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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nursery Meals - appalling?

383 replies

TheBlushBaby · 03/05/2017 19:06

I have been looking at nurseries and the meals provided. I plan to raise my son plant-based with white meats occasionally, and with no processed foods. I like to cook everything from scratch and can happily make extras. I make all sauces, seed loaf, and everything else I can.

Of course this works under our roof as it's how we eat, but this isn't the way for everyone.

I was very shocked reading the meal plan for the nursery. Can I send my son with packed lunch? Does their menu seem very carb heavy to anyone else? It's all cheese, breads, pastas, potatoes! Am I overthinking this?

Nursery Meals - appalling?
OP posts:
oblada · 04/05/2017 18:58

Op - have the child first before worrying about meals or indeed botox (you're 20!! Why do you even think about botox!) Or how long to bf for (my view on this would be to bf as long as possible and certainly not to curtail bf for the sake of botox...- that's from your other thread). You do not know how your child will be food-wise and whether he will have allergies etc. The menu of the nursery seems perfectly fine fwiw and a lot of his 'food education' will be done at home anyway so don't worry too much. And if it doesn't work out then send him with a packed lunch.
Completely beside the point but ... Sushi at school?? Where did u go??

Bunnyfuller · 04/05/2017 19:12

Plant based- we call that eating fruit and vegetables. Don't things get fancy!

BlueChairs · 04/05/2017 19:25

Carbs are not the enemy!! Especially on a plant-based diet. Carbs are energy and children need energy, they're not trying to lose bloody weight so stop restricting ( though I understand restriction of animal products if you're so inclined )

BlueChairs · 04/05/2017 19:29

Your school has salad and sushi?!!
I got tortilla pizza and cheese pasta ... honk you've been spoiled lol

Strongmummy · 04/05/2017 19:30

Is this a fucking wind up? it's fine, healthy. Kids needs more carbs than adults

GrumbleBumble · 04/05/2017 19:34

You inject poison into your face and thinking its a good idea to plan cosmetic treatments for a few weeks postpartum but you think toddlers eating a fairly well balanced diet is appaling? Somethings in life are far more important than surface looks. You may need to re think your priorities.

Hellofromtheoutside2 · 04/05/2017 19:37

I also struggled with the menu when I first sent my DD to nursery in the UK... the main meals were fine (what I would consider 'real food' eg fish pie or lasagne rather than anything fast foodish) but I could not get my head around puddings after every meal. Not fruit and yoghurt, actual hearty English school dinner type pud, EVERY DAY, possibly twice a day if your child had lunch and supper. They served really healthy snacks but supper was often very (white) bread-based. Wouldn't be my choice but I could live with that... puddings every day I couldn't so I'm afraid I became 'that mother' and just said she can only have fruit or yoghurt for pudding. They respected this although I think they thought I was a bit mad. They knew she had no allergies etc and if she nicked someone else's it wasn't the end of the world, but no way did I want full-on pudding to become a standard part of her everyday diet.

Compromise is necessary when your child goes to nursery but you will decide what is important to you and what you can flex on. And if you change your mind over time, just tell the nursery staff. But I would definitely check out how willing they are to respect your choices (not just food, anything else you feel strongly about or which may not be the 'norm') before signing on the dotted line.

Mrscog · 04/05/2017 19:42

Part of it though is that the portion size of these desserts is often tiny - I was a bit stressed about it with DC1 but then I saw the portion and it was like a dessert spoonful.

With DC2 I didn't give a shit as he was 0.4 centile after weaning and I was so stressed about how thin he was I just let him eat anything and anything! He's 2Yo and weighs just 9.5 kg! He can eat all the desserts he likes if he'll just eat something! (disclaimer - he does also eat healthy foods as well).

Unihorn · 04/05/2017 19:46

I'll say it again, how the fuck do people think kids getting fruit or yogurt once a day as "dessert" is going to make them overweight!!

Ameliajc · 04/05/2017 19:49

Sandwiches, Pasta and Pizza! YANBU, can your child with a packed lunch and tea or move nurseries!

drspouse · 04/05/2017 20:21

Unihorn well quite a lot of children start school obese. One in my DS class must be twice his weight (and DS is not underweight) and seems to be in about age 10 trousers cut down. Added sugar every day gives children a sweet tooth, and leads them to expect something sugary with every meal.

TessTube · 04/05/2017 20:29

Nursery cakes are often home made by the children with much reduced sugar..

Nearly every cake mine has there is home made.

It wasn't a sugary pudding everyday was it?

Mine have them at school and they don't expect them at home.

TessTube · 04/05/2017 20:30

Sorry I can't get into a sweat over those puddings. It's a scone twice a week banana and custard. One muffin which may we'll be home made then a lot of fruit.

Unihorn · 04/05/2017 20:38

I don't think a few bananas and some sugar free muffins are causing an overweight child any harm. I took chocolate spread sandwiches to school every day in primary school. Pre-pregnancy I was a size 8 with a BMI of 20. Sugar isn't the devil.

Willow2017 · 04/05/2017 20:57

Your worried about the menu but you want to inject poison in your face at 20 yrs old?

Seriously hypocritical there. You want your kid to have a natural diet as it's healthy but will be role modelling using poison for vanity!

Cutesbabasmummy · 04/05/2017 21:00

My DS is 2 and still on 9th centile abd us a fussy eater so I'm. More than happy if he eats pudding as it's calories!

kaytee87 · 04/05/2017 21:04

Looks fine, no need for the puddings though - fruit or a healthy yoghurt would be fine for dessert if needed.

Spoog1971xx · 04/05/2017 21:06

I understand OP
I think this is Shite too. Unfortunately we are in the minority having kids who eat 'adult food'. Most English people have diets so terrible that this is considered heakthy. Wait till LO is at school and don't get to run about, you will get a letter home about LOs weight after they feed them refined cramp five days a week
Enjoy!

Isadorabubble · 04/05/2017 21:13

People don't seem to know what good food is. I completely agree with you OP and would much rather my son ate what you have at home rather than that nursery menu. I don't think you mention not wanting to give your son carbs or fat but rather how processed the food is. I completely agree with you - the menu looks appalling.

cathf · 04/05/2017 21:15

Thing is Spoof, the OP's child isn't born yet, so she is still at the fantasy mother abd baby perfection stage.

HelloCanYouHearMe · 04/05/2017 21:20

I havent RTFT but my DS' nursery used to give him rice cakes and egg Envy

TessTube · 04/05/2017 21:39

I eat everything on that menu perfectly happily.

Obviously I am not very sophisticated then Grin

ThisAintALoveSong · 04/05/2017 21:50

I don't mean to cause offence here and maybe I'm a bit 'ignorant' but I genuinely can't see a need, unless for medical reasons to oppose a 'diet' on otherwise healthy children Hmm

As the adult who can make a conscious choice about what you prefer to eat and why then that's fine. But why do people insist their kids need restrictions on what is otherwise viewed as healthy and normal food if eaten in moderation?

user1493022461 · 04/05/2017 21:55

People don't seem to know what good food is. I completely agree with you OP and would much rather my son ate what you have at home rather than that nursery menu

People like you, clearly. You've gone so far up your own arse with your organic squashes and gluten free quinoa that you have no clue what real food is anymore..

TessTube · 04/05/2017 21:57

What's on that menu is good food.

To say otherwise is really silly. You might eat differently at home but that's not to say everyone else eats a pile of shite.