Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Fucking hell, we have to download an app and pre-order school lunches now?!

273 replies

AngeloMysterioso · 19/09/2025 09:58

I have 3 DC, the eldest of which is in primary school. They’ve changed school lunch suppliers this year and now we have to download an app, set up an account and pre-order our children’s meals. I’ve just been sent an email reminder because I hadn’t got round to doing it since the letter went out last Friday because my mental load is already pretty heavily loaded, what with dentist appointments, swimming lessons, birthday parties, after school clubs, hospital appointments, paying the childcare fees, sorting packed lunches, and bloody everything else you can think of.

I’m like… seriously? As if I don’t have enough fucking family admin to do, now this? What happened to kids just queuing up and asking for what they want?

OP posts:
Falseknock · 19/09/2025 12:58

Everyonelikesam · 19/09/2025 12:41

I was referring to At our school they order their specific meal at 9am on the interactive boards in classrooms. That won’t be a one-minute process with 30 five-year-olds!

Show quote history

Don't do it then let them choose when it's lunch time. That does sound time consuming and complicated. Are you cooking Michelin star quality sausages?

childofthe607080s · 19/09/2025 13:00

Food waste drives costs

I am glad some people have money to burn

Mydadsbirthday · 19/09/2025 13:07

alphabetti · 19/09/2025 12:46

I would love to know and help my daughter choose what to have for her lunch. She’s in reception and at her school they just get taken into hall and choose from 2 options. By time she home with me she cannot remember what she’s had. Most i’ve got from her is i’ve had a burger bun! did you have a burger with it? can’t remember!!! hahaha

Bless her that reminds me of my DD who at that age would think hard when I asked her what she'd had for lunch and then reply "ketchup"

Needspaceforlego · 19/09/2025 13:13

MidnightPatrol · 19/09/2025 10:06

Up to what age are parents expected to do this?

I’d have thought it was a good part of learning to be independent to choose their meals…? And how do they know who gets what on the day - that seems as much faffing about as waiting for them to choose.

Seems like unnecessary additional parental admin. I can’t imagine my parents would have had the first clue what I ate at school!

Probably until kids are old enough to do it themselves on their own phone or app on their tablet.
Mean while the anti-phone Brigade bounce around phones are the work of the devil 😈

Peteryourhorseisheree · 19/09/2025 13:28

Mydadsbirthday · 19/09/2025 13:07

Bless her that reminds me of my DD who at that age would think hard when I asked her what she'd had for lunch and then reply "ketchup"

Show quote history

My children all came out of school with complete amnesia.

”Did you do anything fun today?”

”Can’t remember.”

”What did you do for history?”

”Can’t remember.”

”Did you have curry for lunch today, how was it?”

”Can’t remember.”

Fun chats.

nutbrownhare15 · 19/09/2025 13:30

They do this at our school and have done for a while. My husband does all of the admin related to this task. He asks then at the start of term what meals they want and then orders for the whole of term so he doesn't forget. He can make changes if they decide they don't like a particular dosh. I would suggest if you have a partner that you hand over this one to them.

nutbrownhare15 · 19/09/2025 13:31

They told us that the reason they ask for orders in advance is that it was taking up a big proportion of the morning session asking the reception kids what they wanted. And it makes sense asking in advance so they don't run out of dishes or make too much of something.

Tintackedsea · 19/09/2025 13:34

We do a month in advance for three kids. It’s always the same old shite anyway!

Original poster
AngeloMysterioso · 19/09/2025 14:10

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Completely missing the point but I hope leaving such a nasty comment has made you feel better

OP posts:
JustMyView13 · 19/09/2025 14:41

Thisismyalterego · 19/09/2025 12:57

Well, when my DC's were at school I definitely didn't think it fair when they were on last sitting and all that was left was smiley face potato things and baked beans for main course and a bowl of custard with sprinkles for dessert as no protein items were left for dinner and no cake or whatever was supposed to have gone with the custard. Not only did my child not get a proper meal, but is still had to pay the full cost. That was the last time we let either of them have school dinners. Much better now - the school where I work uses an app and it does ensure there is sufficient of everything for those who have ordered. And much less waste too.

Show quote history

What happened to schools mixing up the line order!? That’s terrible.

Soontobe60 · 19/09/2025 15:33

Falseknock · 19/09/2025 11:24

It does sound like a stupid idea anyone who has brought up children knows it's a waste of time. My son is 10 and I haven't had to submit what he wants he decides when he gets to school. Isn't anyone miffed at the amount nannying that is given in this country and now it's shoved at our children. We are not bringing up children to make choices they are being taught control.

Edited
Show quote history

It can be painful supervising a class of 30 six year olds in the dinner queue who can’t decide what they want for lunch. If their meals have been preordered they don’t have to stand in line for half an hour whilst Johnny decides if he wants sausages, chicken or a sandwich.

NJLX2021 · 19/09/2025 15:35

Here (not UK) all the kids just eat the same food. No choice, payment in one go at the start of the year, different meals each day.

I don't really see the benefit of adding any extra hassle. One more app to deal with. Everything in the UK seems to be on an app these days. I think I ended up with 4 different parking apps on my phone the last time I was in the country.

CeciliaMars · 19/09/2025 15:39

It’s really normal. Else how can schools know how many kids will ask for each thing? This cuts down on waste and helps children get the lunch they want, without all the popular options running out too quickly.

Laserwho · 19/09/2025 15:58

So you have time to create a post and time to read but you have no time to put your child's dinner choices? Have I got that right? Ho hum, maybe you should check your priorities

Redpeach · 19/09/2025 16:07

saphiregemstone · 19/09/2025 11:44

@AngeloMysterioso
I know this isn’t the point of the thread, but I’d like to use it as an example.
When the topic of neurodivergence comes up, and you hear the outcry of “everyone is something these days” I think of this type of situation in particular.

Society changes, rightly so. However, to maximise efficiency and minimise effort for the majority ,say with an increased usage of technology, there will some who inevitably fall way behind the general population.
This is where I am but I am at peace with this, and agree that this is how things will go.
I also acknowledge that there are some parts of say the Autistic community who find forward planning /efficiency through technology a massively positive step in how to organise society.

The most part of society will be capable, and will be grateful for the time saving ways of doing things, but many people with ADHD for example, struggle immensely with such things.
Often it’s this sort of situation where someone previously undiagnosed starts questioning” why is everyone seemingly ok with this sort of thing, whereas to me it’s made a significant difference in my life”. It’s the sort of question that ultimately leads to getting a referral to see someone.

Back in the day where all children had the same school dinners the only real struggle was finding the money. While literally finding, as in remembering to allocate/ find where money physically is, or remember to pay would certainly have been a struggle, nowadays the situation you describe would be 10x worse for someone like me.

There are people who live so much in the present, because of the lack of brain capacity to forward plan, that they can quite easily see how much of modern life they struggle to access, be it sorting out school dinners for their kids or booking online activities for the family ahead of time.

These are the type of invisible things that the majority of the population aren’t aware of.

And physically finding the money for several kids would also have been a logistical nightmare, not sure you can claim your pain is greater

Sulpmel · 19/09/2025 16:11

AngeloMysterioso · 19/09/2025 10:56

No, we pay through the tax free childcare account so I have to work out 80% of the fees per child, pay that into the tax free account, wait a few hours or a day and then log into the childcare account and make the payment to the childminder

Show quote history

If you google there’s a website what will calculate it in seconds. Send payment via the bank, set up the payment to leave TFCC 24-48 hours later.

It’s pretty simple. I also have ADHD.

School lunches sound very straightforward, our school used to set random cut off days every time which was fun 😁 no personalised reminders either!

Naws · 19/09/2025 16:36

AngeloMysterioso · 19/09/2025 10:56

No, we pay through the tax free childcare account so I have to work out 80% of the fees per child, pay that into the tax free account, wait a few hours or a day and then log into the childcare account and make the payment to the childminder

Show quote history

Who is the 'we' you're referencing here?

I'd assumed you're a single parent from your OP?

If you're not, then the answer to why your 'mental load' is so big, is a pretty obvious one isn't it?

And it's certainly not the school's fault.

Keroppi · 19/09/2025 16:57

Honestly I hate how everything is on a fucking app! School letters, clubs parking, we have to pre pick school meals on Arbor too. I've just had a letter about messages being sent on Parent Mail or something. How about a quick chat at the door or an email! I don't think it saves much time for the teachers - I feel like it just creates more busy work for them and more opportunities for parents to moan at them and expect more from the staff!

I always try and use the website versions on desktop/desktop view on my phone so I don't need to download another app.

I don't care too much about food waste in schools tbh.. IMO it should be weekly menu and the kids choose in the morning, if it runs out then oh well, there can be a stock of sandwiches/packed lunch boxes and jacket potatoes! I think some parents would 100% complain about that though. The positive side of Arbor is that you can preorder for the whole term.. so I've done my youngest all the way up until Dec and just written the meals in my diary to remind him if he asks.

LlynTegid · 19/09/2025 17:02

Ordering in advance, reasonable, hopefully reduces food waste.

Having to use yet another app and not having an alternative such as via a web page or a paper form, not.

Understandable wish for children to use smartphones less or not at all when in school, don't make it the only option for parents.

ZenNudist · 19/09/2025 17:05

This is a once a half term task. I just handed phone to ds and he chose, I paid.

user7638490 · 19/09/2025 17:05

Had to do this at primary 10 years ago. Not sure what the issue is. There is probably an option to order for the term too.

Keroppi · 19/09/2025 17:08

Oh, but I've never had to pay for school meals, to be fair. I can 100% understand how that would be frustrating if you pay and there's nothing left.

limescale · 19/09/2025 17:20

user7638490 · 19/09/2025 17:05

Had to do this at primary 10 years ago. Not sure what the issue is. There is probably an option to order for the term too.

I honestly had no idea meal planning apps for schools were around 10 years ago!
My kids must have gone to quite backward schools!

user7638490 · 19/09/2025 17:25

@limescaleplenty of smaller / older primaries have no kitchen of their own, or space to build one, so lunches are brought in from an outside catering company, and these have to be ordered in advance. The company our school used cooked lunches for about 8 schools.

Peteryourhorseisheree · 19/09/2025 17:26

limescale · 19/09/2025 17:20

I honestly had no idea meal planning apps for schools were around 10 years ago!
My kids must have gone to quite backward schools!

Show quote history

We had a website to book and pay on from when ds was 8 and he moved schools - that was 2010.