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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that my six year old should have a "balanced diet"!

32 replies

OriginalUglyBetty · 15/04/2008 16:15

I have had to add a thread as i am so mad. My ds is 6 and loves salad's veg and fruit. Today in the lunchbox was a ham sandwich some chopped fruit in a pot, some pure organge juice and a yoghurt. (just in case he fancied it i put in a small chocolate bar) as he seems to like things that are naturally low in fat unless i encourage the odd chocloate and biccies there would be nothing to him.

Well he has since told me that he asked the teacher to open his chocolate (a mini milky way) at lunch and she wouldnt by all accounts she had a bit of a go and told him he shouldnt have chocolate in school as it was unhealthy!

The school do have a healthy eating thing going on and have done since the Jamie Oliver thing but i do feel really annoyed by this - hence the rant!

OP posts:
belgo · 15/04/2008 16:16

does the school have formal rules about what should be in the lunchboxes? Is chocolate banned specifically?

misdee · 15/04/2008 16:17
Angry
Servalan · 15/04/2008 16:20

Oh for goodness sake!!!

No, YANBU. If his lunchbox had consisted entirely of crisps, haribo and pop that would be one thing, but a little chocolate bar is hardly a big deal.

I agree that it is important for our children to have a healthy diet. I also have lots of time for Jamie Oliver's school dinners campaign, but I don't think teaching 6 year olds to become neurotic about a tiny bit of chocolate is the way to go!

stuffitllama · 15/04/2008 16:22

She was quite wrong and you are quite right. Imagine telling of a 6yo for that. Firstly, it's fine of course, they need the energy (apart from teeth thing I suppose) and secondly, he didn't put it in there. She was wrong and interfering.

ChipButty · 15/04/2008 16:22

The teacher is out of order here, unless your child's school has a policy about not bringing choc into school. I would go and speak to the teacher concerned.

Original poster
OriginalUglyBetty · 15/04/2008 16:22

they state that in lunchboxes their should be water, fruit juice (no fizzy drinks or fruit shoots - which he's not keen on anyway)
no crisps, no chocolate, no buiscuits, no nuts,no chocolate yog's fruit only.
Basically no junk food at all really. In some respects i can see there point when it comes to educating children on what is good and bad. But its getting to the point where he has now decided he doesnt want chocolate now as its bad for him (poor thing thinks it will make him ill or something)
I just feel now they are going a bit too far

OP posts:
HonoriaGlossop · 15/04/2008 16:23

totally sympathise, but then when you think of it from the school's point of view, if they have no rules whatsoever on this subject, then a number of kids will have a daily lunchbox containing crisps and chocolate and sweets

Yes it is annoying that we have to abide by rules made for people who do things we wouldn't anyway, but school is a community and we can't act as if it isn't!

I would be annoyed in your position but also maybe it's worth looking into high fat food that he would eat that isn't chocolate...does he like peanut butter? Avocado? I'm sure someone clever on here knows more about nutrition than I do and may be able to suggest things. Maybe he even gets enough good fat from the bread, ham, and yoghurt? Maybe the contribution of the chocolate is not so much as you think?

belgo · 15/04/2008 16:24

I agree it wasn't a very nice approach the teacher took to treat your child like that.

But if there are rules then I personally would follow them.

stuffitllama · 15/04/2008 16:24

That's a rotten policy and not really any of their business. There've been threads on this before. I'd rather put chocolate in a lunch box than fruit juice.

HonoriaGlossop · 15/04/2008 16:24

also I'm afraid if they do state that no crisps, no choc, etc then you shouldn't have sent it in - specially as only your ds got the grief (not that the teacher should have given him a hard time poor boy)

aefondkiss · 15/04/2008 16:25

YANBU, it is ridiculous... I wonder how teachers would feel about the food and drink they consume being vetted and deemed unsatisfactory?

stuffitllama · 15/04/2008 16:26

Chocolate's fine, for Pete's sake. Everything in moderation and I'm sure that's what the OP does. Chocolate's just fine.

Servalan · 15/04/2008 16:27

Surely it should be a matter of balance. The school could stipulate that you could have only 1 small packet of crips OR 1 small chocolate bar in lunch boxes along with healthy food for example.

I agree that stuffing a child with loads of junk food is a bad thing. I also think that making a child totally neurotic about food from the age of 6 is harmful too.

belgo · 15/04/2008 16:27

My children's school has a similar policy. I follow it, and give then sweet things at home. I really don't see why this would be a problem for anyone.

ChipButty · 15/04/2008 16:28

If the school has 'no choc' on the policy then save it for home time.

Original poster
OriginalUglyBetty · 15/04/2008 16:29

Dont get me wrong i dont give him chocolate everyday to boost his calorie intake. I do give him wide range of things. But generally his likes when it comes to food do seem to be things that are low in calories/fat. He's not keen on peanut butter. But loves whole milk and fruit yoghurts etc

It more just my rant and the school, as im calming down now i can see that it has to really be one rule for all but i just feel an outright ban on such things does no one any good.

OP posts:
girlfrommars · 15/04/2008 16:29

Sorry, but though the teacher could've handled it better, you're the one who put your son in that position.

You knew the school has a no chocolate/biscuits rule and decide to ignore it.

It may be that you don't agree with the rules and think they're silly, but what did you think would happen to your son?

ellingwoman · 15/04/2008 16:30

See views on this other current thread

Original poster
OriginalUglyBetty · 15/04/2008 16:33

As i said i am starting to see it from the other side now my inital rant is over. I think i was more annoyed as they said nothing when i picked him up and it was me that put it in there!

OP posts:
LazyLinePainterJane · 15/04/2008 16:36

But if they have a rule stating no chocolate, why did you send him in with it, knowing that he would get told off for it?

We all know why they have these rules....there is another thread going at the mo'....not sure if I remember where it is.

SueBaroo · 15/04/2008 16:36

Well, I do think the rules are silly, but rules are rules in a school environment.

And yes, I know all about the kids who go into school with a bag of marshmallows for lunch, but still. I don't see that it's any more balanced to go all the way to the other extreme.

lulumama · 15/04/2008 16:38

i agree with girlfrommars

the rule is there, from what i can gather, and seems to be in more and more schools, that it stops a minority of children being sent in with a packed lunch that consists solely of crisps, choc, fizzy drinks

so there has to be a blanket ban

give him the choc or biscuit or whatever when you pick hm up from school

no child will come to any harm by not having their milky way at school

i agree the teacher could have been more sensitive though.

Original poster
OriginalUglyBetty · 15/04/2008 16:40

Think i have seen the other thread. To be honest, they have a "healthy eating policy" in school. Although the inital guidelines state that there is no choc no crisps etc. You often see children come out finishing the fruit shoot from lunch break, and they dont seem to have a teacher screeching in the background. In all fairness what i provided was a healthy lunch and i didnt expect him to end up getting snapped at for a snack sized milky way!

OP posts:
Oblomov · 15/04/2008 16:46

Oh I would go to town on this, and the other thread, which I have read. I would write and tell them that I will put in what I want, in no uncertain terms. Only in a politer form

LazyLinePainterJane · 15/04/2008 16:49

I see your point, but I think you need to either conform to the rules or make a point and send a letter, a la Oblomov