Primary School pizza

[orchardgirl4]

My child's school has arranged a pizza day as a school trip for year R (4 and 5 year olds). They had a pizza activity day at school a few months ago, and a couple of months before that the school catering company had a pizza day. With junk food advertising just announced, by UK gov, to be banned before 9pm and childhood obesity rates at 25.5% of children by end of year 6 and 15.4% overweight, I am quite cross and fed up of pizza being normalised and hyped up by the school. I want them to instead take the opportunity to cook a healthy dish, or look at and taste different seasonal veg and fruit.
If I complain to the school, is this an overreaction on my part? Would it make it difficult to have conversations with my child's teacher in future, having complained? Or am I ahead of the learning curve (I work with type 2 diabetic patients so I am very aware) and I should pull them up on this?

Our school cook used to make a truly horrible legendary pizza that looked and tasted like a washing-up sponge with a thin veneer of tomato paste and mild cheddar on top. Now THATS something to moan about.

Normally with this kind of activities you can opt out I suppose? And can also provide home pack lunch. Tbh if you're not happy with white flour you're not going to be satisfied with most school dinner options. Unless your dc chooses jacket potato everyday...

Yabu. Because now I really want pizza.

If you complain it will be one of those stories that teachers remember for years to come 'remember that batshit parent who...' so it might after some serious eye rolling give the teachers a well deserved laugh, although, you will gain the reputation of 'that parent' immediately.

Mmmm M and S pizza with ketchup? With a Maccies Apple pie for pudding...

Exactly. Chat magazine isn’t going to be coughing up 250 quid for ‘My daughter’s £7.50 a day margherita habit hell’.

Three slices of pizza in 6 months? Oh no.

I want them to instead take the opportunity to cook a healthy dish, or look at and taste different seasonal veg and fruit.

You know you can do this at home?

What do you usually feed them? On days you know they've had pizza at school, serve a (MASSIVE) salad, or a stir-fry, or a vegetable-laden dish in the evening. Or if you have pudding (even once a week), switch it out for a fruit salad. No biggie.

OP you sound like you have a very odd relationship with food!!! There is absolutely nothing wrong with a well-made pizza or even a really crap one now and again. A healthy diet is about balance not about demonising food groups.......white flour for example!!!

It would make a great documentary title, don’t you think? The ‘Supersize Me’ of 2022.

If you’re talking them going to dominos or Pizza Hut or getting in takeaway than yabu. But if it’s home made pizza with bread dough, tomato sauce, vegetables and cheese…. What’s the issue exactly?

I agree with you. Boring and not great health wise.
If you feel strongly about it, tell them. You are entitled to your opinion.
I think you make a really good point, there are so so so many more healthier exciting foods that the children could look at, try food from around the world, take ideas home for healthy eating.
Having had gestational diabetes i appreciate the high carbohydrates and sugar in pizza... And also the lack of nutrition!

You're going to give your children an eating disorder before long.

Incidentally, pizza is offered at lunch time most weeks, sometimes in disguise (e.g. loaded flatbread... a bread base with cheese and tomato).

By that logic was my cheese and tomato sandwich just a pizza in disguise?

Yeah, those weirdo Italians sending their junk food over here

As PP said - those poor Italian children with their pizza and pasta every fucking day.

Mmm pizza. We have pizza (deep pan stuffed crust) for dinner every Friday. Followed by ice cream sundae. Only 1 sleep go
Life is short, eat the pizza 🍕 😋

Obesity rates are low in Italy. Where I can tell you, pizza is very normalised.

In Italy at home food is taught and enjoyed and treated with the love and respect it deserves. Simple ingredients, with actual names. Including pizza. Maybe do that and let the school do what they do.

My DDs class went to the Christmas Market and had bratwurst and hot chocolate, and went to a Chinese restaurant. And to a theme park. And to the public pool for pizza...

She still happily eats her carrots.

What outcome do you want?

1. Teacher to cancel trip - unlikely as arrangements have been made and other parents informed.


2. Register your displeasure and complain - yes, this would work. It will also take time from someone who has to construct a response to you or waste valuable time on the phone on arguments about the obesity crisis and the nutritional value of pizza.


3. No it won't effect the relationship with your child's teacher other than to mark you out as a joyless PITA.

Pizza is essentially bread and toppings. It is akin to complaining about kids eating or making sandwiches with white bread. Your child will not be harmed by a pizza once in a while. They will doubtless enjoy making it and having a nice outing with their friends. School may well think twice about organising more trips if it only leads to hassle from parents.

My two have had pizza for lunch every Wednesday at school since the day dd1 started, she's Y4 now. That's a lot of pizza. As pp say, homemade pizza with a variety of toppings is a million miles away from a greasy takeaway.

Is this post real?

1 pizza day per term. I don't think think that's excessive. And I think it demonstrates that it's an occasional treat.

My kid takes pizza in his lunch box. It's home made, dough is flour and yogurt, sauce is roasted vegetable and tinned tomatoes blended then some cheese. Better than a cheese sandwich.

Normalise? Is pizza a gateway drug? To what exactly?

Have the teeny tinies arrived yet?
Have we had "lost sight of a normal weight"?