To be annoyed at "school cafeteria" rubbish on sale

[DismayedAnnoyed]

So, I ask my son last week "what did you have for lunch at school today?"

I got a long answer about how he didn't have time to join the long queue for lunch, how he had biscuits at morning break from the cafeteria and (he's on free school meals) then there's nothing left over then for lunch .

Obviously I'm annoyed at him for making bad food choices - he's 15 btw.

But why are they selling biscuits and loads of other crap? Last summer he was eating ice lollies for lunch - as they sell that s* too.

When I was at school you queued up - not usually for more than 5 minutes - then you got a main course and a warm pudding. There was no choice. It wasn't perfect - understatement of the year (spam fritters anyone?). But most of it was proper "food" of some kind. Warm pudding with custard (not a chocolate bar ffs).

Obvously my son continues to make poor choices which I've spoken to him about.

But why is the cafeteria selling this junk stuff? All this choice means that he - and his friends - are often just buying muffins, biscuits, sugary drinks and other rubbish for lunch.

I have complained to the school in the past but just get told there are healthy choices too .... my point is there shouldn't be "junk" choices for children!

You are the parent so if you want him only eating certain things then you could send him in with a lunch and control it that way.

Whining about the food that the government are paying for as you aren't is awfully entitled behaviour.

Contact the school and say you want your child to be provided with a lunch as he is entitled to one. Most schools have a system of turns to make the queuing a bit fairer. Not everyone can be first in the queue but I'd be annoyed if my DC missed out every time. But I don't think sales of biscuits and so on should be stopped. That's not the problem. The problem is them running out of proper food.

Is the menu on the school website? You could have a look to see which options are available, and, if you see fit, guide your DS.

It seems there are long queues, however, I'd ascertain from DS as many facts as possible before contacting school. I'm a teacher at a secondary school where there are long queues, however, everyone who queues up does get fed and choices do run out but there is always a healthy, hot meal available even if it's not identical to the one being served at the start of lunch.

Parents complain that their child didn't get fed and it turns out that a) they never joined the queue as they wanted to play football for the whole of lunch, b) they gave up queueing as they wanted to play football/copy their friends' homework/go and play on their phone in the toilet (we have a phones banned on sight rule) or c) they had a detention and when it finished their friends had eaten so they didn't want to eat alone.

But he seems to readily admit that the queues are long. Maybe he doesn't bother to join the queue.

At my son's school they kid of stagger the year groups so the trays are continually renewed. There are 4 main hot choices inc one vegetarian option plus a salad bar/baguette bar and sandwiches. D'S spent an entire year having a tuna baguette in year 9!

YANBU. Our secondary school also have a whole host of 'junk' type foods but as they also offer a few healthy choices they deem this ok.

My dc have very healthy lifestyles and know what choices they should make but if faced with a choice of ham salad or hotdog and fries for school lunch they will pick the hotdog and fries.

I don't think this sort of food should even be available in a school TBH. Mine usually take packed lunch but on the odd occasion they don't I can see they are picking pretty crap things! I'd hate if they were full time school dinners.

My school offers a range of foods cooked in-house. There are pre-packed sandwiches for those in a rush, a choice of 3 or 4 different hot meals, salad, fruit salad, hot dessert (with optional custard), pieces of fruit and some cakes/muffins/biscuits. Many of the staff eat there and it's perfectly reasonable. The only thing I wish they had was black pepper as it would improve the pasta no end!

Some kids do just take a slice of pizza and a biscuit. We might comment on it, but often these kids also have a packed lunch and the bought items are to bulk it up a bit. Parents are able to view what their child has bought each day.

Agree with OP that we used to have a main course and pudding for school dinners, and we ate it or went hungry. No opportunity to buy any crap. Pretty much the same at home, interesting how kids weren't such fussy eaters then.Many parents nowadays think it is the child's 'right' to exercise choice, but isn't it obvious that the vast majority of kids, faced with these 'choices', will pick the chocolate/crisps/rubbish options? If it's such a problem then send them with a packed lunch (and no money to buy crap).