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Original poster

Please help with the school food bank!

171 replies

Superplanner · 08/12/2023 08:00

Mumsnet hive mind,
Please can I ask for your help with a school food bank? I’m working in a secondary school in the minute and there are a number of children in need of top up food. There is a breakfast club and they get free school meals, but we’re trying to build up a dry store of filling snacks and dinner substitutes.
School have suggested pot noodles / super noodles which are great because they’re “just add water” and we’ll get protein bars.
What else would your hungry teens appreciate after school? Only stipulation is that it’s non perishable.
Thank you in advance, wise women of mumsnet!

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 08/12/2023 08:03

TBH I think pot noodles etc are awful. They’re very unhealthy and not at all filling. They’d be better with tins of beans or soup. Presumably if they’re capable of boiling a kettle, they’re capable of opening a can.

SutWytTi · 08/12/2023 08:04

The problem with pot noodles is they are really unhealthy.

Porridge in pots or bread rolls/oatcakes and cheese (can get the individual portions) would both be healthier.

Tinned fruit is an easy pudding.

SutWytTi · 08/12/2023 08:05

Soontobe60 · 08/12/2023 08:03

TBH I think pot noodles etc are awful. They’re very unhealthy and not at all filling. They’d be better with tins of beans or soup. Presumably if they’re capable of boiling a kettle, they’re capable of opening a can.

The issue is having a pan/cooker or microwave. Lots of people don't.

contactus · 08/12/2023 08:05

how will this food be distributed to the teens? bearing in mind many won’t want their peers to know

Thisismy3rdusername · 08/12/2023 08:06

We have similar at the school I work at. Quite a number of the families have no money to top up the gas/electricity meter so you need plenty of options that don't need heating. Cereal bars, cans of tuna and long life flavoured milk are good additions to your list.

LittleBearPad · 08/12/2023 08:07

Soontobe60 · 08/12/2023 08:03

TBH I think pot noodles etc are awful. They’re very unhealthy and not at all filling. They’d be better with tins of beans or soup. Presumably if they’re capable of boiling a kettle, they’re capable of opening a can.

But they won’t necessarily have the means to heat it. Hot water from a kettle is easier and cheaper.

DisforDarkChocolate · 08/12/2023 08:07

Is it to eat at school or to take home?

Zippedydoodahday · 08/12/2023 08:09

As I understand it nutritionists focus on calories for food banks over the normal rules of nutrition. Because meeting basic calorie needs has to be the first priority. So they often ask for things like sponge puddings which are high in calories. It's all very well having a nice healthy tin of pears, but if they aren't getting enough calories in a day they'd be better with a treacle sponge. Of course you could look to give high calorie things as well as e.g. tinned fruit.

If you do get tins make sure they have ring pulls or you give them a can opener. Don't assume what may be in their kitchen.

Thisismy3rdusername · 08/12/2023 08:09

contactus · 08/12/2023 08:05

how will this food be distributed to the teens? bearing in mind many won’t want their peers to know

Ours put a discrete referral in on a google form/via a staff member. We call all kids out of form individaully on a regular basis to do a progress check - as far as their peers can see, these kids are just having their progress check when in reality, it is to distribute food. It works so far.

BrutusMcDogface · 08/12/2023 08:09

They’re expensive and probably unhealthy but my teens love the weetabix drinks for a filling snack.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 08/12/2023 08:09

Is this to be taken away from school to eat?

you need to know whether they have facilities to heat things up.

pot noodles really don’t fill you up or provide much in the way of nutrition.

porridge pots, cans of soup, pasta with sauce (can get ready done ones in pouches), cans of curry or chilli with rice (in whatever format microwave pouches, loose, boil in the bag etc), tinned fruit, sponge puddings, custard etc would be far better for growing kids.

contactus · 08/12/2023 08:11

Thisismy3rdusername · 08/12/2023 08:09

Ours put a discrete referral in on a google form/via a staff member. We call all kids out of form individaully on a regular basis to do a progress check - as far as their peers can see, these kids are just having their progress check when in reality, it is to distribute food. It works so far.

Show quote history

so they go back to class with a bag of food?

Original poster
Superplanner · 08/12/2023 08:12

Totally agree, nobody wants to draw attention. It won’t be distributed to them. Most already have some involvement with the welfare team. They’ll be shown where the cupboard is and told to take what they need.

OP posts:
mambojambodothetango · 08/12/2023 08:13

There are slightly healthier versions of pot noodles out there. Even just the thinner plain noodles (Blue Dragon or whatever) can be cooked with just boiling water in a pan with a lid, no hob needed. Agree things that don't need heating up: cereal bars, crackers, bananas, longlife milk, ambient packaged things like rice pudding, custard.

Paddleboarder · 08/12/2023 08:13

I'm confused as to whether the children eat the food at school or take it home?

contactus · 08/12/2023 08:14

Superplanner · 08/12/2023 08:12

Totally agree, nobody wants to draw attention. It won’t be distributed to them. Most already have some involvement with the welfare team. They’ll be shown where the cupboard is and told to take what they need.

that is NOT a good idea

Thisismy3rdusername · 08/12/2023 08:15

contactus · 08/12/2023 08:11

so they go back to class with a bag of food?

Show quote history

No, it's a couple of bits in the bottom of their rucksack - there's too many kids and too little food for a bag. Since it's typically cereral bars, choc milk etc it's the sort of thing you would find in a teen rucksack anway. If we every got enough for that, there would need to be a new method of distribution.

contactus · 08/12/2023 08:15

Thisismy3rdusername · 08/12/2023 08:15

No, it's a couple of bits in the bottom of their rucksack - there's too many kids and too little food for a bag. Since it's typically cereral bars, choc milk etc it's the sort of thing you would find in a teen rucksack anway. If we every got enough for that, there would need to be a new method of distribution.

Show quote history

how often does this happen?

bestbefore · 08/12/2023 08:16

My son loves those brioche rolls which come in a bag of 8 (choc chip ones) and I always put them in the food bank. Along with choc croissants and small wraps and jars of choc spread. I know it's not healthy but teens need calories and it fills a gap after school. What about those mini squash things? Savoury; ritz biscuits and the jars of salsa / dip (found with Doritos?).

TheYearOfSmallThings · 08/12/2023 08:17

Our school food bank asked for those John West On-the-go meals (tuna and rice, tuna and pasta salad etc).

Thisismy3rdusername · 08/12/2023 08:17

contactus · 08/12/2023 08:15

how often does this happen?

Show quote history

Once every couple of weeks. They can get more in between if needed, like the OP says, most have a lot of involvement with pastoral staff so it's easy to get them some extra bits

Original poster
Superplanner · 08/12/2023 08:17

Mainly it’s to take home as a dinner substitute/ top up, although the likes of protein bars could be eaten in school. The canteen team do their best but with budgets so stretched, a canteen lunch isn’t filling enough for growing teens.
Previous posters are right, there is not a lot of parental involvement with these children and I wouldn’t want to assume there is always a cooker / microwave available. Some will have of course, but just want to make sure we cater for everyone.
Thank you for all the suggestions so far!

OP posts:
PicaK · 08/12/2023 08:18

.. You just need a pan with a lid....

Depressing how people don't realise that not everyone has this

contactus · 08/12/2023 08:19

TheYearOfSmallThings · 08/12/2023 08:17

Our school food bank asked for those John West On-the-go meals (tuna and rice, tuna and pasta salad etc).

this is good. Much better than cereal bars and sugary rolls. junk will be consumed by teen and friends at first break

Meals like this poster suggests… won’t, but they will be consumed and will provide nutrition

Mrsjayy · 08/12/2023 08:19

what about pasta cups I can't remember who makes them or the packet of pasta and sauce they take no time to cook.

variety packs of cereal or pots of porridge. tin of tuna,spaghetti or beans and sausage pots or tins of custard./rice/jelly bottles of squash or a carton of 3.some biscuits and or crisps