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Original poster

Are school dinners healthy?

56 replies

HungryHippo11 · 16/09/2021 22:14

What is the general opinion of school dinners? I know they're free but this is what my daughter has had this week:
Sausages and mash
Omelet and diced potatoes (chips)
Pizza and wedges (chips)
Some sort of vegetable pie and roast potatoes
Fish fingers and chips
All come with a portion of veg.

I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure if a mum posted on here that her child had chips 4 times in a week, that wouldn't be considered a healthy diet. And I realise they're on a tight budget and for some kids the alternative is no lunch, so they're providing a service the best they can. But would you be happy with this? I'm thinking I might just send her with packed lunches instead.

OP posts:
EmeraldRaine · 16/09/2021 22:19

She hasnt had chips 4 times in a week though. She's had them once, and chips once a week isn't going to hurt her. Confused this is perfectly normal food for most children.

Original poster
HungryHippo11 · 16/09/2021 22:21

Roast potatoes, diced potatoes and potato wedges are all just different shaped chips though aren't they. Whats the difference between a potato chip and a potato wedge?

OP posts:
SkankingMopoke · 16/09/2021 22:23

If they were ever actually served what was on the menu: Yes.
In reality: No.

CallMeNutribullet · 16/09/2021 22:24

I think they make healthier versions of child friendly meals though with less fat and sugar and more veg. Those meals are all perfectly fine

CallMeNutribullet · 16/09/2021 22:25

In DDs school they offer a meat and vegetarian option every day as well as baked potatoes, sandwiches with fruit and pudding or soup with fruit and pudding

Stompythedinosaur · 16/09/2021 22:25

Our school dinners seem healthy.

That menu doesn't have chips four times. No problem with having potatoes four times, they aren't particularly u healthy it is the fat in chips that is a problem.

MintyGreenDream · 16/09/2021 22:26

No salt is added so a lot if it is bland.Sugar free desserts too.

Original poster
HungryHippo11 · 16/09/2021 22:27

@CallMeNutribullet

I think they make healthier versions of child friendly meals though with less fat and sugar and more veg. Those meals are all perfectly fine
It mainly looks like freezer food to me, I don't think their chips will have any less fat than the ones you get from the supermarket, I doubt they're making them from scratch.
OP posts:
Original poster
HungryHippo11 · 16/09/2021 22:28

@Stompythedinosaur

Our school dinners seem healthy.

That menu doesn't have chips four times. No problem with having potatoes four times, they aren't particularly u healthy it is the fat in chips that is a problem.

Oven chips, oven potato wedges, oven roast potatoes and oven diced potatoes are all just different shapes of the same thing though.
OP posts:
BloomingTrees · 16/09/2021 22:29

Would your packed lunches be any healthier ?

Original poster
HungryHippo11 · 16/09/2021 22:29

@CallMeNutribullet

In DDs school they offer a meat and vegetarian option every day as well as baked potatoes, sandwiches with fruit and pudding or soup with fruit and pudding
Ours have a meat or veg option - no jacket potato or sandwich option unless you bring your own. DD has had a mixture of the veg and meat choices here e.g. omelet and veg parcel were vegetarian choices the others meat.
OP posts:
EmeraldRaine · 16/09/2021 22:29

Roast potatoes, diced potatoes and potato wedges are all just different shaped chips though aren't they.

Erm... No, they aren't. Are you being serious? There are multiple ways you could prepare each of those things which affects how healthy they are, and only one of them are chips.

If the free school dinners aren't good enough for you then yeah, switch to packed lunch and send her in with whatever else you think is more suitable. But she isn't having chips 4 times a week, you're being ridiculous.

Ohdoleavemealone · 16/09/2021 22:31

I don't think they are massively healthy considering the rules they impose on lunch boxes.

Original poster
HungryHippo11 · 16/09/2021 22:31

@BloomingTrees

Would your packed lunches be any healthier ?
They would be more varied at least, would contain veg she would actually eat and no fried potatoes.
OP posts:
Original poster
HungryHippo11 · 16/09/2021 22:32

@EmeraldRaine
Please explain to me the difference between a frozen potato wedge, and a frozen potato chip, besides the shape.

OP posts:
TinselTitsAndGlitteryBits · 16/09/2021 22:32

That's perfectly fine for school lunch.

If you don't like it, send her in with packed lunch. Simple.

Original poster
HungryHippo11 · 16/09/2021 22:34

I'm really surprised that people think its fine. If someone came on here and said "critique my child's dinners" and posted that list they would be lambasted!

OP posts:
RamblingFar · 16/09/2021 22:35

From my experiences in many schools as a supply teacher - no, they are not healthy at all in most places.

Very carb heavy, very little and badly cooked vegetables or a few slices of iceberg lettuce as a salad.

ginsparkles · 16/09/2021 22:36

Our school prepares fresh so the wedges wouldn't have been frozen, nor the roast potatoes. In the main the school dinners are healthier versions of the frozen meals most kids will eat.

Stompythedinosaur · 16/09/2021 22:36

Oven chips, oven potato wedges, oven roast potatoes and oven diced potatoes are all just different shapes of the same thing though.

But they are cooked differently. Potatoes aren't innately unhealthy!

Pinkflipflop85 · 16/09/2021 22:36

Our school dinners aren't from frozen and the potatoes on offer aren't fried.

MandyMotherOfBrian · 16/09/2021 22:37

@EmeraldRaine

Roast potatoes, diced potatoes and potato wedges are all just different shaped chips though aren't they.

Erm... No, they aren't. Are you being serious? There are multiple ways you could prepare each of those things which affects how healthy they are, and only one of them are chips.

If the free school dinners aren't good enough for you then yeah, switch to packed lunch and send her in with whatever else you think is more suitable. But she isn't having chips 4 times a week, you're being ridiculous.

No they’re not chips, but they’re all potatoes cooked with oil/fat, so different degrees of unhealthy sure, but hardly healthy.
PalmarisLongus · 16/09/2021 22:37

[quote HungryHippo11]@EmeraldRaine
Please explain to me the difference between a frozen potato wedge, and a frozen potato chip, besides the shape.[/quote]
Potato wedges are usually oven baked.
Chips are usually deep fried.

Original poster
HungryHippo11 · 16/09/2021 22:42

@Stompythedinosaur

Oven chips, oven potato wedges, oven roast potatoes and oven diced potatoes are all just different shapes of the same thing though.

But they are cooked differently. Potatoes aren't innately unhealthy!

I don't think they are cooked differently, they're all oiled and then oven baked. Maybe the roast potatoes are par boiled first before being oiled and oven baked but that's still basically the same.
OP posts:
Meatshake · 16/09/2021 22:44

I've been pleasantly surprised. There's pizza on Tuesdays and fish and chips on Fridays but every other day is ratatouille, pinwheels and new potatoes, vegetarian pasta with garlic bread, spag bol, chicken casserole.... I think it's a great mix of junk Vs healthy. Even on the junk days there's other options available- vegetarian chow mein or fajitas.

There's always a tomato soup option, jacket potato option or "grab bag" pack lunch style thing. Spot on, I think.