Lunchbox contents fine for school but not holiday club

[TheLunchIsServed]

DD is 7, about to go into year 3 at school.

She doesn’t always have a school hot dinner so takes a packed lunch. Usually she has

• Ham Sandwich
• Cheese string or babybel
• Penguin bar or similar small type biscuit
• Cucumber and carrot sticks
• Apple orange or banana
• Water

Sometimes I swap the cucumber and carrots for a homemade yogurt (fruit and greek yogurt combined). School have never commented negatively on the contents of her lunchbox, only comment I’ve ever had about it was from the headteacher the first time she took a lunchbox and I asked if it was (she’d gone in late for a reason and was taken to class by the HT) who said it sounded fine.

DD is at holiday club while I work and is taking the same packed lunch with her. She’s been before to this holiday club but I had a call to say policy has changed and she’s not allowed the cheese, yogurt (even a homemade one) or the chocolate and that lunch has to contain two portions of vegetables. They’d rather I didn’t send sugary fruit – even though DD tends to eat that at morning snack time rather than with lunch.

They’ve suggested I leave in the sandwich, cucumber and carrots, swap the cheese for another portion of vegetables – they suggested some cooked and cooled sweetcorn or tomatos (which are fruit) neither of which DD likes. They said to leave the chocolate out completely.

It’s nothing to do with hot weather as the lunchbox goes into a coolbag thing when she gets to holiday club and DD says it’s still cold when she eats it (at school I put those iceblocks in when it’s hot to keep it cool and DD says it’s nice there too).

I can’t understand why her lunchbox is fine at school but not holiday club who I was expecting to be more lenient.

So AIBU to think as I’m paying £35 a day for the service they can ignore a bit of cheese and a small chocolate bar? Or AIBU?

And if so can you make suggestions that a 7 year old will actually eat?

Rules are:

• Two Portions of Veg
• No nuts or seeds
• No kiwi
• No tahini/hummus

[quote MrsCrosbyNRTB]@Maggiesfarm it was a mumsnet approved massive salad featuring new potatoes and avocado as well

My DC love mackerel but interestingly it’s also started to give me indigestion.[/quote]
It's strange that, isn't it. It has always given me indigestion when nothing else has really. I used to serve it sometimes as a starter, especially when my mum came over because she loved it. I like the taste, just not the after effects.

Yum yum massive salad,l love new potatoes and avocado.

Mumsnet threads often make me hungry.

The lazy Mirror employees clearly have F all to do.
They've picked up on this thread and published it.

There's absolutely nothing else going on in the world?

I would leave out Penguin bar but nothing wrong with cheese and yoghurt. If you are sending in cucumber and carrot sticks she is already having 2 vegetables.

What you choose to feed your child - which sounds great to me - is none of their damned business, they are being bullying and ignorant - I would ignore them personally

I would say I am the paying client and my daughter will eat what I chose unless there is risk of a severe allergy. Including chocolate because that is my call and not yours.

I’d be asking them where they’ve received their nutritional training from.

I’d also be asking if someone has a dairy allergy and if that’s why these things aren’t allowed.

Asking for no treat foods like chocolate/ sweets/ biscuits/ cake/ fizzy drinks I can understand (but don't necessarily agree with, because I think there's nothing wrong with treats in moderation.) Obviously anything that needs to be avoided due to allergies I completely understand too and would always follow. But no 'sugary fruit'?! Ridiculous.

Nothing said today at all and DD chose chocolate from the shop at the end of holiday club and opened it there and then to eat.

I think the manager of the our club can't be bothered to enforce the rule.

This is ridiculous. Nothing wrong with yoghurt. Nothing wrong with cheese (especially for a child) or chocolate in moderation. Nothing wrong with fruit. Madness. What you were giving her for school is well-balanced. I would make a complaint/criticism, not to the place itself as there'd be no point, but whoever is above them, the council or something.

Or could it be that a particular staff members has got the rules wrong? NHS website is clear that yogurt is a good source of protein, and fruit is fine as its sugars are bound into the fibres.

What on earth is wrong with cheese? Or yoghurt?
They sound completely batshit, and clueless about nutrition.

Or is there rabid vegan in charge, who wants to impose no-dairy on the kids? But then why would a ham sandwich be allowed?

I can just about understand the no chocolate bit, but it seems very mean for what is supposed to be something enjoyable.

I suspect this is one person being a bit of a food fascist. It's probably not the school/club organisers. Some people love a bit of power. So I would politely ask for all policies relating to the holiday club. You have a right to have them. If they ask why, you can tell them that you want to know all expectations relating to the service. They will probably wave away the need for you to have the policies. I would still politely insist. When you have them, check where it says that they need to eat X. If it's not a policy, you don't need to do it. If it wasn't set out as an expectation prior to the booking, you don't need to do it. There is nothing wrong with your packed lunch.

If you're feeling in the mood, you could politely ask for her help by planning all lunchboxes for a fortnight. Then ignore it.

Check the Terms and Conditions you signed. If there’s nothing in there regarding what you can, cannot send in, then refuse their “request” (although it sounds like a demand 😳).

A dairy allergy is different, but they should have mentioned that to you when they asked you not to send in cheese etc.. However, saying no “sugary” fruit suggests this has nothing to do with allergies.

I’d remind them that dairy products are an extremely important in children’s diets -sure you could direct them to an appropriate NHS info page about what’s necessary in a child’s diet.

I'd have a chat. The lunch is absolutely fine.

They are literally training your DD to be vegan. The ham will be an issue next . I would really let them know that as a young child she needs her calcium .

@snowflake29f They really are not. I can assure you that vegans have nothing against fruit and the fact that they said no cheese/yoghurt but nothing about meat, eggs and honey makes it sound like it is very much about allergies. Btw you can get calcium from lots of non-dairy foods, although they have also banned one of the best sources (tahini/sesame).

I would make a chunky chicken sandwich with a wholesome brand of mayonnaise ( containing eggs and dairy) , some lettuce and a bit of avocado or beetroot in the sandwich. Nice thick, wholesome grainy slices of bread in the sandwich. Then add the fruit and perhaps a hardboiled egg.

You have to be creative to ensure your dc has enough energy and nutrients, or else she is mostly going to be eating veg and fruit which have a high water content and are not very sustaining.a

Or make it a ham and cheese sandwich with wholesome grainy bread.

it wont be anything to do with dairy allergy as the bread and butter or spread may still contain it otherwise they would have to ban them to and even some ham can contain it. I now this as we suffer with dairy allergy.

Not allowing chocolate is pretty standard.its unnecessary.

However I would take issue with blocking dairy. It's a nutritious source of fat, protein, calcium & vitamin D and while there are other sources of calcium etc, it's a palatable and widely available and provides calories some kids need.

Many schools & childcare settings have children with dairy allergies (my niece...) and do not restrict these products from other childrens lunches. You cannot force such a broad restriction on children's diets.

Thanks for update, OP. Carry on as you are, then. :)

Even if it was to cater for someone with allergies, you cannot expect everyone to go without because of one child. My nephew is severely allergic to:
Dairy
Eggs
All seeds and nuts
Coconut
Seafood (except tuna)

My DB sends food in for school parties etc for all to share but never expects anyone to go with because DN cannot have it.

My own DD has a disorder which means she has trouble absorbing calcium so has to have a high calcium diet, so no cheese and no yogurt could seriously affect her calcium absorption.

Gosh the stress over bloody school lunches, hence why mine had school dinners but my healthy breakfast and balanced dinner.

Leave the dynamics to School and let them get on with it. As for out of school clubs, tell them to do one.

Ask them where in their contractual relationship with you they have stated they can police her lunch boxes.

Safeguarding people with allergies wouldn't explain the fruit thing at all either. That's just based on faulty science that actually discourages good nutrition, as fruit is a good thing to include in the diet, as well as having antioxidants etc.