Have started a cookery club in school, but have been criticised it not healthy eating! Please read!

[ziopin]

Here is what I've cooked so far:-

Ragu sauce, bacon, mushrooms an egg cup full of wine.

Chicken sagg (lots of spinach & mushrooms)

Tomato, Basil & Mozzarella Tart (Frozen puff pastry)

Sesame Beef Stir Fry (lots of veg)

Chocolate & orange cake (ok, but everything in moderation!)

Everything is made from scratch, apart from the balti paste (2 tablespoons)

Is this really unhealthy, I thought it was quite well balanced?

Assuming that someone has complained, I don't think you should change your recipes in the slightest (they sound both healthy and tasty to me!) but it may be worth thinking through your responses to the criticism so that the co-ordinator can reply to the complainer if it comes up again - if you can explain to her what criteria you are using to cover a balanced diet over the term, then that will answer any criticism. I'd guess there must be nutrition information for this age group which shows things like what proportion of fat they should be getting etc. If you can show that your plans are covering that, then no-one could complain. (Well, they probably still can because some people are like that, but if the coordinator has ammunition they won't get far)

wow impressed that the school provides all the ingredients at no cost!

Now I'm hungry.

Ziopin, it sounds great. Real food!
Ignore the silly fuckers.
I'd be thrilled if my kids were learniong from someone like you.

People will complain whatever you do. They run a great range of afterschool clubs at my children's school and I am constantly amazed at the small minority of parents who rather than being grateful that teachers and other parents are giving up their time free actually stand around in the playground griping about the most trivial issues.
The menu sounds great, can't think who would have an issue with it.

Good grief, how ungrateful.
If the complainer would like to set up a salad and crackerbread group on an alternative evening I'm sure the school would give them a room!

Ignore them-I think people have lost the plot! Food is supposed to be enjoyable and varied-everything in moderation.

ziopin - it sounds terrific - ungrateful sods

Until I actually made cakes at school, I had absolutely no conception of how much fat goes into them. If cake comes out of a box at the supermarket, you're vulnerable to whatever spurious "healthy eating" claim is on the box.

Another one here who thinks your menu sounds balanced and delicious and I'm very impressed you're cooking proper food with them, that they could actually use to provide a family evening meal.

Kids who learn how to cook will be better equipped to feed themselves (and their families) healthily for the rest of their lives.

DD's school have a cookery club for years 4-6. The food is a mix of 'healthy' and gloriously 'unhealthy'. Its great, IMO. DD not only has learned to do various things herself but also has tried foods she wouldn't have touched if she hadn't cooked it herself.

Don't be discouraged - do ask the critics for constructive suggestions, if they've any good ideas thats great and if not hopefully they'll stop whingeing.

Again, thanks for all your lovely comments. I have spoken to our food tech teacher and she agrees with you all

Merry Christmas everyone xx