Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Lunch box police.... again!!

60 replies

Funnyfarmer · 11/04/2017 21:31

My dd 6 has been going to a holiday club during half terms for sometime now. She's only ever done afternoons though, but due to a change in my work pattern she now has to do some full days. Today was her 1st full day and it dawned on me I don't know what the arrangements are for dinner. Do they provide one? If so is it in with the fee or do I pay extra? So decided to do her packed lunch to be on the safe side. Dd was very excited by this. She's been asking for packed lunches for ages. When I got there I explained that I didn't know about lunch arrangements and she has brought a packed lunch. They said that's fine.
When I picked her up they said she hasn't eaten much of her packed lunch because she wanted to try the dinner they had provided. I found that a bit peculiar because of how exited she was to have her packed lunch. Anyway she said dd didn't like the cheesy broccoli pasta they had provided so she had some of her packed lunch which contained.
1 ham wrap, 1 pot of mixed berries, 1 frube, 1 packed of Crisp 1 mini lemmon tart and a juice box. All dd was aloud out of that was the wrap and the fruit. But they did allow her to eat the jam roly poly they had provided. Now I've heard about the lunch box police on here several times in schools but in holiday clubs? A holiday club that the main slogan is fun. They pride themselves on being nothing like school it's just all fun,fun,fun. Surly a break from school is a break from all these ridged food rules aswell or aibu?

OP posts:
43percentburnt · 11/04/2017 23:41

Ollie - I agree, I don't understand why it's assumed children cannot accurately relay what has happened to them.

But surely it can't be due to the contents of the lunchbox? If the holiday club staff are concerned about nutrition why serve a jam pudding and what appears to be only one portion of veg (broccoli) and no protein. Are jam roly polys a healthier option than a mini lemon tart? And without access to the nutritional info of the mini lemon tart how can they make this decision?

multivac · 11/04/2017 23:42

Surly a break from school is a break from all these ridged food rules aswell or aibu?

Maybe they should take a break from all those pesky safeguarding rules, too! It's all just fun, fun, fun!

ShelaghTurner · 11/04/2017 23:48

Mumsnet really is a rude nasty shitfest sometimes. Hmm

OP I would just send her in with whatever packed lunch you like next time and have a quick word on the door to say you've given her a packed lunch and she is to be allowed to eat it. It's a holiday club not boot camp and presumably you're paying for the pleasure of this. And if some little darlings can't cope with another child having a frube that they don't have, well that's tough luck. That's for the staff and the child's parents to manage.

Original poster
Funnyfarmer · 11/04/2017 23:48

I'm really not 'whinging' about anything.
But alas you've answered my question that they have to follow the same healthy eating rules as schools who are ran by offstead. Thanks I will sleep better now. Would hate to get over tired and forget to pack my dd's lunch in the morning.

OP posts:
DuncanDonut · 11/04/2017 23:51

OP seems to be getting a hard time for relatively little reason here!

We send DD7 to a holiday club a few times each holiday as well, and absolutely loves it - no particular guidance on packed lunches, and crisps and treats have never been commented on. I was annoyed that she was made to sit with the staff, away from the other children one day though, as she had a ... tuna sandwich! Hmm

Original poster
Funnyfarmer · 11/04/2017 23:52

Maybe they should take a break from all those pesky safeguarding rules, too! It's all just fun, fun, fun!

And I sound silly? Hmm

OP posts:
multivac · 11/04/2017 23:53

Schools aren't 'ran by offstead [sic]'

Ofsted is the regulator for all kinds of services that relate to children and young people - including schools, nurseries, childminders, holiday clubs, adoption and fostering, and other social care providers.

I tend to pack lunches the evening before, by the way. Saves time in those hectic mornings. HTH.

Nomoreworkathome · 11/04/2017 23:54

Maybe they should take a break from all those pesky safeguarding rules, too! It's all just fun, fun, fun!

Oh FFS...... really???? Hmm

multivac · 11/04/2017 23:59

Yes, really.

I can't actually see much evidence of 'lunchbox policing' in the situation the OP describes, to be honest.

But where it happens - daft and arbitrary as it is - it's the same in any childcare environment. Because Ofsted.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 12/04/2017 00:04

I have children who use holiday clubs and not once in any of the areas we have used them in, has there ever been lunch box nonsense. No restrictions no you can have this you can't have that (other than one that did the nut banning due to an allergic child).

It has just never happened, and I'm talking usually 4 kids at a time usually in totally different holiday clubs spread over years.

dustpan · 12/04/2017 00:08

It seems like it's the OP's spelling which is energising some of the caustic responses. Shame to find that dynamic in play here.

multivac · 12/04/2017 00:13

There was no 'lunch box nonsense' in my sons' primary school, nor any of the holiday clubs they attended, either. Just a few, sensible rules. Which I checked out in advance - just like I would check house rules with a friend if sending the kids there without me, even if the arrangement were made half an hour ago. I'm not sure why that makes me some kind of paragon of virtue. Although I'll take the compliment, obviously.

And dustpan - my 'sic' (have you actually read the thread) has nothing to do with spelling, and everything to do with what Ofsted does, and doesn't do. I.E. run schools.

WankersHacksandThieves · 12/04/2017 00:29

My DAd went to holiday club for years and years. Kids took their own lunch. Either a normal pack lunch similar to what you have described or they would happily heat up/ make something provided such as a tin of soup, beans on Toast or microwave leftovers if they were not out for the day. They tried to encourage healthy eating and would provide fruit, milk and water. Sometimes they baked and ate cakes, sometimes they had movie snacks.

They would have intervened if a child was given a tub of haribo for lunch everyday but otherwise just encouraged parents and children to have a healthy diet.

Original poster
Funnyfarmer · 12/04/2017 07:09

@multivac why would feel the need to "gather evidence" I had no idea I was on trial!
The title of "Lunch box policing" was because of the numerous threads I've read about this kind of thing and that is a very common phrase used on here.
Ok maybe Ofsted don't "run" schools . But in my humble defence your honour it was getting very late and what you said about regulators of services just seem very long winded for something that didn't have anything to do the original thread. And made no difference at all to point I was trying to put across.
And no telling me what time you make packed lunches really doesn't help I'm afraid.
I did check about the packed lunch as stated before I asked in the morning before I left. If I new it would be a problem I would have took the damn thing to work with me and eat it myself.
Anyway I'll just ask them again this morning. Or just ask for another copy of the initial rules and welcome booklet that they gave when she joined

OP posts:
Veterinari · 12/04/2017 07:19

How do you even know that they 'policed' her lunch box?

From what you've said no one criticised it, or asked you to change what you provided so it doesn't seem as if there was any policing involved. Perhaps your DD just preferred jam roly poly when it was offered to her?

I think you're getting a hard time because of your overly-dramatic interpretation of a a pretty commonplace situation. And rather than clarifying that situation, you've taken umbrage at the lunch box 'police' when to the rest of us it just seems like your DD preferred some of the hot meal provided.

Original poster
Funnyfarmer · 12/04/2017 07:45

How is it over dramatic?
If it so Common would it just not be easier to reply "yep it's pretty common" but know one has. If my dd tells me that that she wanted her packed lunch and not the meal provided is there any reason you think I shouldn't believe her?

OP posts:
AngelThursday · 12/04/2017 08:00

I think you're reading too much into this.
She wanted to try the dinner but didn't like the cheesy broccoli but did like the pudding provided so they gave her some of the packed lunch. What they gave her makes sense in context ie an alternative savoury - the wrap. And the fruit.
I don't think this is lunchbox police but adults looking after children trying to do the right thing.

AngelThursday · 12/04/2017 08:08

Another thought. Would you have been happy if they'd not let your DD try the dinner? In your OP you say she wanted to try it. So they let her. They can't reasonably give her both the dinner and the packed lunch!

Crumbs1 · 12/04/2017 08:24

They're doing your daughter a favour if they make everyone sit down and eat the same lunch. She's likely to try new things and to eat what's put in front of her. Has to be a bonus. Half the problems of child nutrition/fussing is this odd idea that young children need to choose what to eat.

Original poster
Funnyfarmer · 12/04/2017 09:25

I've just spoken to them they said do try to encourage they try what is what's offer which is fine. All I wanted to know if iwbu for packing crisp and cakes for a holiday club. I know you can't for school because of threads on here but didn't know if the same rules apply to holiday clubs?
It Turns out she she can pack whatever she likes and there are no rules. I'm happy she has a choice. That's why I won't allow packed lunches for school because I know there's no choice and sandwiches and fruit isn't great for a growing child everyday.
I just assumed that they would have explained this yesterday when I said " is she ok to bring a packed lunch"
I also know when some child carers "encourage" children to do things there basically telling them they have to and dd definitely felt they was telling her she had to try the dinner 1st.
I've always worked nights so never done the whole lunch time thing at day care or holiday clubs before.
Anyway it's sorted now don't think I'll pack one in future dd usually eats anything that's put in front of her but can become suddenly fussy if she thinks there's a chance of something better on the menu. Thanks for the replys everyone

OP posts:
SuburbanRhonda · 12/04/2017 09:34

All I wanted to know if iwbu for packing crisp and cakes for a holiday club. I know you can't for school because of threads on here

You'd be better off checking your child's school policy on healthy eating, rather than taking your lead from what people post on here. All schools are different.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 12/04/2017 09:42

So she was allowed to eat what she wanted.

Olli. Funny that, a 6 year old not relaying the situation totally accurately.

It doesn't mean you don't listen to them, it means when it's important enough you get the facts before leaping to conclusions.

Original poster
Funnyfarmer · 12/04/2017 12:31

Yes think she would have been aloud if she insisted on having the packed lunch. But she just isn't like that if a member of staff had said something along the lines of " oh you don't that. Why don't you come and try our hot food what everyone is having" she would have took that to mean they wanted her to eat the hot meal so therefore she should.
Dd doesn't have packed lunches at school so no need to check there policies as I've said it just slipped my mind to check with then club about lunches think I'm still in nocturnal mode

OP posts:
Mumzypopz · 12/04/2017 12:42

I think you are making a lot of assumptions here when it sounds like you don't know the full facts. You provided a lunch box, they may have forgotten that and given everybody the pasta bake, then realised she had lunchbox. By this time, she may have tried the pasta and not liked it. They gave her lunch box...Sorted. she may have been a slow eater, or they may have given her the pudding and she ate it, so they took the remaining lunchbox away. Why don't you just ask them. your daughter's interpretation of not being allowed may or may not be correct. Perhaps they had to clear away and get on with an activity. Did they actually say "you can't have that"? You just don't know. Anyhow, she had lunch, sounds like she liked it. End of really. If you aren't sure, just say tomorrow "she said she wasn't allowed her yighurt and berries, is that correct? And see what they say.

Mumzypopz · 12/04/2017 12:45

Sorry, just seen you have spoken to them.