Page 8 | Schools aren't feeding children enough

Getyourarseofffthequattro · 05/08/2021 10:39

@Awalkintime

Neverrains It is a generalisation as it is most kids in school and I have worked in many schools. Yes there are the odd few who don't have oversized portions but it is few and far between.

Getyourarseofffthequattro A high percentage are overweight and this is increasing year on year but those that aren't overweight are developing bad habits and this could lead to obesity if they don't understand portion sizes as they get older.

Well then yes it's a problem but there are plenty of children like mine who eat loads and remain a healthy weight. In which case there is no issue.

It is not a bad habit to eat enough to satisfy you, you know that right?

Maggiesfarm · 05/08/2021 10:40

Mashed potatoes with lumps in, watery custard (+ lumps), everything brown, fat and gristle with the perennial smell of boiled cabbage? Those are my memories of disgusting school dinners op.

Maybe your son needs to take packed lunches to school, at least you will know he is getting enough. He can have a good dinner at home with you in the evening.

HarebrightCedarmoon · 05/08/2021 10:40

Maybe if I did I’d be as slim as them I'd probably eat too much to make up for it!

Neverrains · 05/08/2021 10:41

A high percentage are overweight and this is increasing year on year but those that aren't overweight are developing bad habits and this could lead to obesity if they don't understand portion sizes as they get older

Wait… so I should feed my children less than they need currently, so that they don’t eat too much when they’re older? I think SS may have something to say about me reducing the portion sizes of children who are on the low side of a healthy weight in case it leads to ‘bad habits’.

Whatwouldscullydo · 05/08/2021 10:43

I think the expectations these days fir school dinners are just too high. The funding to provide them has not risen in proportion to the rise in food costs and wage increases.

The reality is what really can we now expect for 2 pounds a meal when allergies, vegans/vegetarians and religious options are also provided.

Gone are the days of proper home cooled food in small.local schools. Now many schools are over subscribed , there isn't space for a kitchen big enough to cook food fir 400 kids and provide all required options .

The result sadly is poor quality , soggy food thats been kept warm for hours as its been brought in not cooked on site, and there are so many kids that the sittings aren't even long enough for the poor buggers to eat it.

Its shocking really. The kids deserve better. But that means funding so that won't happen will it.

Op probably just best swapping to.a packed lunch. Or lower your expectations

HarebrightCedarmoon · 05/08/2021 10:47

@Neverrains My markers were always 1) healthy weight 2) Able to concentrate at school 3) Teeth ok then I was doing a good job of feeding them properly. Of course there may be other health reasons why those things may not be possible but it was always something I considered.

ThanksIGotItInMorrisons · 05/08/2021 10:47

My son was exactly the same. Always starving after having school dinners. I contacted the school
And explained he is always hungry, don’t think he’s getting enough. If I recall correctly, they were happy for him to go and ask for more after everyone had had their ‘first’ serving. Think perhaps they had to clarify that kids could also have extra veggies if they wanted so kids could ask. Seemed to solve the problem anyway.

fourminutestosavetheworld · 05/08/2021 10:48

School dinners have to be 500-600 calories.

Get hold of the weekly menu and establish whether they are or not.

If they are, you have no grounds for complaint and can just provide him with a breakfast, dinner and snacks that make up the other 1000 or so calories he needs in a day.

If they're not, you can raise it.

But really, why not just send him with a packed lunch if you don't like them?

Neverrains · 05/08/2021 10:50

@fourminutestosavetheworld

School dinners have to be 500-600 calories.

Get hold of the weekly menu and establish whether they are or not.

If they are, you have no grounds for complaint and can just provide him with a breakfast, dinner and snacks that make up the other 1000 or so calories he needs in a day.

If they're not, you can raise it.

But really, why not just send him with a packed lunch if you don't like them?

Is that just the main bit, or does it include the cake and custard etc that they’re given for pudding?

Neverrains · 05/08/2021 10:52

[quote HarebrightCedarmoon]@Neverrains My markers were always 1) healthy weight 2) Able to concentrate at school 3) Teeth ok then I was doing a good job of feeding them properly. Of course there may be other health reasons why those things may not be possible but it was always something I considered.[/quote]
Yeah that’s my point really. Mine are all of those things, but a PP is suggesting I feed them less in case it leads to bad habits when they’re older.

HarebrightCedarmoon · 05/08/2021 10:52

The result sadly is poor quality , soggy food thats been kept warm for hours as its been brought in not cooked on site, and there are so many kids that the sittings aren't even long enough for the poor buggers to eat it.

It's the same anywhere in the UK though with cheap mass catering. The majority of services, theme parks, schools, hospitals, cafes all serving up barely edible muck. France and Ireland show how it can be done so much better. The government don't give a shit as they are mostly made up of the types who went to posh boarding school then posh university halls to having a housekeeper, private chef or wife cooking for them and subsidised meals and drinks at Westminster.

LadyDanburysCane · 05/08/2021 10:54

I often have a school meal. I always get a child’s portion as the adults portion is huge. I usually manage the whole main meal but often no room for the pudding.

I guess it depends on the caterer but there’s no way my DCs would have finished a meal the size if those at my school.

Jenala · 05/08/2021 10:58

My DS (6) has had a home packed lunch since reception for this reason. The portions are small and it's almost all simple carbs so he'd be starving after school. Now he has a sandwich, berries, then stuff like olives or veg, a babybel and chicken, ham or tuna and is therefore also fine til dinner.

Not sure why people are saying it's excessive what you give him op, if he's active and a healthy weight. Kids self regulate really well generally, it's us adults who can't. My mum was strict about when I could and could not be hungry and it was a nightmare

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 05/08/2021 11:00

I have no faith in schools and children eating since my DD regularly used to come out of school in an absolutely foul mood because they'd supervised her eating something like the Babybel from her packed lunch and nothing more (so almost all of it was still there to eat at coming home time). So about 80 calories to keep her going from 8am until school ended. And once, because she was never encouraged to eat anywhere near all her lunch (which she subsequently would hoover up en route home), I didn't put sandwiches in her lunchbox (thinking why have her eating ones that have been prepped since 7am rather than freshly made in the afternoon ones that I could take for her to eat after school). I got a letter telling me off for not having put enough in her lunchbox! Unbelievable!

Whatwouldscullydo · 05/08/2021 11:02

France and Ireland show how it can be done so much better. The government don't give a shit as they are mostly made up of the types who went to posh boarding school then posh university halls to having a housekeeper, private chef or wife cooking for them and subsidised meals and drinks at Westminster

Yeah we are a strange one here. We expect high standards while simultaneously being not prepared to invest in it or take on our responsibilities in order to free up time/space/money to obtain it.

Whinge · 05/08/2021 11:03

@NewModelArmyMayhem18

I have no faith in schools and children eating since my DD regularly used to come out of school in an absolutely foul mood because they'd supervised her eating something like the Babybel from her packed lunch and nothing more (so almost all of it was still there to eat at coming home time). So about 80 calories to keep her going from 8am until school ended. And once, because she was never encouraged to eat anywhere near all her lunch (which she subsequently would hoover up en route home), I didn't put sandwiches in her lunchbox (thinking why have her eating ones that have been prepped since 7am rather than freshly made in the afternoon ones that I could take for her to eat after school). I got a letter telling me off for not having put enough in her lunchbox! Unbelievable!

Did you DD explain why she wasn't eating her lunch?

RonaldMcDonald · 05/08/2021 11:04

Opposite land here
Children are fed terrible food in huge portions for school meals
Packed lunches are the only way forward

Neverrains · 05/08/2021 11:04

I’d be happy to invest in decent school meals for my children, but I don’t get the choice. I get told how much I have to pay and what is being served 🤷🏻‍♀️. So I send packed lunches which I do have control over.

Whatwouldscullydo · 05/08/2021 11:09

I’d be happy to invest in decent school meals for my children, but I don’t get the choice. I get told how much I have to pay and what is being served 🤷🏻‍♀️. So I send packed lunches which Idohave control over

It was only a few years ago wasn't it that some politicians were caught using the expense accounts for vets bills and porn viewings. Meanwhile schools are having t request donations for toilet paper.

No one in power seems to give a shit about schools. Its all one giant game of chicken where they increase expectations year after year whilst simultaneously reducing staffing and funding.

budgun · 05/08/2021 11:10

This is the amount of food he needs to be full though?

Eating to be 'full' is dangerous.

Neverrains · 05/08/2021 11:11

@budgun

This is the amount of food he needs to be full though?

Eating to be 'full' is dangerous.

Not if he’s a healthy weight, it isn’t. And by ‘full’ I assume she means ‘not still hungry’.

HoppingPavlova · 05/08/2021 11:12

with a normal packed lunch (popcorn and fruit for snack, sandwich, yoghurt, fruit, veg sticks, breadsticks and hummus and a cereal bar for lunch)

I wouldn’t consider that a normal lunch. Mine used to have 1 piece of fruit for recess and a vegemite sandwich for lunch (using good quality sustained energy bread). Some of mine were super energetic, very active kids playing every sport they could get their hands on at and after school most days. They never came home ravenous. The less energetic one wouldn’t even get through the whole sandwich. They all had a decent breakfast though - porridge or an omelette, things of that nature.

Whatwouldscullydo · 05/08/2021 11:13

Free school meals fir KS1 was a good example.

Sensible thing to do would have been to increase the criteria to include more of the children who would benefit.

Instead they put schools in a position of having to find time money akd space to accommodate this , and then limited who the suppliers could and the result was a massive drop in quality leaving those who really needed it in a worse position.

budgun · 05/08/2021 11:13

if he’s a healthy weight, it isn’t. And by ‘full’ I assume she means ‘not still hungry’

You make your assumptions and I will make mine 🤷🏻‍♀️

Snoogled · 05/08/2021 11:14

Portions are small I think. But also I know my children rush their lunch because they want to go and play. They actually tell me their friends rush them and say come on come on let’s go and they only have a chance for a few bites of sandwich sometimes and don’t want to left in the dinner hall sitting in their own.