Votes for schooldinners/packedlunches for fussy ds please!

[tortoiseshell]

ds is starting school in September, and is possibly the world's fussiest eater. I have a dilemma about lunches - if I give him packed lunches comprised of things I know he likes, he stands a chance of eating something (though judging by what he eats of his packed lunch at playgroup, he won't eat much of it), or am I perpetuating the fussiness, and would he be better being given school dinners and left to get on with it. The school have kitchens on site and do really nutritious meals but looking at their menu it is doubtful whether ds would eat any of it.

So what do you think - packed lunch and prolong fussiness or school dinners and starve!

Thanks nellie - I ought to have added that at nursery he doesn't generally eat, even if starving - he is very stubborn(!) - but it would be good if he would try some new things.

I have a fussy dd and I did packed lunches for her because I'd rather she ate something. I was the fussiest child on the planet and would have starved rather than eat stuff I didn't like! I am now not at all fussy (well except when it comes to eggs ) because my mum never made an issue of it and I tried things eventually.

Having said that dd herself then asked to have school dinners this year (yr 2) on the days they have roast - only because she likes all the puddings and I'm not chuffed about it because I doubt she eats any veg unless it's carrots. At least I can put fruit in her packed lunch.

dd2 is not at all fussy and has packed lunches too as that's what she likes and it's a lot cheaper!!

I had the same dilema when my very fussy son started school nearly 3 years ago. I decided that I would send him to school dinners(perfectly acceptable meals etc) in the hope that it would 'cure' his fussiness.
At the end of the first week his teacher took me aside and told me that they were very worried about ds as he was eating nothing at all. The staff just don't have the time or the inclination to try to get them to eat what they've given.
Personally, if you can be bothered with making lunches every day, I would give him a packed lunch. At least then you'll know he hasn't gone for the whole school day eating next to nothing. I would save trying to 'get his fusiness sorted out' for home - not that that's worked for me either, I'm afraid

tabitha - that is what I worry ds would do - he doesn't eat when hungry, just gets really grumpy - I don't think he recognises the 'hungry' feeling, and when he's grumpy he refuses to eat anyway!

Listmaker - do you know if she eats her dinner on the day she has it?

Just got back on here!

I don't know what she eats - only from what she tells me and that's the meat and potatoes, the pudding but the veg only if it's carrots.

To my mind school dinners are always going to be pretty yuk and she will eat a little bit of broccoli at home but said it was totally disgusting and soggy at school which I can imagine and sympathise with. I would not have eaten it and wouldn't have cared how hungry I was. I would definitely go with packed lunches or let him try school dinners and see what he eats. It's all crappy potatoe waffles and chips and fatty stuff I reckon so I'd rather she had a nice cheese roll or wrap, yoghurt, fruit and either half a packet of crisps or a chocolate biscuit for the treat! At least I know she's eating and what she's eating! She would happily not eat her dinner when it's something she doesn't like. And school dinners are not going to encourage her to eat more things imo. I remember them being vile!