Jam sandwiches at wraparound care

[JBeanGarden]

My reception age DD goes to a really well arranged breakfast club and after school club 4 days a week. It works very well with 2 commuting parents. I only have one gripe and that is with the food they offer. Technically the food should align with the school’s healthy eating policy, as it’s run by the school not an external provider. The school has asked parents not to provide sweet treats in lunch boxes and it’s quite strict about sandwiches.

HOWEVER the school is not transparent about the wraparound food offer and I had to email three times to get them to tell me what they provide. Once they did, they disclosed that the after school options include a range of sandwiches, including jam, plus a pudding of cake and fruit. Of course, my four-year-old always goes for a jam sandwich and ends up with a very sweet tea 4 days a week. The school says they offer carrot sticks etc, however, not one single parent has ever mentioned this in conversation and so I just think it’s something they say but don’t provide.

We do talk at home about the importance of a balanced diet, but she’s still only four and temptation is there! She’s offered something a bit more nutritionally balanced she gets home, but she’s usually just full of jam sandwich!

I emailed the school to ask them if they are able to comment on this or if they ever review the food that they provide at wraparound care, but I haven’t received a reply. AIBU to push this further?

I wholeheartedly agree with you OP.
A jam sandwich is carbs on carbs ffs and offers absolutely no nutritional value to your child whatsoever.
Its an UPF which causes microbial gut disruption, behavioural changes including ADHD, developmental issues, not to mention tooth decay. But don't worry OP, thet probably buy a cheap jam full of chemically altered sweetners and E numbers to make it 'healthy'.
Before anyone shoots me down in flames for being a fun sponge, all the above is a medically proven and factual.
My 9mth old baby was offer jelly at nursery and I went nuts! She was only just starting to try foods and someone thought that offering a blob of food colourings and chemicals was a good start for her developing gut! She didn't need a 'pudding' at 9mths old ffs 😡😡
It really pisses me off that because people rely on wrap around care they are expected to suck up the shitty food options that are associated with it. Its not cheap either for parents and I get that budgets in breakfast clubs etc are stretched but I'd rather they charged a little more and offered sensible options instead.
Nobody is expecting home cooked from scratch, organic platters but just a little more thought goes a long way IMHO.
If you're not happy, the only option is send your DD with a pack-up and tell the teachers that shes only allowed to eat from that. Those instructions must be respected and followed, just the same as if it was for allergy, health or religious based reasons.

Personally I find it worrying that you’re talking about a “balanced diet” with a 4 year old and giving her a complex about unhealthy eating.

It’s a jam sandwich, not rat poison. If you don’t like the food they serve then either send some with her to have or find another childcare provider

Is this supposed to be a snack or the evening meal after a cooked meal at lunch time?

We all know healthy options are more time consuming and more expensive. I notice how much those ‘organix’ healthy snacks for kids are compared to unhealthy ones for example and how much time it takes to prepare a healthy lunch over one full of quick and easy snacks and easy sandwich fillings.

What annoys me about this is that the school expect busy working parents to spend time and money preparing expensive healthy lunches but can’t be bothered with the time and expense of providing these for kids after school.

This also means parents have to out more effort in after their working day making sure the kids dinner is healthy to make up for the unhealthy after school snack they’ve had. This should be the other way around, the school should be making sure the kids are having a nutritious snack after school to make up for a parent who only has time to make chicken nuggets and chips for dinner!

it does sound odd to me and definitely wouldn’t meet guidelines/standards here in Scotland or in any healthy eating policy I’m aware of. If it bothers you that much, speak to your daughter and ask her to please choose a different type of sandwich (providing that she does like the ham/cheese on offer). An occasional jam sandwich isn’t the end of the world I wouldn’t be complaining to the school about it.

Im just back from a European holiday where spainish and French adults /children were dipping cake into chocolate for breakfast and then pouring jam over crossiants, 😀

And yet you're still here 😂

You should see what they give kids in Italy op!

this really isn’t a British thing.

We talk about eating all sorts of foods, we try things that are new, we make sure we put a bit of everything on our plate. It’s very simple and not rigid at all. She doesn’t know it’s ‘a balanced diet’.

I’m sorry I disagree with the majority. I would not be happy with jam sandwiches 4 days a week. I don’t class cheese as the same category as this. I’d expect cheese or maybe even just a buttered crumpet instead. I know it’s just a snack but it is a lot of sugar with the fruit and cake.
we should hold higher standards for our kids

And Australia!

Fairy Bread (white bread with butter and sprinkles), anyone?!

😂😂
I had been tempted to post about the French children’s ‘tea’ of a bar of chocolate stuck in a baguette!!

‘She’s full of jam!’ has made me laugh a bit too much.

I now want a jam sandwich with some cheese.

Dd’s Italian friend (in Italy) used to give her dcs just Oreos for breakfast. Every day!

YABU for sticking a four year old in wrap around care for 4 days a week.

Poor kid!

Considering cheese and marmalade myself!

There's a Flouncers Corner for posters like you @JBeanGarden 🤣

Can't understand the poll result. This is absolutely not OK. Jam sandwiches shouldn't even be on the menu and even more so when there is cake to follow. Honestly the cake should be a once a week thing. Leave the parents to provide the sweet treats for kids, not use up all their 'allowance' at day care.

It’s just a jam sandwich. You’re overreacting.

Yet you mentioned ham & cheese sandwiches? Are you expecting expensive farm shop quality ingredients on organic sourdough to be served? Because the cheese and ham they are likely to serve are Upfs!
If you have a strict diet for your child, you should provide it and not expect others to meet your somewhat strange expectations.

None of this is the school’s job.

How dare schools expect their pupils’ parents to parent.

@Simplesbest , I'd check the ingredients. It's probably got nasty chemicals in it.

@thisishowloweenoh my god, fairy bread! I also used to make fairy toast but it was chocolate spread and sprinkles 😄 My son loved it.

YABU. They are probably trying to keep the ASC costs and fees as low as possible so it’s affordable for all parents.

How much do you pay per afternoon? If you are worried about the snacks then send your child with extra “healthy” snacks. Agree with other posters also… jam is probably the veggie / vegan / low allergy option.