School Breakfast club - do you think should it be subject to healthy eating policy?

[treadonthecracks]

My DC, 6 and 5, started breakfast club this term.

They usually only go for 20 mins, so have breakfast at home, but DS (5) was keen to try breakfast there. When I asked what he'd had for breakfast he told me chocolate spread on toast!

It's not what he'd get at home (low sugar cereal, skimmed milk - he is a bit on the "stout" side).

Anyone know if this is usual for a breakfast club? Would you mention it if you were me?

Chocolate spread on toast is fine IMO. That's what dd2 has for her breakfast most days. Think chocolate spread has less sugar than jam. As far as breakfast is concerned I'm just happy they have something before they leave the house.

and is it chocolate spread every day?

there are about 50 calories per serving

Ds1's breakfast club quite often have pancakes or croissants as a treat - surely croissants are as much, if not more, than toast and chocolate spread?

I wouldn't concern myself too much - as another poster has said, how much is he really likely to eat in the limited time?

DS1 also had cookies at after-school club the other day as one of the staff bought them in for the children - I am not going to object to that either!!

Lots of children have toast for breakfast and chocolate spread is no more unhealthy than jam, butter etc.

Children have other meals in which to have their five a day fix

I'm not bothered TBH.

Mine goes 1 day a week for 30 minutes. He has sugar on his cornflakes (they asked my permission, he is only 4) It's not an issue to me.

At after school club they have fruit, crumpets and stuff. Nothing I would at.

I wouldn't be bothered by chocolate spread, although we don't have it at home.

I find that they get eating out of the way so they can play.

I suspected I was being a bit precious.

But, I have to say, DS could eat a lot of chocolate spread in 20 minutes, given the chance. Hence the guilt trip I get at the doctors whenever he's weighed (BMI 98 percentile). However, I did ask them to make sure he had an age appropriate portion. They gave 2 slices which I think is fine.

I think I'll let them eat their breakfast there once a week, and see how we go with that.

Thank you all.

(I think they should have a healthy eating policy - I wouldn't be happy with my kids getting excessive sugar for breakfast - or any other meal )

We don't have Breakfast Club but we are doing Farmhouse Breakfast Week later this month.
Bacon Sarnies on Friday

mrz - it's been chocolate spread everyday that I have asked so far, I think it's every day. And DS would certainly choose it everyday.

I agree I'd be okay with crumpets at after school club.

I was a bit surprised that they weren't subject to the same sort of rules as school dinners I suppose. I had assumed they would be.

Mutt - DS would agree with you there! So far they are generally quite keen on it and love playing.

I don't think you're being precious at all. They should feed the kids healthy stuff at breakfast club and set a good example. Sets them up better for a long day at school too - the kids who go to breakfast club have an earlier start and are more likely to go to afterschool club too.

My DS went to breakfast club every school day for years and it was crap that I had to take in stuff for him and he had to be the odd one out having different stuff, simply because I didn't want him having super sugar fix every morning.

I would be unhappy if it was everyday but wouldn't worry if it was an occasional option

I do a (nursery) breakfast club - we have sugar free cereals and wholemeal toast, though we do have nutella sometimes (once a week maybe) and even pink milk as a treat.

The pupils in my class usually have a bag of monster munch and a blue ice pop for breakfast on the way to school

Thank you all, I hope you are right and the novelty will wear off. He does have a very sweet tooth, which I'm trying to discourage.

mrz - good luck teaching them!

That's 'pickled Onion' monster munch, and raspberry ice pole. 2 of their 5 a day....

lots of children don't have anything to eat :(

in the grand scheme of things chocolate spread on toast is pretty good! and i'm sure the club knows all about healthy eating and the five outcomes

my dds have toast and sugar free cereal at breakfast club

toast can come with jam, chocolate spread or butter but they only get 1 slice

as a special treat they get scrambled eggs -mmmmmmmmmmmmm

the only thing I raise my eyebrow at is that they are offered tea or coffee?

If its a school run breakfast club in England it comes under 'school food other than lunch' rules. Which means no chocolate. Ever!

Processed meat products like bacon and sausages are also restricted as they have be looked at in conjunction with the lunches as they can only be offered so many times.

Outside England and also in academies I think its just guidance.

Please, healthy eating guidelines just mean I end up making bloody sandwiches almost every day.
I'd love to lend DD2 to Jamie Oliver for a week and see who broke first!

not sure who thinks it's healthy to have spag bol, with mashed potatoes followed by jam sponge and custard as that is what my DD had for her lunch today at school

i don't think you are being precious at all

I would NOT be happy with chocolate spread on toast
Not even the diet it's their teeth tbh