Are these school lunchbox rules particularly nonsensical? Or are they all this bad?!

[Nevertimeforcake]

So according to my (primary) schools ‘healthy’ lunchbox rules I can give my child a kitkat (biscuit based chocolate bar) but I can’t give them a small chocolate coin or some cubes of chocolate as these are solid chocolate. It seems to make no sense to me - indeed the whole policy seems to be a box ticking exercise so they can be considered a ‘healthy school’ by County. Does anyone know of guidelines/ rules that make more sense? I’d like to make a suggestion on improvements rather than just complaining!

Tbh the only thing I find irritating here is that they have included mr kipling cakes as the only cake option when you could make your own small slice more healthily surely? Maybe its just an example so people know they mean a really small cake

Ok well I withdraw my previous comments. I am clearly in the minority when I clearly understood what they meant by a 'Mr Kiplings' cake. Apologies to anyone offended when I said anyone in their right mind would know, clearly it's me that's not in my right mind

It's not really fair if you're gluten free because there are no sweet choices on the amber list. Most commercial gluten free stuff is horrible and expensive (eg twix/mr Kipling equivalent). So why can't the gluten-free child have eg tuna, veg and rice salad, a yoghurt, an apple and one or two squares of dark chocolate? Why is a commercial cake/biscuit bar, which is almost certainly full of processed crap, better than a small amount of plain chocolate? It just shows how little the people who write these lists actually know!

Strangely I always gave my children amazing lunchboxes...Not a single piece of chocolate, crisps or crap, just beautiful freshly made salads, vegetables, olives, fruit, hummus etc. But now as young adults two out of the three struggle with being overweight, but all their classmates, who lived on billy bear ham sandwiches and sweets are the skinny petite (‘healthy looking’) ones. If I had my time again I wouldn’t have bothered - I’d have just chucked in thin paste sandwiches and Aldi crisps and fruit shoots.

That's a refreshing admission, Wearywithteens. Being overweight isn't necessarily down to junk food. My secondary age dc have a variety in their packed lunches, but quite often have crisps or a chocolate biscuit (no lunchbox police at secondary school). They are pretty non-sporty kids too, unfortunately. However, they are both slim and in good health.

*Thepilotlightsgoneout
I’d love to see my kids’ faces if I tried to put lentils, kidney beans, quorn or chickpeas in their lunchboxes

I don't know why you seem rather pleased at this fact... It's very sad.*

Believe me, I’m not pleased. I’m sorry if it sounded that way. I’d give my left tit for them to eat that kind of stuff. They won’t even have ham or cheese in their sandwiches and turn their noses up at 90% of what I give them. I’ve tried EVERYTHING. DH and I argue about what to do. I lose sleep over it.

I basically gave up a couple of years ago and now I’m just trying to keep them alive and fed until adulthood and it’s not my job anymore.

I basically gave up a couple of years ago and now I’m just trying to keep them alive and fed until adulthood and it’s not my job anymore.

Amen to that!

Solidarity for you.

@TheKeatingFive

I get you OP, the list is a bit daft. Why are wotsits and Mr Kipling cakes okay, but not a donut? Hmm.

You could spend thirty seconds googling the comparative nutritional statistics to answer that question.

Er it doesn’t say no chocolate coins it says no chocolate bars. But also just don’t give your kid chocolate in their lunchbox

I think the list is actually pretty clear and am not sure what the fuss is about? When we were at school we were allowed anything apart from nut containing products and fizzy drinks. There is nothing wrong with eating crisps, chocolate or sweets in moderation when a person is eating three balanced meals however many parents are not feeding their kids such treats in moderation so schools step in to ensure at least one meal a day is balanced.

DD’s school, no sweets, nuts, cakes and in the last 2 years moved to no waste.
So everything as to be in a lunchbox or a reusable wrapping.
No plastic wrap, no plastic packets.
(Yogurts is in one of those reusable pouches)

The school looks a lot better without rubbish floating about.

What about dark chocolate? but I guess not many children like dark chocolate unless its covered in honey XD @Icanseewhyichangednyusername

I would struggle with this. We’re vegan so my child doesn’t get dairy.

I really don’t see anything wrong with a little bit of chocolate in the lunchbox.

I don’t thinks schools, in most cases, should be dictating what goes into the lunchbox. The can advise, but ultimately it’s up to the parents. I say in most cases because I would make an exception in cases of clear neglect and malnutrition, such as if the child was just having chocolate or whatever.