Free school meals

[FlatteredRhubardFool]

Not sure it's an AIBU but want to vent.

DC's term started 3 weeks ago. I've had 2 food boxes dropped off. The last one was a week ago and contained:

A rotten apple
A pre-frozen loaf of bread that went mouldy a few days ago
Cling film wrapped grated cheese that was use by last Sunday
Milk that was use by Sunday
A mini pizza that was use by Monday
Cake that was use by last Saturday

Eggs
Bananas
Oranges
Rice Krispies
Biscuits
Baked beans
Pasta
Pasta sauce
Margarine

There was also a leaflet on food standards and how each meal is supposed to contain unrefined carbs. Not sure how the white sliced bread, white pasta and Rice Krispies fits into that

I feel like I should be grateful but I feel quite insulted that dc has been provided with food that wouldn't last the week due to the short dates on things. I feel too embarrassed to contact the school.

I thought the issue of fsm had been resolved but looking at what has been provided by school it remains poor. The items themselves are ok but the use by dates are rubbish and therefore the food doesn't last the week.

When at school they get a fruit snack in the morning and a two course lunch so what they are sending is not compatible at all.

Thank goodness my other dcs' school has sent vouchers.

Tbh I'd be thankful for any help I receive not complain about what I dont.

Speak to the school. It's not acceptable, and no you don't have to be grateful for this rubbish.

Many schools are tied in to whatever their catering contractor provides but they my be able to top you up.

There’s still a lot there though even with the mouldy apple!

You’ll still be able to use the cheese even after it’s use by unless it’s mouldy.

Why couldn’t you use the items with short shelf lives first?

The food is supposed to be for Monday to Friday but lots was use by the end of the weekend.

That sounds crap re the dates, I thought they’d all moved to vouchers now.

Feed back to the school about the use-by dates.

So use it at the weekend and use something else for the week 🤷‍♀️. I’m sure you’ll have bought your own milk for yourself. Schools are doing their best but it’s never good enough for some people.

I have lots of stuff in my fridge that’s past use-by dates. Eggs, yoghurt, cheese, sour cream etc
Will be using them all
Grated cheese or cake don’t suddenly become poisonous after midnight on their use-by date

I bet if posters got a supermarket delivery with dodgy dates they’d be up in arms. In fact I’ve seen the threads.

Our primary move to vouchers next week as they had to place hamper orders about 3 weeks in advance

Did it contain any veggies?

When are you due the next one, OP? Could you post a picture of what you get so we can see and perhaps help work out how you could best use the stuff provided?

The problem is the government should have sorted this not the schools that are you know tryi g to educate kids.

@ThreadKillxr no, no veggies. No idea when the next one is coming.
I've done my best with it. I've made muffins with the eggs and bananas for break time/pudding, pancakes with the milk and eggs, cheese on toast, beans on toast, pasta.

At school they would get:

Sausages and mash and sweet corn or carrots or peas
Quorn bolognese
Vegetable burger and wedges and peas
Macaroni cheese or tomato and cheese based pasta with garlic bread
Jacket potato with cheese and beans
Pizza and vegetables

All with pudding of some kind usually cake and custard type things.

My point is it's not comparable by any stretch of the imagination.

I was about to say that’s awful reading the first half of your list, then read the second half and you actually got quite a lot of food!

It isn't going to be directly comparable to dinners in school. Mass cooking bolognese is very different to sending out ingredients for that individually so I think you need to not compare it in your head directly to what they get in school, however I would phone/email the school and let them know about the problems with the dates.
It could be that your box was a one off it is a wider problem but the school can't hold the caterer accountable if they don't know.

Quite a lot of junk food though - complain about the rotten and out of date stuff at the minimum - ask the school and also complain directly to the company providing them and possibly your MP?

I don't know why we are sending low quality food boxes, you can buy better on Morrisons etc.

That’s a really dismal collection of food OP - I’m not surprised you’re disappointed! Have you been able to contact the school at all to see if they intend to switch to vouchers?

Those suggesting the OP should be grateful to receive anything at all should have a word with themselves.

No, but it isn't ever going to be comparable. I think the problem though is the crap dates, the rotten fruit and lack of vegetables. As a PP said, it's a lot of junk type food. Was it just a one off? You said you've had two boxes so far, have they both been the same?

And yes, it does sound like you've been making the best with what you've got. It's shit, OP. And really not good enough actually. I can't believe there wasn't a single veggie! Not even a carrot. Ridiculous.

@KarmaStar

Tbh I'd be thankful for any help I receive not complain about what I dont.

I bet you wouldn’t. I thought this appalling attitude that if you’re poor you should just accept any old shit went out with the Victorians. How depressing that it still persists.

@turtletattle I think the problem is trying to do things last minute, so although there are better ways to get food out to families either through other methods or vouchers etc many schools already have a contract with their caterer, who also has a contract with their supplier and this is all based around caterer style meals in the canteen.

So I imagine the school needs their caterer to turn their hand to these lunch boxes fairly quickly but with limited supplies or they are spending double by still paying for their catering contract but also sending out morrisons boxes or vouchers.

Would you prefer supermarket vouchers?

Given the short notice and constraints, it's difficult for schools to assemble hampers. This was never something expected of them in the past.

You just think that the actual school meals sound great. Have you ever been into the school and saw what they seve up. Its not amazing, and it's not loads of food. Realistically they can't give out the food they offer in school.

When I’m on a budget I too would buy white bread and white pasta.

Of course it isn’t going to be comparable with school dinners. Mass catering for hundreds is very different to individually portioning ingredients.

Mention the rotten/out of date food (if they were that way when you received them) but tbh be grateful for the free food. It’s not intended to cover 3 meals a day 7 days a week!