To think two fruit snacks a day will rot primary school teeth

[fruitbat2021]

Infant school insisting that children have 2 fruit snacks a day and it must be fruit. Can also be raw veg but unfortunately my children don't like raw veg without a dip. I might send it in with a dip.

You can send them RAISINS but not a piece of cheese. How can this be healthy for their teeth? Every time I tell my dentist he visibly shudders.

Do other primaries allow non fruit snacks?

You are actually right OP though, the best thing for them to snack on is not fruit. From a satiety perspective and a dental perspective cheese is much better.

Also you need to consider that it can be genetic so just because your children are haribo all day long and have no fillings it doesn't mean other children might experience tooth decay from just eating raisins 3 times a week.

Protect the masses not the few

My kids have always eaten 4 pieces of fruit every day, it's good for them. They also brush their teeth twice a day. My eldest is in her 20s no cavities ever, the younger ones also no cavities and perfect teeth despite having dummies as toddlers . Oh the horror 😂 like a pp said you will look back at this as a non problem.

We’re told we should aim to eat 5 different fruits and veg a day, and then we’re told it’s bad for our teeth and that we shouldn’t eat fruit .
My kids have taken some grapes and strawberries to school today for their snack. They brushed their teeth before school and they will brush them tonight before bed. I really didn’t think anything of it.

The fruit should be with the meals. All treats should be with the meals. It's not about the quantity of sugar it's about the frequency of attacks on your teeth.

Don't know why the OP is getting such a pasting about the dental health advice. The above is a known fact.

However, the OP says the school says the snack MUST be fruit. Then goes on to say it can be raw veg but her children don't like it. So in other words the snack must be fruit or veg. Not schools fault if they won't eat fruit.

@AlCalavicci

Send them in with a toffee apple and chocolate coated raisins

Good call!

I hate the schools food policing, OP. And I agree that kids need to watch their fruit intake. But then there are children that are sent in with literally chocolate bars and cans of fizz for lunch, so ...

The dentist every six months - what for?

If your kids have weak teeth, don't give them sugary stuff. Most kids will be fine with that amount of fruit. It's not their fault your kids don't eat veg (they probably would if that's all they had in front of them and everyone else was eating their snack)

Meet them at pick up time with a babybel if they like cheese as a snack. When my girl was at primary every parent of the little ones met them with a bag full of snacks - cheese, breadsticks, fruit, veg, crackers, rice cakes....and yes the evil crisps (oh the horror).
Give your kid a teeny tiny apple for morning snack and 3 cherry tomatoes for the afternoon snack - and meet them at the gate with the other snacks.

send in with carrot sticks, if they don't want them so be it, if they are hungry they'll eat it

As if parents don’t beat themselves up enough without worrying about the fact that they gave their children two pieces of fruit.

I find it more ridiculous that you can't send them in with cheese.

Your dentist should not be telling you you should not snack. I have a feeling that your dentist is a bit of a tit.

The dentist every six months - what for?

Children usually see the dentist twice a year, don't they? Or once a year for some.

@Crowsaregreat

The dentist every six months - what for?

If your kids have weak teeth, don't give them sugary stuff. Most kids will be fine with that amount of fruit. It's not their fault your kids don't eat veg (they probably would if that's all they had in front of them and everyone else was eating their snack)

Mine go to the dentist every six months. Why not?

But yeah OP please don’t send humous into a primary school... it’s really messy and sticky if it gets split.

The no cheese could be because of a child with an allergy though.

Holy fuck what level of neuroses are we reaching with the snack-eating
Cheese not allowed!? 2 fruit snacks = dentures for life!
This way for orthorexia >>>>>>

@gorygilmore "the devil's candy" has just made me laugh so much, I've spat my McLatté all over my speedometer 😂

Half a banana twice a day?
Personally I don't agree with schools enforcing what parents feed their children. Saying no chocolate or whatever is fine, saying you must eat this is not on IMO. That's overstepping IMO.

Do you mean fresh fruit or dried fruit? I don’t think fresh fruit twice a day (even outside of mealtimes) is excessive. Tell your kids to have a good swig of water and swish it around their mouths to rinse their teeth if that makes you feel better?

Yeah just send them in with a couple of slices of carrot to shut them up.

@fruitbat2021

Infant school insisting that children have 2 fruit snacks a day and it must be fruit. Can also be raw veg but unfortunately my children don't like raw veg without a dip. I might send it in with a dip.

You can send them RAISINS but not a piece of cheese. How can this be healthy for their teeth? Every time I tell my dentist he visibly shudders.

Do other primaries allow non fruit snacks?

So don't send raisins, it's not compulsory you know. There are many other fruits, apples, grapes, cherries, kiwi, and so on. Mine hate raisins so never took them.

Anybody would think this was a thinly veiled teacher bashing attempt.

I mean if you want me to put things into perspective for you, when my eldest (who is now a healthy adult with all teeth intact) went to secondary school and she was allowed out at lunch time, her and her mates once went to Sainsbury's and pooled their lunch money to buy a birthday to share. Not the healthiest lunch admittedly but we had a chat and a laugh about it while suggesting better alternatives

Ours are allowed fruit/veg/crackers/oatcakes/breadsticks or plain popcorn in the morning and school provides the afternoon snack which is always fruit/veg.

Then they get muffins and biscuits at after school club

DS1s teeth are fine, though my dentist is also very anti raisens/dried fruit.

I don't have school age kids yet so the idea of snacks at school is surprising! We just had a packed lunch which was eaten at lunchtime. No chocolate allowed in it though. Only Chocolate biscuit like a penguin 😂

Your dentist would probably have a heart attack if he met my almost 4yo. He eats at least 4 pieces of fruit every day (2 at breakfast time, one or two at nursery for snack/lunch and another when he gets home from nursery), he just loves fruit! He brushes his teeth twice a day, only drinks water and rarely has chocolate/sweets. We’ve had no problems with his teeth and our dentist says as long as he brushes properly there’s nothing to worry about.