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 expect your DS is lying. Now is a good time to discuss lying 😊

Well send your kid Tom that school then?

How does this have a detriment to your child's education?

I think we need a national food overhaul. With nearly two thirds of people overweight, the very least we should be doing is preventing junk in school. Maybe if apples, bananas, carrots were routinely given to more kids as snacks, instead of packets of processed stuff, fewer would refuse. The policy should be enforced so all
kids see others eating proper food. It catches on. Both mine learned to eat carrots at school (given free as snacks along with fruit when infants, has that gone now?)

we need to educate at least a generation to break the cycle. Why not start here?

Unless you live under a rock then you know that eating crap all the time will make you fat, it's not some hidden fact. Walk into mcdonalds and there are a load of obese people in there, do you think they don't know that a salad would be the healthier option? Of course they do but they choose a big mac. The parents that fill their kids lunchboxes with chocolate and crisps know it's not healthy but they do it anyway. If people don't eat healthily it's not because they don't know how it's because they don't want to.

Where's the Mumsnet poster who always blames margarine for the global obesity crisis?

Waits patiently for the buttered bread police 😂

You could contact the school about this, but I suspect you'd be using up your 'credit' with the school and swiftly be deemed 'that parent'. Tell your son that you intend to follow the rules and he can have crisps every third Saturday or whatever, and save your phone calls to the school for something that directly and adversely affects him. In the four years he has left at this school, I'm sure there'll be a better hill to die on.

Not the approach I was thinking of. I would ask for clarity on the policy, as I want to check if my DS comments are accurate, and if they are, whether we need to follow the policy or not.

So if they say you don't have to follow the policy are you going to send crisps?

"Everyone else" in my DDs class were having bars, crisps, brioche etc every day too, OP. On closer questioning, "everyone" was the little girl whose Mum recently passed away. Don't let tales from school get you so wound up that you end up making an absolute exhibition of yourself.

Is her name Flora?

😂😂 that made me snort my drink!

<sings> Mmmmmm vitaaaalite

90s margarine advert in case anyone is young enough to question my sanity 😂

Wake up in the morning wanting me breakfast 😆

The fact that 80% think YABU makes me despair.
Definitely teaches kids that it's fine not to follow the rules, and further fuels the obesity crisis. Poor kids, god forbid we try to promote healthy eating so they don't have multiple health issues growing up.

Yet again another mumsnet thread that reminds me exactly why larger and larger percentages of students seem to be coming into my secondary school thinking rules are for other people and they are far too special to follow the rules like other children. At the OPs school the rule is that it should be fruit or veg - you may think that’s a stupid rule and if parents want to challenge it or need special dispensation then again totally fair enough.

I genuinely don’t care what the rules are but if they have the rule it should be enforced. I bet there’s a few teachers or TAs reminding students of what they are supposed to have and getting ignored or rudeness back because others can’t be bothered.

Given that many of us think her DS is massively exaggerating 80% saying she’s BU to call the school isn’t the same as 80% saying “send the kids with cakes and chocolate every day”

It's a stupid rule because some kids will not eat fruit or veg.
Are they not allowed to have any snack then except for something that they're not going to eat?

I don't believe OPs child is the only one eating veg or fruit

I don't think it's OPs job to police other children's snacks

Therefore I vote YABU for OP.

I feel like I could have written this about my DC and their school. It happens like you say with lunch and snacks, then also taking in toys, wearing nail varnish…. whatever it may be, but all breaking school policies. Just makes you wonder why some rules and policies are to be adhered to and others aren’t. I agree, very confusing to your own child. And difficult to explain to them.

Do we not have a responsibility as members of the same community to promote healthy eating habits?
No.

@YetMoreNewBeginnings @nomoredriving fair enough, that does make me feel a bit better

The NHS spends tens of millions every year of full teeth extractions for children. I’ve no idea the long terms cost to society of obesity but it’s likely a lot more. The least we can do as a community is not encourage sugary snacks 24/7. It’s no a parental choice it’s the worst health crisis in the country. I work in schools and the absolute shit kids eat for packed lunch then the parents greet them at the door with more sweets. Unless they are autistic or have a restricted diet for some reason then encouraging a healthy diet is a societal issue.

Hmm I'm on the fence here

My DCs school have the same policy but my DC has to eat something with few more calories in for medical reasons so has biscuits or chocolate instead.

I can see why it's annoying but you don't know why the rule isn't enforced. I can well see my DCs teacher realising she can't say "Joe can bring in that stuff but you can't" and not knowing how to explain the "why?" so just letting it slide.

My son had some pringles for breakfast today IDGAF what anyone thinks. Only I know my child. Its for no one else to judge because you don't know ANY situation with 100% certainty.

If a child will not eat fruit or veg as a snack they don’t need a snack. End of discussion. You shouldn’t be stuffing them with junk.

No we fucking don’t. We’re not the snack police community.

Tbh I have to say though - even if every other child was having a Twix and a doughnut every day I still wouldn’t speak to the school.

My kids know that the person who ultimately makes the food and drink choices in our family is me and DH.

I don’t see this as any different to the fact my DD isn’t allowed to go to the park unaccompanied, but Mary is or my DS gets £15 pocket money while Tommy gets £40.

Just because everyone else’s mum does something doesn’t mean I do.

But I doubt for a single second everyone else’s mum does break the rule every day.