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?

In which case it's probably low-sugar, low flavour cake and the tiniest smear of jam on a piece of cheap bread.

Not at all, I just don’t think I can get worked up about jam sandwiches!!!

Talk to the after school club and say she has tea when she gets home can she just have 1 or 2 things.

Is this thread making anyone else fancy an old fashioned jam sandwich? I haven't had one for years.

Or just accept the jam.

My friend is incredibly conscious of her child’s diet. She hasn’t worked for 10 years but her child has home made bread, home grown vegetables and no sugar. Her (privileged) choice.

Another friend works full time and spends pretty much all her spare time on meal prep.

I work too but balance convenience with a healthy diet. In this case I’d let the jam go.

Schools are cutting staff because they have no budget for teachers or TAs. They should not be spending their money on humous and staff to cut up peppers and cucumber (out of sight of the children they are caring for due to sharp knives) ao you are not ‘inconvenienced’ in your busy important job by having to provide an alternative that pleases you.

That after school club is essential for many parents, most of whom couldn’t withstand price increases for the extra supplies and staff to suit your snack requirements.

It is!! my mum made the best home made jam - strawberry or plum on thick brown bread!!

I agree OP, out school wraparound is the same. Luckily my DD only goes one day a week now but if she were attending 4, like yours, I wouldn't be happy either. Mine is also too full for a proper twa at home. The thing is, she will happily eat veg sticks, cheese, fruit etc but if there's jam and cake on offer then she doesn't see healthier options.

I should also add that my son is now a young adult and hates most fruit, as he was made to eat poor quality ‘free fruit’ at primary school. He can’t even look at an apple and pears make him feel a bit queasy.

he’ll happily eat all the fruit he was never served at school.

Omg 😂 I worked in a youth club for 20 yrs and for some strange reason the council decided only bottles of water and fruit was to be offered at the youth club for tuck shop , the young people went to the local shop before they came in to get their sugar rush we decided better they get sugared up in the youth club so we bought in tuck shop , there’s nowt wrong with a jelly piece .

I'm astonished so many people think that it's unreasonable to expect parents to do a bit better than is feasible for mass catering. Of course I can much more easily provide a healthy, balanced lunch or snack for my child, at low cost and with minimal food waste, than I could for 50 children! I can also make a nicer dinner than my work canteen can.

Totally agree with this.

If you want the hummus and cucumber sticks, then supply that yourself.

OP, if you tell the school that your DD mustn't have jam then they won't give it to her. Mine wouldn't be given ham (pescetarian) and you could easily make that stipulation if you want to. I wouldn't bother myself.

I'm surprised that your DD doesn't eat anything later. What time are you giving her tea/dinner/supper? Maybe give only protein and veggies at that point.

It’s an UPF which causes microbial gut disruption, behavioural changes including ADHD, developmental issues, not to mention tooth decay.

Jam does not cause ADHD or developmental issues. Educate yourself.

My two children pretty much lived on jam sandwiches for prolonged periods of time when small. Both are well grown, fit and very healthy adults.
Your child will be fine.

The new government guidelines for Early Years settings (which Reception classes falls under) are quite clear that no unhealthy food, including sugary items, should be offered to children at their setting. Maybe the school haven't included the after school provision in their policy but it should because it's still part of the organisation. There are other options for sandwiches that are quick and not as unhealthy. I would raise it with the head teacher.

There is no over focus on healthy diet in Schools. Recent stats show the NHS are spending £268 billion a year on conditions as a result of ultra processed foods. These are foods made for ultra profit by global investment companies.
These companies hyper focus on junk food. We are so used to it we can't see it. No one else can afford their advertising budgets, no one can compete.
Yes control over family food can cause disordered eating in households, but a family looking at providing as much fresh produce for their children while they can influence what they eat is not the same.
No one is saying your children can't have a packet of crisps, they are asking for them to be given nutritious foods in School as a baseline.

A childminder might be a better option. The food they provided at our afterschool club wasn’t great.

It’s a snack. Ham, cheese or ham sounds very normal offerings and will cover most dietary needs. If you don’t want her choosing jam 4 days tell her not to but it’s not a battle I’d have had.

Why on earth not? It’s no wonder childhood obesity in this country is where it is with attitudes like yours.

OP I would prefer my child to eat cheese instead of jam as well, but not ham.
this looks like something you’ll just have to suck up if you want to continue using the ASC, or send your own food, which your DD will probably not eat.

Wrap-around care isn't held to the same standard as during the day

I've just made toast and jam. Thanks for the idea OP!

By the way, where do you stand on marmalade?

Yes but pretty sure it would refer to the whole school offering, lunch included, to be balanced.

and the club is offering alternatives, the child is not choosing them.

bread is an easy way to get carbs into them - again, as part of a balanced diet

My little niece asked for a jam sandwich recently and I thought it was quite cute, as I hadn't heard of children wanting them for decades! I think they have become popular because they are quick and cheap to serve at the kinds of after school activities she attends (not school) and are a good burst of energy for something like football club, which falls between end of school and supper time at home.

I think things like that are especially popular with kids who have rediscovered Malory Towers via iplayer, and gone on to read the picnic/midnight feast packed Enid Blyton books. 😂 The OP should get her child reading Famous Five books. Those children seemed to eat entire hams, fresh bread, whole tomatoes, and gallons of creamy milk for tea from every farm they hiked past!

I think this is the best flounce I have ever seen on MNet.

Yes, if there's one thing that would fix the British diet it's more ham.

I take your point OP.Surely Marmite or Dairylea would be better. Jam has little nutritional value. and filling up on it is not good.Maybe mention it when you do Pick up and see what they say