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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

is breakfast cereal an adequate school lunch?

214 replies

Oneborneverydecade · 07/09/2020 16:12

DD is in year 3. She's a fussy eater and it seemed like a good idea. School have said it's not adequate. I appreciate breakfast cereal is often quite high in sugar but the only sandwich fillings she will eat are sweet.
There's no SEN and yes I accept full responsibility for having a fussy child. It would be great if she wasn't, and actually she's getting better but mostly at teatime, but I needed a solution for right now

OP posts:
OwlBeThere · 07/09/2020 17:33

It’s food. If she’s happy to eat it, and she’s not left hungry then I fail to see the issue. Those who talk of ‘pandering’ to fussy kids usually have no experience of kids who will and do starve themselves. Ignore those people, they’re clueless and lucky to have good eaters.

GeorgiaWeLoveYou · 07/09/2020 17:36

I would probably just send her with a chocolate spread sandwich, the two pieces of fruit she likes and a yogurt or something high in protein like some ham (if she'll eat this). I wouldn't put a cake/biscuit in her lunchbox if she has chocolate spread.

You could also try a thermal flask to keep something like pasta warm, as a pp suggested.

Arthersleep · 07/09/2020 17:40

How about Quorn party eggs? Cold sausages? Cheese oatcakes with a dairylea triangle? Then fruit and yogurt?

Arthersleep · 07/09/2020 17:41

Or cold pizza?

HeronLanyon · 07/09/2020 17:42

Cereal after a cereal breakfast isn’t good obviously and your school was right to question her lunch.
BUT something is better than nothing and if that is really where you are (that that is all she will eat) then you will need to talk to someone at school and start the long process of her getting some help to widen her diet if at all possible.
Almost don’t dare to ask what she has for dinner !
Good luck op.

bumble79 · 07/09/2020 17:45

It depends on the cereal. Thankfully DC's school have never really asked or questioned what the children eat for breakfast. Imo cereal is fine. My daughter is fussy too. She won't eat toast, we don't have time for anything cooked. She does like cereal though. What's so about it?

Cereal is better than nothing. When I was a kid my mother never got up on time. She never give us breakfast before school. I'm not saying that for sympathy but just because a quick breakfast like cereal is better than nothing!!!

bumble79 · 07/09/2020 17:46

Oh I mis read your post. I thought you meant for breakfast. 🤣

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 07/09/2020 17:47

It seems as if she’s better with hot food than cold. I’d either get a thermos flask if allowed or bring her home for lunch and give hot lunch there.

TempestHayes · 07/09/2020 17:52

No. She can't just live on sugary food.

She needs to get less, preferably no, attention for this "fussiness". Place the food in front of the child and walk off. She will eat it, or not, but she'll eat it the next time because she'll be hungry. "Fussy" kids often just enjoy the attention and that they're given sugary cereals by panicking parents!

FindTheTruth · 07/09/2020 17:54

DD is in year 3. She's a fussy eater

  • Teaching kids to eat well can be tricky. Some ideas... (sorry if this is preachy)
  • get DD involved in choosing some nutritious, tasty options
  • involving kids in hands on cooking meals and snacks reduces fussiness, gets them interested and they might try things, and develop a healthy attitude to food.
  • asking kids to choose a recipe a week from a book or website to involve them and get them thinking about food
  • Teach kids about nutrition, food groups
  • Teach kids that the food they put into their bodies affects them
  • Talk with DD about why food matters and how she can learn to make the healthiest choices.

I appreciate breakfast cereal is often quite high in sugar but the only sandwich fillings she will eat are sweet.

  • Cheerios are highly processed, high in sugar and 2 servings is 2/3 of her daily sugar intake.
  • Sonja's ideas are good.
  • Maybe take your DD shopping and play a game where she can pick anything she wants for one lunch.. as long as it's healthy.
  • learn about the food groups before taking DD to the shop
  • See if you can start replacing things until most or all of the lunch box is healthy. Maybe stop buying chocolate spread... at least for a while.
monkeyonthetable · 07/09/2020 17:56

I agree with other people that it's worth sending in a pot of cereal and a carton of milk along with a number of other small, snacky foods such as fruit (pre sliced if you need) cheese cubes or triangles, mini breadsticks, carrot sticks, cucumber chunks, mini muffins full of fruit and ground nuts etc. If she sees other children eating similar foods she might be encouraged to try them. But if she is seriously fussy (ie would rather starve than eat most foods, in the way autistic children often are,) then you need to explain to the school.

Dinoctoblock · 07/09/2020 17:59

Mashed banana sandwiches?

MereDintofPandiculation · 07/09/2020 18:01

She has issues with eating food cold that was hot Would she be better off moving to school dinners and having a hot lunch?

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 07/09/2020 18:01

Most schools don’t seem to allow nuts so anything with ground nuts would be out.

AnxMummy10 · 07/09/2020 18:02

If the issue is cold food, then you can try the thermos or heated lunchboxes?

They are great for pastas and soups.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 07/09/2020 18:10

OP - Has she tried school dinners? I know it’s usually more expensive but might get her eating a wider variety.

ODFOx · 07/09/2020 18:10

Was it cereal as a snack thing or the main component of the meal?
A pp suggested Bircher muesli. That's full of protein if she'd go for it and even if school aren't sure they wouldn't have a leg to stand on nutritionally.
If she eats most things but has an issue with hot vs cold, some things which are never hot: dip ( you could find a meaty one or even a fruit spread) with strips of pita bread; home made microwave crisps with no salt, tortilla chips made with wraps, etc. Try a different dip each day or even 2 dips, one sweet one savoury. Fruit salad incl the fruit she really likes.
Give her a good breakfast so if she doesn't eat much lunch she'll still be ok but she still has the opportunity to have a go.
You have my sympathies OP. Mine were the other way round, but I still got comments from the TA when I sent a box of cold roast dinner and a flask of gravy. You just need to give them what they'll eat and make sure the home meals balance everything out! Good luck.

Witchend · 07/09/2020 18:13

I have every sympathy with your dd.

My school lunch was 1 digestive biscuit and sometimes a piece of cheese because dm recognised I would eat nothing if she provided me with her ideal of a healthy packed lunch (dsis had 2 brown cheese rolls, an apple, a bag of salad and a yoghurt for example)

I am very grateful that she was able to give me that and not put me under pressure to eat (although she tells me now she waited a call from school if they ever noticed)
I still find that if I feel under pressure to eat I really can't eat anything and will just feel sick, and I still hate packed lunches and have to work myself up to eating one, even with things I like and even if I'm very hungry.

Have a chat with her what she might eat, and start off with just a little of it. If you gave me too much I felt I would never finish, so I might as well not bother trying. Explain to school you're trying to build her up gently. And meet her at the school gate with a hot dog or something she'll eat.

CottonSock · 07/09/2020 18:14

Chocolate spread, if you mean nutella it's probably not allowed at most schools due to nut allergies. Or is there a nut free choc spread?

ODFOx · 07/09/2020 18:14

Primula or laughing cow if she likes melty cheese. Show her that it's cold and meant to be cold and let her try it at home. Do they still do dairy Lea dunkers?

Muller corner yogurts: a bit of cereal or jam but a high calorie protein rich yogurt too.

Gancanny · 07/09/2020 18:15

There are nut-free chocolate spreads

Witchend · 07/09/2020 18:16

"Teaching kids to eat well can be tricky. Some ideas... (sorry if this is preachy)

  • get DD involved in choosing some nutritious, tasty options
  • involving kids in hands on cooking meals and snacks reduces fussiness, gets them interested and they might try things, and develop a healthy attitude to food.
  • asking kids to choose a recipe a week from a book or website to involve them and get them thinking about food
  • Teach kids about nutrition, food groups
  • Teach kids that the food they put into their bodies affects them
  • Talk with DD about why food matters and how she can learn to make the healthiest choices."

All that is great, but it would never, and still never would persuade me to eat something I don't like.
It's a bit like the parent who explains gently to little Timmy that it's not nice to hit because it makes Jonny feel sad. Timmy might understand that-but it'll probably make no difference to him hitting him next time when he's playing with something he wants.

JinglingHellsBells · 07/09/2020 18:19

Honey Cheerios are awful. I think they are 30% sugar.

A dietician will tell you that anything over 5% sugar is high sugar.

You need to read up on advice for fussy eaters- which includes introducing new foods on a regular basis. Children can 'need' to try a new food up to 30 times before they will accept it.

You put it on their plate, make no comments, and then throw away if they don't eat it. If you eat the same foods, it sets a good example.

hamstersarse · 07/09/2020 18:20

Breakfast cereal is not a healthy meal at any time of the day, never mind for lunch.

Coco Pops have 84g of sugar per 100g
Haribo have 77g of sugar per 100g

You say she likes something sweet - maybe just go straight to the Haribo?

CrunchyNutNC · 07/09/2020 18:21

I wouldn't do jam/chocolate spread - too sugary for daily use.

Bread (ideally brown) thickly spread with real butter would be better if fillings are a no-go.