Does your child eat anything at school?

[Earlybird]

Does your child take a packed lunch to school, or eat school dinners? Do you think they actually eat at lunchtime?

DD is not very interested in food - except sweets. She takes a packed lunch to school, and it seems that often I bin alot of the food each day when her lunchbox is unpacked. Today she was wildly grumpy when I picked her up....and the reason was abundantly clear when I unpacked her lunchbox - she'd barely eaten! Not sure what, if anything, I can do about that.....

DD1 has school dinners every day except Friday and I know she eats (unless like today when she wanted a roast but the dinner lady told her too many were asking for that and she'd have to have curry instead - not to her liking so she didn't eat it, but ate the naan - and told me so). But generally she has a ferocious appetite and the school dinner staff usually insist they eat something before they're allowed to play, whether it's school dinners or packed lunches.

How old is she?

If you find the solution please let me know as DD is exactly the same

I really dislike that time between collecting her from school and snack time as shes never eaten enough (or drunk anything!). Once I get her to eat and drink she becomes a bit more human.

We've tried getting her to suggest ideas for what she wants for lunch and varying it often so we might get a brief improvement but it never seems to have a lasting effect.

She's 5.5, and unless I'm there to prompt her she'll eat enough to take the edge off her hunger but no more. I'm afraid that's not enough to sustain her through the afternoon. I do arrive at school with a snack, but think the lack of food/energy must affect her afternoon time at school. I know I get lightheaded and cranky when I don't eat....and looks as if she does too.

The odd thing is that today's lunch was something she says she likes. I don't think she grasps the concept that she needs to eat to fuel her body.

I think having a word with the dinner ladies might help, I'm sure if they knew, they could encourage her, we had a few non eaters at our school, we even had "I ate all my lunch today" stickers that we could hand out as a reward, maybe they are rushed a bit and playtime seems more appealing. I would definately mention it.

I have the same kind of problems - for me it is because my dd is so fussy about what she will eat! It is definitely worth chatting to the dinner ladies/ supervisors and asking for their advice and help - they are normally lovely and happy to help in my experience!

I still have the same with DS1, who is nearly 8. He is so desperate to get out to play that some days he hardly eats anything, but scoffs 3 bowls of cereal once home. I too used to dread picking him up in reception/Y1. He is still grumpy sometimes, but it is a bit more manageable.