To think other children's snacks are irresponsible?

[cowgirljoey]

The official policy at DS's school (Year 2) is for them to bring a fruit or veg snack from home for break time. This seemed to be what happened when DS was in reception and Year 1, but over time DS tells me that his friends are regularly bringing crisps, chocolate bars and sweets in for their snack(s) and that he is one of the only ones who has fruit/veg each time.

Totally get that this needs fact-checking (I have a few reasons to think is is accurate), but if it is AIBU to think this is something I should contact school about? I don't think it's fair on the kids to be having junk food as a snack, and I've observed myself that lots of them eat barely any of their school lunch, suggesting that they aren't v. hungry at this point (understandable if they've had choc/crisps an hour beforehand). I think that parent are being irresponsible to be giving chocolate as a daily morning snack, but as I have no control over this, AIBU to think that school should be enforcing the fruit/veg policy?

I am a primary teacher and it is NOT my job to police the snacks people choose for their own children.

Reading the thread, it does sound like schools need to drop these policies and allow kids to eat what they want.
Easier for anyone who struggles with fruit and veg, ND kids and anyone depending on foodbanks. Hopefully healthy eating could be talked about and reinforced for those who can.

It does surprise me though the number of people who don't think a school rule should be followed, I'd be for trying to change the rule rather than just bringing whatever I want (but then I am quite the rule follower by nature).

Ummm no we do not. Its not your job to dictate what other children can and cant eat. Glad you werent 1 of the mums in my kids class. You dont know the children, they might eat very healthy at home and this is their only snack. I would keep your nose out, if you dont want your child to be bullied.

Did your school actually have a fruit and veg only rule but you sent in treats instead?
I'm not against treats at all, but my DC usually had a small treat at lunchtime or after school rather than during the fruit and veg only morning break.

It’s reasonable to be annoyed at a healthy eating policy that’s not being enforced meaning that some children are eating an apple for snack watching others scoff a mars bar. It’s not fair on the kids following the rules and it would be much easier for parents if everyone was having fruit or veg. Unpopular view but I think people are really irresponsible with their kids snacking. I’m all for teaching kids healthy eating. At least they have a chance of that if they are eating healthily at school.

Christ, do people this uptight really exist? What a joyless existence people have.

Why are you bothered??

If people can’t afford to give their children a piece of fruit everyday, then that’s the problem we need to address - not just give up and say. ‘Ah well, let them have an unhealthy life and die younger’. Every child deserves the opportunity to have good health not just richer ones who make their kids stand up to peer pressure. Getting bullied because their parent gives them fruit! Seriously!!
When kids didn’t get enough to eat long ago, it was a scandal. Now kids get too much unhealthy food - damaging their health- and no one gives a shit.

This is my one massive general gripe about most schools. Leave it to their parents FFS.
Worst meal I've seen
Baked potato, beans & peas as an alternative to curry (I blame Jamie Oliver)

I've seen kids in tears due to a policy of you must eat x before you get pudding or no chocolate biscuits but every other week a child in each class brings in a birthday cake to share or a certain teacher gives out smarties it's utter bs and gives kids unnecessary anxiety.
The worst, even with good schools, only drink water......on hot days this is a health issue for a child that doesn't drink enough (never mind the staff on caffeine and one teacher I new had a stash of red bull in the cupboard away from the children (and heads) prying eyes.

Well I think we can safely surmise that the replies on here are not the ones giving their kids fruit for snacks. I don't get it either. And this whole notion of butting out of other people's business is ridiculous. It absolutely does have a knock on effect what the other kids eat at school. I try to give my kids fruit and healthy snacks but the level of crap, junk food kids get given to eat at school normalises that stuff and makes it look harmless and totally fine and appropriate. So then I have to battle other parents shitty standards to hold my own.
That comment about kids snitching on other kids eating crisps is weird. They're just relating back what they see!? It's reporting on what happens within their school community.
Also. Now I'm on my high horse. This idea of don't you dare hold parents accountable! And you better mind your own business! is why obesity/diabetes is pandemic in this country.
Parents stop giving your kids crap! hold yourself to a better standard. Someone has to say it.
And fire away!!

Bet you're popular 🤣😂 FFS just worry about your own kids and keep your nose out of others business 😳🙄

I ate a bag of crisps and a club every day when I was a kid. I was never obese. I was healthy and did loads of sport. You are rather odd in your thinking tbh.

I think you should mind your business.

What if the child has cystic fibrosis. I got called if my grandchild’s lunch boxes because they were ignorant that they need all the foods we consider bad.

Just want to say, it's not correct to say that diabetes is a result of obesity and junk food.

YANBU we have a huge obesity problem.

But this is MN.

I'd mind my own business.

I'd let it go OP. I've worked in schools, 'healthy' schools and you should see the crap some kids bring in for snacks and lunch. It is mostly ignored because school staff have much more to worry about than what is in kids' lunch boxes and because they are nearly always met with abuse when parents are contacted about it.

This would be my approach. Simply because I might let them have a Kit Kat or cereal bar one day instead.

mine reason it may have been allowed to lapse is cost!

fruit costs a fortune! Especially compared to easily accessible, not quickly going off junk food ….. so I get it !!

but the policy ought to change slightly, to accommodate this. It should be ENCOURAGED to have fruit/veg as part of a balanced diet.

my children are much older than KS1 now and take cereal bars/rice cakes for morning break - extra when they know they’ve got PE. They take fruits in their lunch and generally have 5 portions of veg in their evening meal & often some fruit for breakfast. So if they want a brunch bar or a penguin before/after a PE lesson I’m not going to stop them.

i think it’s wrong to police or control what children eat. But opening letting them break a publicised school policy isn’t fair to others.
adjust the policy reasonably !
(if a kid turned up with a kg bar of dairy milk you’d expect a teacher to intervene before they were sick! …. But a snack size one would be fine).

dont KS1 children still get free fruit/veg snacks at morning break?! We didn’t hit this issue till year 3.

Exactly this. Questioning the sense of rules and learning that different people do things different ways are key parts of growing up. It’s no-one’s place to judge other peoples’ decisions. That’s called being a snotty busybody.

Also, sorry, is there a rule about how early your bins can be out?! I had no idea.

“In fact, obesity is believed to account for 80-85% of the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, while recent research suggests that obese people are up to 80 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those with a BMI of less than 22.”

• “The WHO suggests that more than 1 in 4 (28.1%) of adults in the UK are obese (has a BMI of 30 or more).
• The UK has the highest level of adult obesity in Europe

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-and-obesity.html

This article and stats are about adults, not children.

It upsets me to hear so many people telling you to mind your own business. What other children are given to eat at school by their parents does affect other children and so it becomes our business. I also try to give my child healthy food and snacks but she sees everyone else around her eating crisps and chocolate because their parents are sending in junk food and then it becomes near impossible for me to get my child to eat well because she wants what they have. And I become the meanie mum who is trying to force my kid into the unpopular and unfair position of having to eat ‘real food’! 🤮
And not to mention the ‘sharing’ of snacks. I often find sweet wrappers in my daughter’s pockets and she certainly didn’t take sweets to school. No. Kindly, her friends have shared their junk with her and her piece of fruit comes home untouched.
It upsets me no end and I would rather be ‘that mum’ fighting for the health of our kids, than ‘that mum’ who sends my kids in with Haribo and tells everyone else to mind their own business.

They are probably sneaking it in. Do the same for your child if it bothers you that much

YANBU Why not ask for clarity, it doesn't mean you're the food police and a smug mum. These are just hateful comments from people who give their kids endless unhealthy snacks.