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Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

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Original poster

Do you children have a full meal after having school dinners at school?

26 replies

CBCB7992 · 18/09/2019 16:00

As above ^^

DD is 4 and just started school and has school lunches. I’ve always been led to believe the portion sizes aren’t pretty small so I was expecting her to be still hungry for a meal with me, OH and DS but she hasn’t really eaten any meals on schools days since starting.

Do your little ones prefer a sandwich, toast etc after having lunch at school?

DS is the complete opposite, he is 8 and has school dinners and is still starving after school 🤣

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BeanBag7 · 18/09/2019 16:03

Are the portion sizes the same for all students? If so it might be big for a 4yo but small for an 8yo. It could also be down to tiredness if shes just started school and is getting used to it.

I would probably just give her a smaller portion of what you're all having, rather than make her something separate.

EsmeeMerlin · 18/09/2019 16:07

It could be she is tired and worn out after a full day. Portions are the same sizes for all. We don’t do different meals, I just do a smaller dinner portion for my ds if he has eaten all of the main meal at school and does not want a big dinner. Mostly though he goes for a roll and salad bar option and is often hungry enough for a meal at dinner.

RainOrSun · 18/09/2019 16:12

Mine have a snack on walking through the front door, and a full meal.....
I'd carry on serving the same as the rest of you, but a tiny portion and take it from there.

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Dinosauratemydaffodils · 18/09/2019 16:12

Ds is still at preschool (4 and a half) but they've just started getting meals from the primary school plus 2 small snacks and he's not hungry at night at all. I offer him a smaller portion to pick at.

Mintypea5 · 18/09/2019 16:19

DS1 has "tea" at Childminder's around 4/4:30 (usually beans in toast or something like jacket potato) and still demolished supper at 6/7pm! He's started asking for 2nds ... he is very tall (and slim ) for his age so not worried he's eating too much.

I thought it was totally normal to have supper with your parents even after a school meal but we don't eat until 6-7 depending when DH is home where as I feel like a lot of families tend to feed kids a bit earlier so they might not be hungry enough for a full on meal

InDubiousBattle · 18/09/2019 16:20

My dc are in reception and year 1 (4 and 5)and they have a full meal at home every day.

Original poster

CBCB7992 · 18/09/2019 16:21

Thanks all. She is refusing to eat a meal at all so not sure if she’s full, tired, coming down with something or just being fussy (she’s not normally too fussy).

I did wonder how the portions varied between younger and older children. This might explain the varying appetites when they get home. DS is always starving.

She was only 4 6 weeks ago too so she’s still little.

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ExplodingCarrots · 18/09/2019 16:22

My DD6 still has a snack when she gets in and a full dinner later on. At her school infants have smaller portions than juniors but she's really tall and in 8-9 clothes (sometimes 9-10) so she's starving when she gets in.

Original poster

CBCB7992 · 18/09/2019 16:22

I’m still cooking a meal for the rest of us but she’s refusing to eat it! 😊 don’t want to force her to eat if she’s not hungry but she needs to eat something when she gets home!

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Bluntness100 · 18/09/2019 16:24

Mine always did, a lunch is a lunch, be it hot or cold. It's not dinner. And generally kids eat breakfast lunch and dinner.

She's maybe just tired or overwhelmed.

Lulualla · 18/09/2019 16:24

My kids have a snack when they get in, which is usually oat cakes with cheese and a piece of fruit. Then they do sports clubs for 2 to 3 hours (depending on the night) and then we have a full meal together.

JoxerGoesToStuttgart · 18/09/2019 16:26

Yes always normal dinner here in the evenings regardless of whether they have school dinner or packed lunch. School dinners aren’t really that big here.

Nextphonewontbesamsung · 18/09/2019 16:26

Yes mine did. I would never have trusted they were eating enough fruit and veg without a proper dinner at home. We never ate before 6/6.30pm though.

Baguetteaboutit · 18/09/2019 16:29

Yes.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 18/09/2019 16:30

Neither of mine wanted a big meal in the evenings in Infants. A snack as soon as they got home, a small tea at 6, bed at 7. Meals were the same size reception through to Yr6. No sandwich options.
Now the eldest is in Yr4 and wanting packed lunch (and DH not having a hot meal at work) I need to start cooking again.

Rachelover60 · 18/09/2019 16:32

Mine always did. It's nice to sit down and have a meal together.

Original poster

CBCB7992 · 18/09/2019 16:37

I agree @Racelover60. But I’m struggling to get her to eat 😭

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youarenotkiddingme · 18/09/2019 16:45

School dinners are nutritionally designed to give 1/3 of their daily needs in primary.
Obviously there's a big difference between 4 and 11yo!

Are school making her eat all her lunch even if she's full? I've noticed many do this and it's a real bug bear of mine!

Imo children should be hungry for their dinner so I'd wonder how much she's eating.

But I'd certainly just do toast and veg sticks if she's refusing a meal. Something is better than nothing and it's a healthy choice.

Baguetteaboutit · 18/09/2019 16:45

What time do you eat? It might be counter intuitive but could dish it up earlier, perhaps she's too tired to eat?

123bananas · 18/09/2019 16:53

My 10, 7 and 5 year old all eat a full dinner and snacks. Would she eat a snack after school at all? If she does just make it more comprehensive with some protein (small sandwich, wrap, pitta, toast and cheese/ham etc ... It doesn't have to be a hot meal. She sounds tired, my 5 year old eats less when tired.

RoseMartha · 18/09/2019 17:00

When kids were in infants it was enough by the time they were in year five it was not enough and had to have evening meal.

They only had school dinner once a week rest of the time pack lunch

Rachelover60 · 18/09/2019 17:22

Well she is only four, CBCB. Just make sure she has enough to eat and don't push it too hard. In time she'll be tucking in the same as you.

Crystal87 · 18/09/2019 17:28

Mine have a meal. If we have a later lunch I will just give sandwiches or toast with some snacks, but after school they get a meal.

sleepingdragon · 18/09/2019 17:35

My friend serves school dinners for one of the big school dinner companies. We were chatting about portion sizes the other day. The amount they give each child of each item is set out accross the company, and it does vary by age. E.g. KS1 get 1 spoonful and KS2 get 1 1/2.

I hope you DD is enjoying school @CBCB7992.

mummyrocks1 · 18/09/2019 17:40

Dd has a full meal but I am struggling to get her to eat it. She's used to a small lunch so probably is fill up. I just give her a smaller portion but do insist she eats it or she gets nothing else

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