To find the obsession with snacks weird

[yipyipyop]

I've noticed in recent years lots parents seem to think their children can't survive a few minutes without a snack. We live a 5 min walk from school so I don't but parents with a similar commute seem to have a bag full of snacks they're handing out. It just seems over the top

Hopefully todays kids will be in better habits when they’re older then and drink more water than you as they’re used to it. I remember being thirsty a lot at school, especially in warmer weather.

They might not be going home? We go straight from school to after school activities and sports so mine generally eat a snack before sports/dance

I don't think it's anything new really though.

I grew up in the 70s and 80s and we did have snacks - tuck shop at school at playtime, sweets from the shop in the way home, access to apples and bananas at home when we got in, etc.

Schools have had milk and fruit snacks for a long time - I think it was introduced when dd was very small, so at least 20 years now. Free for infants, encouraged to take on for older. Milk at playtime was around much longer,

Lunch at school is at 12pm generally. So it can be a long time before dinner at home. A snack when getting home, or after school during the walk home or drive to an activity isn't particularly unusual, or even bad.

The water at school thing has been around for a good 20 years, more or less, certainly when dd was little. Whilst it can be a pain in the classroom at times, I also remember not having access to water at school, bar lunchtime, and being very thirsty.

Milk was free for school chn until Margaret Thatcher stopped it. She was known as Thatcher the milk snatcher! I work in primary and now parents have to pay for it unless they are on a pupil premium.

We had water fountains in the playground at my school in the 70s. Now we have chn coming in with huge bottles. No need, we have taps so a normal size bottle will suffice.

I've actually changed my mind on this. I used to hate the constant snacking, and be quite strict about three meals a day and that's it. It was very annoying when we'd e.g. go to the park and see the children's friends who would have a parade of snacks that of course mine always wanted.

However my eldest is, and has always been, extremely active - and is constantly proclaiming hunger. I have recently noticed a marked improvement in behaviour if I provide a substantial snack after school. So now I think maybe some people do just need more frequent eating.

I am concerned about the health side though, any suggestions for healthy and filling snacks anyone??! Cut up carrot and cucumber is my go to but it is quite boring

My middle child is a hangry child. Blood sugars and ability to function very enmeshed. He only survived school due to a ready supply of fruit and the odd oat bar. As an adult he’s a ridiculously slim beanpole that eats sensibly and still has the odd snack if the mood takes.

My youngest was a grazer. Still is. Would happily subsist on small amounts of cheese, crackers, and fruit at regular intervals throughout the day. His favourite meal is a ‘bougie lunchable’ as he calls it, a couple of crackers, a piece of nice cheese, a slice of decent ham, and a handful of blueberries or grapes. Also very slim, though only 13.

I don’t snack at all, I’m the fat one in the family.

We all consume lots of water though. I won’t compromise on them having access to a drink whenever they feel they need it. We’re a family of migraine sufferers, and I’d rather they were peeing frequently due to adequate hydration than suffering the horrendous effects of dehydration I had as a child in the 80s/90s.

I worked so after school çlub gave them a snack at 3 every day.

On Fridays I picked them up as I finished work at 2 so always bought a snack or a trip to the sweetie shop, then the park. Dinner was at 7.

No snacks at the weekend and no snacks now that they're adults. I don't snack either.
The fruit bowl is always out and anyone can and always has been able to help themselves if they're peckish.

We're all neuro divergent and if we snack we aren't hungry for meals and lose weight rapidly. I never snacked as a child and my mum didn't either. It's just never been a thing in our family until after school club started it!

My ds is 4 and has "milk time" at school but we're in London so I know school meals and milk are provided for free at the moment. I was surprised they offered milk actually. I'm not sure when Maggie stoped the milk. I remember having free milk at school in reception at least and I was born in 84.

We're always asked to make sure ds has a bottle of water. It can be refilled at school. I think the water fountains are a bit gross anyway. All those mucky mouths using them. Better to use your own bottle and refill!

I'm pretty sure these kids are going straight home as I chat with the parents

When DS was little it was advised to give small children healthy snacks because 3 meals a day wasn't appropriate for some reason, can't remember exactly.

When I knocked that on the head DS became a lot less fussy at mealtimes. He obviously just wasn't hungry enough for his dinner before.

He's nearly 16 and 6'4" now and eats about 5 meals a day, you couldn't call what he puts away before and after dinner 'snacks' 😂

I used to bring snacks to afternoon pick up, because we used to have hellish walk home otherwise. They would be tired, cranky and harrassing me to go into the shop on the way home.
I started bringing them something to eat for when i saw them and it really helped have a manageable journey home.

I suggest not worrying about it too much if that's what works for other parents.

I’m a huge advocate of the afterschool snack, and ever present water bottle. Mine were always hangry by the end of the day because school lunches never got finished.

I think it’s easy to get into snacking because babies and toddlers feed more often than adults. Snacks are one way of adapting to a different schedule of needs.

There’s a balance to be struck between that and the kind of constant grazing that doesn’t give the digestive system a chance, and tends towards high calorie, low nutrient junk food (usually labelled as healthy)

@UnderSeptemberStars

so by that notion, a full pizza or a roast dinner is a snack if the person is eating it as a snack?

yeah, no,

So, the fruit bowl that people help themselves to when they're peckish.... How is that not a snack???

My 3yo turns into a fucking goblin if he's hungry. If I didn't bring an apple to nursery pickup, he'd be so hungry by the time I got him home and made dinner, that he wouldn't be able to sit at the table nicely and eat it.

So if they eat a piece of fruit from the fruit bowl, you don’t consider that a snack? I do!

@DryIce my teen DS often snacks on toasted pitta breads with mashed up banana and peanut butter in it, he will literally have it as a dessert, or any type of sandwich. I've found that good, also hard boiled eggs, anything proteiny. Or houmous with the cut up veggies. cottage cheese he also eats a small tub of after school. Plain yoghurt with a bit of honey. even if it's tuna out of the tin, it's almost a third protein. He still goes to KFC and MacDonalds with friends which I don't approve of but at least I know he's having healthy stuff as well or on weekdays.

Agree with the comments about school portions being small - especially when they get to Y6.

I don't think it's too bad to need something in the afternoon.

Of course kids need access to water but I don’t remember needing it badly at school. Think there was a water fountain.
Kids carry vast bottles around as they seem to think they’ll dessicate if they can’t constantly sip water. They get knocked over, leak in bags etc.
There’s a balance, I think.

I’m a 50s baby. Milk at school, no snacks. No snacks at home mid morning or afternoon. Just wasn’t a thing.

It amazed me how many people arrived at work every morning with a coffee purchased from an expensive chain. They commuted about 45 mins (plus stop off at coffee shop). It must have cost a fortune. I did wonder if it was a of a ‘pose’ a bit of an Ally McBeal type thing (showing my age there!). Though it could be a ruse after my son found these for sale online.

The milk was a snack...

I don’t understand the size of bags parents bring with them to everything. I shove in a bottle of water, leggings, knickers and a small box of raisins in my handbag and I’m done! No shade, just bewildered by these huge bags which seem packed to the brim!