Packed lunch police

[penneforyourthoughts]

DD’s school has changed their packed lunch policy and no longer allows them to have juice cartons of any description.

I know that there are bigger problems in the world but it’s made me pretty cross. DD is quite food avoidant and I do my best to pack a sensible lunch for her but I like the fact that I can give her fruit juice (flavour, texture and one of her five a day, I think).

I don’t want to make a fuss because it’s a great school but AIBU to raise it with them?

I get their point, but many kids just won't drink plain water. You need to cheat. Colourless squash in a water bottle is one way around this.

@TataMamma there are lots of good reasons not to drink fruit juice.

Put it in an opaque bottle. My son is only allowed “water” so I buy flavoured water.

Not in the UK, but my ds2 has just started at primary here, and there are shock horror no rules at all for what you can pack in their snack boxes. None at all. You can literally pack anything your child will eat.

And somehow this is not a problem at all.

@FatBettyintheCoop

Do posters really give a fig about what other parents feed their children on?

Thank god my kids school doesn’t have any rules around lunchbox contents other than ‘no nuts’.

Education, like the NHS, has nosedived under the Tories. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I do care somewhat what other parents feed their children.

In an educational setting if my child is surrounded by children either massively undfed, or pumped full of sugar then I can imagine that my child's learning environment isn't going to be optimal if they are surrounded by tired, hyper children who aren't being fed what it takes to set them up for a day of learning.

Whilst I'm not agreeing to all school food rules, yes I have skin in the game when it comes to what the other children surrounding my children are or aren't being fed.

And somehow this is not a problem at all.

It is an issue when your child refuses food because the peers have something "nicer". Think a sandwich vs. a bar of snickers.

Maybe not in UK kids don't notice or care what others have?

When ds was little, his school banned cheese and full fat yogurts, telling everyone they could only bring in low fat.
That's OUTRAAGEOUS. And so ill-informed, which makes it even worse.

So what happened 20 years ago when this was not an issue in the UK, and what happens from Yr whatever when the lunchbox police no longer control everything, and well, yes, what about other countries where this is not an issue? Have schools maybe made it an issue?

@1940s doesn't most of what children eat happen outside of school? So the other kids being under/over fed etc is not really a school lunch issue.

@Derbee
It hardly comes into the must not ever consume category, as in so bad no parent should ever give it to their child. The point is this should be OPs choice. You don't think others should drink, fine. Just don't enforce it. It's fruit juice not crack FFS.

I think there are lots of reasons not to only drink fruit juice, but again, I think it's up to parents and children to decide what foods and liquids they consume, and fuck all to do with the school.
If there are any concerns, there are measures in place for schools to flag it up with the appropriate authorities. Telling all children that they can't have a biscuit, or a juice box, or a yogurt, or whatever, is utter madness.

[quote TataMamma]@Derbee
It hardly comes into the must not ever consume category, as in so bad no parent should ever give it to their child. The point is this should be OPs choice. You don't think others should drink, fine. Just don't enforce it. It's fruit juice not crack FFS.[/quote]
You CAN enforce it at school though. Lots of schools are water only, not juice. If you decide juice is SO important for your children (which it really isn’t, as it is much more damaging to teeth than nutritionally beneficial) then they can have juice at home, where they can brush their teeth (after a period of 30 mins or so) without having sugar sitting on their teeth for ridiculously long periods of time.

Talk to any dentist about how many very young children they’re seeing with cavities, because “they don’t like water” or “they can’t drink water”. They “need” juice in their bottles (), etc etc.

It is a parents job to teach and encourage their children to drink water. It shouldn’t even be an issue that they only drink water during the day.

It is a parents job to teach and encourage their children to drink water. It shouldn’t even be an issue that they only drink water during the day.

Well good luck with that. Because as a parent you don't exactly get to stand behind their back at school doing the encouraging.

It is a parents job to teach and encourage their children to drink water. It shouldn’t even be an issue that they only drink water during the day.
I am left wondering if some contributors here have had children! Or even know what they are.
The teeth point is overstated - we are talking one portion of juice with natural sugars, but if you are that bothered - if you are a parent, making your own choice - then use a straw and so no problemo.

@CatsArePeople errrrr, hence the not taking juice to school. You see how it works?

Children are much more likely to drink water at school if that’s all there is, rather than having their parents claim they “can’t” or “won’t” drink it so need sugary drinks instead.

I am left wondering if some contributors here have had children!

Or ever met a dentist?

@TataMamma a lot of people would say a carton of juice every day is too much sugar, even if you think naturally occurring sugar doesn’t pose a risk to teeth (although FYI, it does)

Children are much more likely to drink water at school if that’s all there is, rather than having their parents claim they “can’t” or “won’t” drink it so need sugary drinks instead.

Mine eventually learned to accept water by the time they went into secondary. But throughout primary it was a very long process.

Look, I've no problem with water being encouraged and freely available, I just personally don't think natural fruit juice should be categorised as a sugary drink like Coke or Fanta, and I don't think it's bad or wrong as part of a broader diet.
The more important point tho' is I just think the school are way over the mark. That they can enforce such a rule is irrelevant - too many schools like enforcing rules because it makes them feel powerful when they should be focusing on teaching. The point is OP should be able to make her own decisions on this. That you would make a different decision is fine, just let others make their own too.

I think schools can only dream of focussing on teaching.

@EerieSilence

The rule is there for a reason, whatever that is. Just follow it. Pretty simple really. Wow, that's a sheep flock rule.

Excuses are like arseholes, everyone has one.

@LeaveYourHatOn yes I agree. Lunch I think is important as it's going to get them through the rest of the day. But as a general question 'do I care what other people feed their kids' yes I do as it does have a knock on effect to how they learn and behave at school.

A very close friend works in a school and the children that have 'bad' packed lunches often have issues at home too. So whilst as I originally said I don't agree with every rule the lunch police dictate, I'm glad the schools take note and monitor.

[quote ImUninsultable]@Cailin66

When you've got a child with food avoidance then a glass is fruit juice or smoothie really isnt a bad thing[/quote]
@ImUninsultable what does food avoidance mean?

Fruit juice is basically middle class Coca Cola in terms of sugar. Dental decay is still the number one reason for hospital admissions for children. I personally feel ALL schools should be water only for those children who’s parents are giving them free access to sugar at home to minimise the risks of pain/infection/missed school/extractions. If a few lower risk kids have to miss out on some juice I really don’t care.

@Cailin66

A lot of kids with SEN have serious issues with food texture. Making them eat some fruit/veg/meat (whatever it is they csnt handle) can result in massive meltdowns.

It's different from just being a fussy eater. One of mine wont eact mashed potato. He doesnt have any actual issue with food, he's just being fussy and doesnt like it. Fine. I dont like mushrooms much.

But food avoidance issues are much more extreme, cause a very visceral reaction in a child and can lead onto very very bad eating disorders if you force it.