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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School packed lunch.

157 replies

Weedinosaurus · 06/09/2019 13:43

I really don’t think I’m being U here but before I go to the school, I’m after feedback about dds packed lunch.

Dd is in Y4 and is taking her own lunch for the first time. She’s always had school lunches.
I’ve just received an email from school advising me to consider the content and portion size in dds lunch box and to ask the school if I need advice on providing an appropriate lunch.

Example lunch for dd today is:
Ham sandwich on wholemeal bread (1 slice of bread)
3 cherry tomatoes
Cucumber and pepper sticks
A pot of chopped strawberrries
A packet of quavers
Fromage Frais

For break time snack she took a banana.

I get that ham isn’t great and the quavers could be better, but isn’t it about balance?

I’m sure that’s an okay lunch? Or am I just uneducated?

Tell me before I look daft by asking the school what the problem is.

Dd is active and not overweight.

OP posts:
ChippingInLowCarbing · 06/09/2019 14:46

I’m totally failing to see what their problem
is. I can’t even work out if they think it’s too much or not enough?

Their interfering & patronising email would have steam coming out io my ears & I’d have to work hard on calming down before I went to ask them what the fuck they were on about

Topseyt · 06/09/2019 14:47

Butter the bread, not bead!! Stupid autocorrect!

darkcloudsandsunnyskies · 06/09/2019 14:48

The best food such as crisps and chocolate is amongst the best labelled. You know.

Other healthier foods not so good are cereals held together, salt, sugar, low fat yoghurts with added sugar it doesn’t work.

You really have to spend ages studying the small print listing the contents. Guess what. The manufacturers didn’t want a simple traffic light system. And with good reason too as things are rarely if ever that simple.

Disfordarkchocolate · 06/09/2019 14:51

My only change at that age would be to have half a packet of crisps, perhaps add cubes of cheese, chicken or a small portion of tortilla (eggy, potato thing in case my spelling is poor as usual). Mine liked wraps at that age too, just nicer to eat than sandwiches.

ChippingInLowCarbing · 06/09/2019 14:52

I know a 3 yo that would hoover that up then be looking for more and a 14 yo that wouldn’t eat that much

It means Jack Shit!

I’m sure the OP knows how much & what her DD wants/needs at lunchtime

It’s not like she sent her with an energy drink and family sharing bag of crisps FFS

Or a single carrot 🙄🙄🙄

higgyhog · 06/09/2019 14:52

would a roll be better? I used to get various packets and freeze them to give my sons some variety.

Worlds0kayestmum · 06/09/2019 14:54

My DD is year 5 and can't eat a two slice bread sandwich. She's started to prefer crackers to bread now so lunch today is two crackers (her choice) with some cheese, cucumber and tomatoes, a yoghurt and a kitkat. She had a banana packed for snack. I always ask her if that's enough or if she wants more packed but she's happy with that. Sometimes she will have a peperami but I'm trying to steer my kids away from processed meat at the moment. Its the same amount she eats at home

Original poster
Weedinosaurus · 06/09/2019 14:55

I’m liking the frozen avocado cube idea. I didn’t know such a thing existed. I’ll use this for my own lunch too.
Bread rolls are also a good option to try.

OP posts:
theendoftheendoftheend · 06/09/2019 14:56

Are you sure it wasn't a generic email sent to all parents?

PablosHoney · 06/09/2019 14:59

Half a packet of crisps! Grin

OMGshefoundmeout · 06/09/2019 15:00

I agree that putting in a little more protein would be healthy and wouldn’t overfill her. A bit of cheese or a babybel or a boiled egg or even some huumus in a tub.

SafferUpNorth · 06/09/2019 15:03

Sounds like a perfectly good lunch (maybe just drop the crisps) - I'd be surprised if the school has a problem with the contents or quantity. My money is on this being a generic email sent to all parents with kids taking packed lunches.

Skittlenommer · 06/09/2019 15:03

I would definitely cut the ham out. The World Health Organisation has classified processed meats including ham as a Group 1 carcinogen.

Belfield · 06/09/2019 15:07

Was it just you or a general email? I would lose the crisps and change for a babybel or another slice of wholemeal bread. My sons school has a ban on crisps/ chocolate/jellies and fizzy drinks so if you brought either you would get a note. I think it is ok on Friday only to bring in a small biscuit but that's it. Maybe the school is the same?

BlackInk · 06/09/2019 15:07

I'm DEFINITELY not saying that's a bad lunch, but it's quite a lot of different things to munch through in what is probably quite a short space of time. In most primary schools in the UK lunch is a rushed affair, with kids being hurried through to make way for multiple sittings... or with kids rushing themselves so they have time to go and play.
I wonder whether the note was because she was being 'slow' to make her way through all those items, so they presumed she had too much.
I would try giving three items for lunch - for example, a sandwich, some salad bits and a yoghurt OR some pasta salad, fruit and cheese OR a roll, salad bits and a cereal bar.

I don't think the school should be wasting their time commenting on what is basically a decent lunch, but you might save on waste if you give fewer items. If three get eaten and she's still hungry you can make a larger sandwich?

BI

MrKlaw · 06/09/2019 15:10

I'm nearly 50 and only get two slices of bread for my packed lunch. Need to get a letter sent back to my mum!

Groovee · 06/09/2019 15:10

I'd check first if it was a generic, the whole school got, first.

My friend's children didn't like sandwiches. They were very much, pasta salads, savoury rice, cous cous and in winter a flask of soup. She got letters home in their lunch bags saying she wasn't providing an appropriate lunch one day. She was not happy. Went to the school office the next morning. Head investigated that day then came to find her after school. Apparently they had a new lunchtime supervisor whose English wasn't translating well. So she didn't understand what was meant by appropriate. The person trying to explain had given up and said no sandwiches or such like as she didn't get crisps and a cake of coke was what they meant.

Hence when she didn't see sandwiches, sent the letter home in the kids lunch bags. 🙈

IamWaggingBrenda · 06/09/2019 15:11

Sounds fine to me. For those saying it’s not enough bread, ffs you know your DD better than random strangers. I can’t believe schools even do this.

7salmonswimming · 06/09/2019 15:11

You’re absolutely right and the school is batshit. It’ll all die down once the school year get into full swing.

IScreamForIceCreams · 06/09/2019 15:23

At our school, crisps would go back in the bag home. But that's generally the policy in NL, ditto with mueslibars, rice cakes and chocolate....

We often pack in a thermos pot (not the flask size, but pot, they sell them in Ikea) pesto pasta, it stays warm till lunchtime.

For fruit break it's banana plus drink (usually plain milk). Lunchtime pasta, drink and piece of fruit, or sandwich.

School also provides during lunchtime.

Interesting how different countries approach what is acceptable and what isn't acceptable.

AryaStarkWolf · 06/09/2019 15:47

In my kids schools(Ireland), they had a no sweets/chocolate/crisps policy so maybe that? Otherwise I don't see what's wrong with it?

dottiedodah · 06/09/2019 15:48

My son would eat 4 slices of bread at that age!.Huge appetite even now!.(still no spare inches to him though )However appreciate not all children are like this !.I find Lunch boxes fiddly to do (Still do DH s for him even now !sigh).I would make 2 slices and maybe look at the filling too:Tuna /mayo .Cheese and tomato./marmite .I also think maybe a Fromage frais /quavers are perhaps not ideal.Perhaps a piece of carrot cake or some Cheese sticks /Babybel?.See what they say?

doginthemanger · 06/09/2019 15:48

It may be a generic email. If it is it's pointless, other than as a ticky box exercise. People sending rubbish lunches won't pay any attention; the ones who will worry about it, like the OP, are providing perfectly good lunches already.

kateandme · 06/09/2019 15:50

screw taking the crisps out.its NOT junk its food.balance.moderation.
everything in moderation including sometimes moderation!
make sure you open up the conversation.so if she ever wants bit more or anyhting else?
id say you need to try increase the sandwhich to full buuuut if this si what she eats and eats little meals and more often then so be it.
she is growing so it might need to increase but nthing wrong there really.
and ham is fine.its a lunchbox this is what you put in sandwhiches at school

Original poster
Weedinosaurus · 06/09/2019 15:55

Just back from the school run. The email was directed specifically to me and others they thought hadn’t provided an appropriate lunch. I asked to speak to the teacher about it but apparently I have to make an appointment Hmm.

I’ve asked dd what she thought of her lunch and she was happy with it. Some of the pepper sticks are left but that’s it.
She’s now snacking on some bread sticks with soft cheese to dip them in.

I think I’m going to politely tell the school that I’ll be declining any advice and whilst I know ham and quavers aren’t the ideal food, that I really believe balance is key and that when you put lunch into context and in the bigger picture of her overall diet, health and lifestyle, then I’m not concerned.

I have really appreciated some o the lunch box suggestions though.as this is new, I’d only really planned this week and would no doubt have been looking for ideas for variety very soon.

For the record, I haven’t/won’t be giving a ham sandwich or that combo of food every day.

OP posts: