A loaf and a block of cheese is not lunch for ten days

[ZazieSheHer]

So some of the free school lunch boxes contain very little food.

Marcus Rashford condemns free school meal packages

“...a package, supposedly containing £30 worth of food to last for 10 days, comprising just a loaf of bread, some cheese, a tin of beans, two carrots, two bananas, three apples, two potatoes, a bag of pasta, three Frubes, two Soreen bars and a tomato”.

mobile.twitter.com/RoadsideMum/status/1348646428084760576

Can’t imagine what it’s like home schooling hungry kids. Would like to say I’m shocked but I’m not.

Today 12:00 zaphodbeeble

@Kissthepastrychef are your children 6 foot year 11’s ? That £3 is to feed kids right up to the end of school, a bowl of soup and a yoghurt would not be enough”

Indeed. And they’re not getting £3 per day anyway (which I don’t think is excessive for what is for many the only meal of the day) the boxes contain about £6 worth of food.

If my 6ft 3 son were eating what you suggest whilst trying to study, he would be malnourished in no time at all. Where’s the protein, fat, fibre, slow release carbohydrate (white bread is not a nutritious choice). He needs 3,000 calories every day to maintain his weight.

@Wheresmykimchi but they can’t usually claim for food.

[quote LatteToday]@Wheresmykimchi but they can’t usually claim for food.[/quote]
Perhaps not , but they are not equatable to starving children. They may have to pay for their lunch but they don't have the outgoings that these families do.

@Wheresmykimchi i only said what I said because someone else suggested that MPs can claim expenses for food, and that they couldn’t survive on that list for lunches. I think the list listed was reasonable for lunches.
And I’m not sure what outgoings you mean?

The point is to feed disadvantaged children a decent meal if it's their only one of the day. Not so one can go home and then have a sea bass or fillet steak. I can't claim for food in my job either, unless I'm travelling. And I also commuted to London in the Before Times.

The FSM facilitates them 'paying' for the food. They are entitled to a decent standard

And many people are reporting a decent standard of food in their boxes. Many people are saying they are happy and grateful with the food they received.

School hot lunches (free or not) are often things like a jacket potato with cheese or beans, a slice of pizza, some pasta with cheese. Not exactly nutritious or substantial. Do you complain about your child’s FSM at school not being good enough too? Or just food boxes that were put together in an emergency situation?

Yes some people are saying their box contents were inadequate, and circulating photos of chopped up veg and saying they ‘threw the cheese and soup powder straight in the bin because I didn’t know where it had been’. I think that poster added school gave her a £10 top up and an apology. But do you really bin free food from school if your children need it?

I’m guessing schools and catering have had to cobble together a huge number of boxes in a hurry, with no warning and no chance to order more suitable ingredients.

I think we need to remember the food is free, it’s better than nothing. FSM don’t ‘facilitate’ the parents of FSM paying, FSM are paid for by taxpayers? Of course it won’t be the same as a hot meal at school because we’re in a pandemic!

I think part of the problem is last time people got used to their £15 weekly voucher per child and assumed it would be the same every lockdown. And schools/catering companies/government realised you don’t really need £15 per child for 5 decent lunches.

Plus they had so many complaints about vouchers being hard to redeem or only for supermarkets parents can’t get to. So they’ve switched to boxes, a more cost effective option in the long run.

I don't think there actually has been even a single poster on this thread who said that.
I would personally be grateful if anyone sent a food hamper to my house (even if I didn't like the contents). But then I never got anything in my life for free.

A food hamper! It's hardly a fucking food hamper is it? I've never got anything for free in my life either, I'm lucky enough to have not needed it. Nothing to feel hard done by about though, is it?

think part of the problem is last time people got used to their £15 weekly voucher per child and assumed it would be the same every lockdown. And schools/catering companies/government realised you don’t really need £15 per child for 5 decent lunches.

They don't. Cut out the middleman companies who are adding nothing and save money. £10 per child per week vouchers/cash or less as per reasonable costing in the local area.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

As a taxpayer, do people realise what it would cost to give £15 cash per week to every FSM child?

There are 1.4 million children entitled to FSM.

If we have a 12 week lockdown, that's 250 million pounds.

Where do people think this money is coming from?“

Same place as eat out to help out, the Exchequer. Our family pays eye watering tax. We know which scheme we’d rather fund. FSM don’t generally kill lots of people, either. (Though with spoonfuls of god knows how old tuna, 2 week old bread and a slice of cheese taken from a multipack, maybe watch this space).

@HikeForward

The FSM facilitates them 'paying' for the food. They are entitled to a decent standard

And many people are reporting a decent standard of food in their boxes. Many people are saying they are happy and grateful with the food they received.

School hot lunches (free or not) are often things like a jacket potato with cheese or beans, a slice of pizza, some pasta with cheese. Not exactly nutritious or substantial. Do you complain about your child’s FSM at school not being good enough too? Or just food boxes that were put together in an emergency situation?

Yes some people are saying their box contents were inadequate, and circulating photos of chopped up veg and saying they ‘threw the cheese and soup powder straight in the bin because I didn’t know where it had been’. I think that poster added school gave her a £10 top up and an apology. But do you really bin free food from school if your children need it?

I’m guessing schools and catering have had to cobble together a huge number of boxes in a hurry, with no warning and no chance to order more suitable ingredients.

I think we need to remember the food is free, it’s better than nothing. FSM don’t ‘facilitate’ the parents of FSM paying, FSM are paid for by taxpayers? Of course it won’t be the same as a hot meal at school because we’re in a pandemic!

I think part of the problem is last time people got used to their £15 weekly voucher per child and assumed it would be the same every lockdown. And schools/catering companies/government realised you don’t really need £15 per child for 5 decent lunches.

Plus they had so many complaints about vouchers being hard to redeem or only for supermarkets parents can’t get to. So they’ve switched to boxes, a more cost effective option in the long run.

That is not why they switched to vouchers.

My point about facilitating was to whichever PPnwas trying to claim they aren't entitled to it because they didn't pay. The food is paid for.

Re your comments on some people having good boxes , great.

I assume then you would never have a problem with a service if other people had a good one?

www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/tory-corruption-trends-as-mps-ask-is-nothing-spared-from-their-greed/12/01/

Interesting that Chartwells got the contract...

And just a reminder that £15 pw is being paid to the catering companies, it's not being saved.

The bread is dated 03 November.

When was the photo taken?

@DenisetheMenace

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

As a taxpayer, do people realise what it would cost to give £15 cash per week to every FSM child?

There are 1.4 million children entitled to FSM.

If we have a 12 week lockdown, that's 250 million pounds.

Where do people think this money is coming from?“

Same place as eat out to help out, the Exchequer. Our family pays eye watering tax. We know which scheme we’d rather fund. FSM don’t generally kill lots of people, either. (Though with spoonfuls of god knows how old tuna, 2 week old bread and a slice of cheese taken from a multipack, maybe watch this space).

Quite.

@Ereshkigalangcleg but also cutting out middleman still costs as more catering staff would have to be furloughed which goverment pay.
The reality is even for the money given most of us could provide a better food box than that .
One large bag of pasta one week could be enough for month so following weeks could be substituted etc , to mix it up a little.

@HikeForward

The FSM facilitates them 'paying' for the food. They are entitled to a decent standard

And many people are reporting a decent standard of food in their boxes. Many people are saying they are happy and grateful with the food they received.

School hot lunches (free or not) are often things like a jacket potato with cheese or beans, a slice of pizza, some pasta with cheese. Not exactly nutritious or substantial. Do you complain about your child’s FSM at school not being good enough too? Or just food boxes that were put together in an emergency situation?

Yes some people are saying their box contents were inadequate, and circulating photos of chopped up veg and saying they ‘threw the cheese and soup powder straight in the bin because I didn’t know where it had been’. I think that poster added school gave her a £10 top up and an apology. But do you really bin free food from school if your children need it?

I’m guessing schools and catering have had to cobble together a huge number of boxes in a hurry, with no warning and no chance to order more suitable ingredients.

I think we need to remember the food is free, it’s better than nothing. FSM don’t ‘facilitate’ the parents of FSM paying, FSM are paid for by taxpayers? Of course it won’t be the same as a hot meal at school because we’re in a pandemic!

I think part of the problem is last time people got used to their £15 weekly voucher per child and assumed it would be the same every lockdown. And schools/catering companies/government realised you don’t really need £15 per child for 5 decent lunches.

Plus they had so many complaints about vouchers being hard to redeem or only for supermarkets parents can’t get to. So they’ve switched to boxes, a more cost effective option in the long run.

..the 15 pound is still being paid though.

Today 15:02 Nohomemadecandles

Katyppp
It's a lot easier to fling insults at posters you don't agree with than try to engage.
Lots of hyperbole, lots of whataboutery but no answers to WHY people cannot budget in order to feed their children.
Because they DO budget. That tight budget includes their children being fed at school 5 days a week. Are you really this obtuse ?”

Yep. Lot of them about.

@SaturdayAfternoon well spotted , that does seem strange

@GlitterSandcastle

That's acceptable for five days. Not ten

Well it is in fact five days’ worth - not ten. That’s been confirmed.

[quote LatteToday]@Wheresmykimchi i only said what I said because someone else suggested that MPs can claim expenses for food, and that they couldn’t survive on that list for lunches. I think the list listed was reasonable for lunches.
And I’m not sure what outgoings you mean?[/quote]
Travel , accomodation etc etc etc

I think you are reasonable , as sounds your DH, but it wouldnt be cricket to pretend MPs don't abuse expenses.

@Wheresmykimchi many buisnessmen and companies abuse expenses , although it is harder to do now than it used to be

The issue isn't the quantity of food so much; it's that the company are charging the Government £30 for that, which has been costed to about £5. It is thoroughly disgusting.

Indeed.

And sadly, I expect that a good number of people receiving these packages ether didn't vote, or voted for Boris to "get things done" or other rubbish the Tories spouted all over working-class electorates.

FuriousWithTheNHS

Did you know that prisons get more per prisoner to provide food for a day than primary or secondary schools get for pupils?

Well that doesn't surprise me in the slightest. Prisoners are fully grown adults, mostly men, needing three meals a day.

School children are children, some of whom are tiny, and they are funding one lunch per day.

What a useless comparison.“

Our son was 6ft 3 at 16 and very active. Not an, often muddled aged, man sitting in a cell upwards of 20 hours a day doing nothing.

What a useless comment.

ViaGetty

GlitterSandcastle
That's acceptable for five days. Not ten
Well it is in fact five days’ worth - not ten. That’s been confirmed.“

Yes, this evening after furore from every quarter. It’s conveniently for 5 days now. It was originally intended as 10.

[quote donewithitalltodayandxmas]@Wheresmykimchi many buisnessmen and companies abuse expenses , although it is harder to do now than it used to be [/quote]
Correct.

So why do we rage about parents who (rarely ) abuse the vouchers yet stick up for the government and allow their routine abuse of expenses to go unchecked?

It's a class issue. And the kids suffer.