: a ham sandwich (made on white bread, but only the white bread that I make in the bread maker and not shop bought white bread as that is TOO white) with the crusts cut off and cut into 4 triangles; a packet of quavers; a packet of animal biscuits and a bottle of water.
No fruit, no veg, no yoghurt. Nothing else. Once upon a time she hinted that some rasins might be nice but they came home unopened, were declared to have gone 'off' and never talked about again. I once did put in an apple but it had a few nice days out in her lunch bx then came home to be thrown away.

DS now gets lunch from the canteen but up until he left primary school he had a ham and cheese sandwich, a packet of quavers and something biscuity. He once took a small yoghurt but hs teacher asked me never to send yoghurt again as he came back in after lunch rather high and had to be peeled off the ceiling.

I should add that my two children have ASCs and know what they like to eat (nothing remotely healthy and the beiger the better) and won't be swayed.

Deep sigh.

I'd swap out the light babybel for some orthorexia, the ambrosia for some stealth boast, the pepperami for some attention-seeking and the pots for good ol' plastic wrap or bags or something that can't be recycled and doesn't biodegrade.

Ooh, forgot the light babybel!

it omes to something so devastating when parents or people have to see on places like this if there food is ok!shit-in-hell
nothing on you OP just on the world and ur having to do this.be happy everyone please.love yourself and food and find all thing glorious,just for a second.PLEASE!

I supervise the packed lunch hall in a primary school and I think it is an excellent lunchbox (except the pepperami) well deserving of one of my 'healthy lunchbox' stickers 👏🏼
The water instead of a sugary drink is particularly healthy...well done you! You honestly would not believe the crap some poor children have everyday!

Ha ha expat, love it

My child would be HORRIFIED if I put a Babybel or a Pepperami in her lunch box. She's practically perfect in every way and, even though she's only seven, she knows it's child abuse when parents allow their kids processed food.

You should be so ashamed of yourself.

You honestly would not believe the crap some poor children have everyday!

DD's school sent out a letter about packed lunches, they said one kid came in with an easter egg.

Yeah, those other mums with their crack and Red Bull! There is such a thing as a packed lunch hall supervisor? Who checks and gives out stickers? And my council tax went up so I can pay for that? Jesus wept, no wonder some people have become idiots.

I think fajryflake is a midday. She's just doing what middays do, getting them to eat vegetables. I loved her post and i want a sticker off her

In dc school they're not allowed to have crisps, chocolate, sweets, biscuits, cakes for lunch. Yeah I know but it seems to be a proper thing in a lot of primary schools in Dublin, not so much when I was a kid. So what Op has listed (aside from the pepperami as we don't eat meat) would be fairly normal lunch box items though not all at once for a normal school day.

However on the much anticipated school trip day they are allowed to have some of these and would be very disappointed if they didn't find chocolate and crisps in their packed lunch. So on that basis Op you are a negligent and cruel mother

That sounds like a huge amount of food unless the portions are small. My DS is 9 and eats for Britain he has a ham sandwich, drink, biccies and crisps for his lunch everyday and he comes home with some.

And no my child is nowhere near fat in fact he eats way more than I do and install and skinny. He is a fussy eater. He won't eat fruit or veg at lunch time even though I've tried but why waste food and money if he isn't going to eat it?

I wish people would stop parent bashing!

oh god I sent my 4yo dd in with a packet of monster munch, sandwich, yoghurt, apple and a bottle of water today for a trip. I'm feeling quite inadequate.

(OP, stealth boast methinks)