To think school are way out of line with this.

[Kitkatmonster]

Email (screenshot attached) received yesterday from primary school. Child confirms that this actually occurred on Friday (single use containers and all). AIBU to want an explanation from school because I’ve no idea how this is in any way beneficial to the children. Notwithstanding childhood obesity and plastic pollution issues.

I don't understand the big deal? The fast food will be the 'options', the school will still have the daily stuff available e.g. sandwich or jackets.

In every school I've worked in there two options which change daily the the other options which are always available e.g.

Option1 - Roast dinner
Option 2 - Pork chops
Available daily - Salad
- Range of baguettes
- Jacket potato with range of sides

Please don't believe that the only choice will be chicken and chips.

Please don't believe that the only choice will be chicken and chips.

Well, it currently says exactly that and excludes every vegetarian child from the “fun”.

Most schools have an outside catering company that sets the menu, employs the staff etc and the company will try and increase uptake in the summer when a lot of parents switch to sandwiches. The head will be focusing on academic standards in the school. LA schools may get very little choice over the caterers, academies a little more. The polystyrene can be taken outside which is 'fun. The best bet would to be approaching the catering company with an alternative to polystyrene that serves the same function. Our caterers used a little paper bag. The meal is the same fish Friday one the children get all year with a salad bar and of course there is a veggie option. The popcorn chicken is really nice btw. It's a healthier coating that batter and no different than breadcrumbs. They get about 2 suggests worth. It would be nicer to have even healthier meals but you should see the waste on lentil lasagne day

@SoupDragon - Where does it say that's all they'll be serving? It's called common sense, surely the OP knows how their DC's school meals work?

Where does it say that's all they'll be serving? It's called common sense, surely the OP knows how their DC's school meals work?

It says what they will be serving right there on the menu. It clearly states that the “wonderful cook” will be preparing those items. Where is the vegetarian option? Why are vegetarian children excluded from the menu ?

Including a vegetarian option is called common sense. I assumed anyone could understand that. Or at every school you have worked at do they only provide vegetables/salad/jacket potato for the vegetarians?

Or at every school you have worked at do they only provide vegetables/salad/jacket potato for the vegetarians?

Where have I said that's all schools do to cater for vegetarians. Why isn't a sandwich or jacket sufficient on a Friday?

Stop looking for pathetic excuses to be offended. No child will care what is on the poster. It was emailed to adults anyway.

This is what happens when everything gets privatised.

The school tries to reduce plastic waste and encourage healthy eating while the cheapest catering company does what it wants to.

I work in hospital and is battered fish and chips in the restaurant every Friday - believe it's religious overtones about not being able.to eat meat on a friday

If it was served on a plate and included a choice of either baked beans or a simple salad then I wouldn't have a problem with it.

Good point about cardboard being biodegradable if not recyclable. I need to stop mumsnetting so late!

OP I'd be really interested to know what the reality turns out to be - if there are other options not included etc. (And if there is a veggie option why do they think it ok to raise excitement in other children by listing their "treats" but not vegetarian ones?) Thanks.

Odd. Fish and chips or chicken and chips are not usually served in polystyrene containers.

sleepy in the last maybe 5-10 years in my area they have all started to be served in polystyrene.
Now a few are switching to cardboard (previously it was paper) but some have not yet.

Bizarre to be marketing it like this as a big treat given huge numbers up obese children and high streets full of takeaways. I’m all for everything in moderation but I don’t think this is the way. Plus the unnecessary plastic after alll the recent coffee cup campaigns

If it’s any consolation OP, I very much doubt the polystyrene packaging thing will be reoccurring. These kinds of deals happen a lot at secondary - I remember my school doing some kind of ‘Chinese takeaway menu’ apparently served every other Friday in small noodle boxes - it happened exactly once.

Heard of it happening less at primary school as it’s been a long time since I was there, but I do remember having ‘fish fridays’ at primary at least - this isn’t anything new. One unhealthy meal a week won’t do harm - and if it’s anything like my school they’ll have salad, jacket potatoes etc anyway.

The lack of veggie option is something I’d flag up, especially considering it looks like vegetarians have been all but forgotten about on that menu - regardless of whether they already have veggie options available, they should at least promote that as much as they have the junk.