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?

In my opinion, unless there is a SEN, they absolutely should go without. Its a morning snack they're hardly going to starve. And if they're that hungry, they'll eat the healthy snack. There is zero need for chocolate mid morning!

Honestly MYOB! My dc occasionally has fruit, but is always starving by break. We have a long drive, so it is a good while from breakfast for him. I often send wee packets of bread sticks, oatcakes, mini cheddars, popcorn or crisps. At least once a week, usually twice he will have a muffin. I bake them, they are sugar free. I also send a wee pancake sometimes, halved and sandwiched together with jam. He eats his lunch happily!

We are all "literally" paying the price for poor dietary choices.

YANBU. I'm really shocked this is being allowed to happen tbh. I thought all schools were to promote and follow a fruit/veg guideline for snack times.

I think your idea of asking the school about their policy is a good way to go about this.

Unfortunately junk is more affordable than fruits and vegetables. Maybe the parents are don't have money for the extra healthy bits or maybe they know that's all their kids will eat and will otherwise be hungry🤷‍♀️ who knows it's none of your business just tell your child that's what he is given

Some children will not entertain fruit or veg not matter how much you try. I say this as dc1 is the fussiest eater alive despite me trying everything to get them to eat better. I think yAbu on this one, just be grateful you dc eats the healthy stuff! x

How do you know that the children in question don't have medical issues?
In my sons school, one autistic boy has ARFID and eats chocolate spread sandwiches every day.
My own son has just been diagnosed with hypoglycemia and from now on has to take a snack for both morning and afternoon play time that will be something like a packet of crisps or a cereal bar.
Best just to butt out to be honest.

I don't understand why the children need a snack at all. Don't people understand that we're in the middle of an OBESITY CRISIS? Give them 10 minutes at lunchtime to eat, that's more than enough.

Sure. But what does that have to do with your child?

if you have a genuine concern about healthy eating standards and obesity then complain about that.

you don’t. You’re irritated by double standards making you answering your child’s questions difficult.

welcome to parenthood

Dental hygiene education required then. None of my three adult children has ever had an extraction. One has 4 fillings because her teeth came up with decay. The others have no fillings. At primary age, none of mine would have eaten fruit or veg as a snack. Our primary did police what they had though! It's not a teacher's job to tell parents how to feed their children though.

I think what's annoying posters here is the high-handed dictatorial approach of the OP.

@cowgirljoey I suggest you mind your own bloody business and get on with rearing your own child. Holier than though types always get other people's backs up. You can rear your precious as healthily as you wish - good for you! - but you won't always be in control...

DS started taking cereal bars from about Y3. He’s now 13 and currently out on a 20km run, competes for his local athletics club, is running the Junior London Marathon on Saturday, followed by a Kent Rugby 7’s tournament on Sunday. He also swims competitively. Having a cereal bar for snack has not lead to obesity for him. It’s a balance.

YABVU

Keep your nose out of other people's business.

There's nothing as lacking in nutrition as fruit and veg that doesn't get eaten.

Have you never heard of the apple that gets sent to school and brought home again every day?

My dd has autism. Her primary school had a fruit / veg rule too and for a long time during her aversion to most fruit / veg she did go without. Because her lunch was always prepared specifically to cater for her needs and she managed to drink lots of water in the day it wasn’t a problem. Then when she began to eat crispy things I sent her in with dried black gram (kala chana).

I can understand the need to load up a child with calories if they have an illness or condition that requires it but in most cases they don’t and it won’t harm them to miss a morning snack.

Sooo... let's get this straight. It's ok for your child to eat shite if they're SEN but not otherwise...

There isn't really any need for them to eat at school at all - I mean, they're only there for a poxy 6 and a half hours or so...

I'm not saying they have to allow chocolate, I'm just saying fruit or veg being the only snacks allowed are restrictive because some children will not eat them and so I think it's pretty shitty to say you can only have a snack if it's fruit or veg, if not then you're not allowed. There are other healthy snacks!

Word of advice - disguise your voice. Otherwise they'll see right through you.

My austic DD is now 11 and goes on 20km bike rides, runs crosscountry and plays hockey competitatively. She still doesn’t snack even when I send healthy rule appropriate snacks with her. All children are different but that doesn’t mean parents should get to flaut the rules.

Uniforms ? Park ….. excellent children going to the park , so much fun and time to enjoy the wider environment a brilliant education . And your point about uniforms, excise is ?

But if they will eat fruit and veg they do need a snack? 😂

I didn't stuff mine with junk at all. My daughter loved to bring peppers and carrots to school. My son didn't bring fruit or veg to school but he didn't have junk either. I just don't think it's right to tell kids that unless they eat fruit or veg then they can't have a snack.

Fruit shouldn't be allowed - it's basically like giving them a bowl of sugar.

Yep exactly the same. Definitely no vitamins or fibre in fruit. Only sugar and ‘outrage of Mumsnetter’ 😂😂😂

DC was always under weight and I would send them with junk food type snacks as along with fresh and dried fruit. We couldn't give nuts and I always struggled to get the calories into them. Luckily the school didn't care and sold cake bars at their tuck shop.

Who do you think should enforce it an how? Where does the time for snack inspection come from and who is doing it?

What a fucking sin that you've actually got your young child involved in this too. He's asking about policies and checking other kids snacks. Bloody hell.