Free school lunches informal survey

[KerryRosalind]

Hi,

Since the free school meals for primary schools were introduced (which my we have taken up for my son), I'm wondering if I should make my son's post school snacks healthier.

I used to know what was in his lunch box - so was happy to give him cheese snacks etc. after school - but now concerned he may not be getting enough fruit etc. so maybe I should give them fruit etc after school. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Not sure about other areas, but in Hampshire they are trying to link the free school meals to a health lifestyle agenda including it in the PSHE curriculum. The stats regarding childhood obesity are startling. The government have also set new nutritional guidelines which come into force in January. You can read more about school food standards at www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/schools/the-standards The difficulty of course is knowing how much of the food you child has eaten. Lunchtime supervisors will encourage children to eat their meals e.g."Eat some more carrots before having pudding" but in the end we only our children's word for how much they have had.

My DD has just started reception. They get a piece of fruit as a snack each day and can choose their salad/vegetables at lunchtime. So, depends if they want to take it or not for lunch. I do try to make sure I offer fruit and include veg in the evening meal.

I would have qualified for FSM, but send DS with a packed lunch, as the vegetarian options are pretty crappy. This way, I know what he's actually eating, and that it's healthy. Quorn, white rice and pasta, jam sponge and custard being promoted ad health foods is just so far off the mark, that I can't entrust his health/ nutrition to them.
I still did the paperwork, to trigger the pupil premium, but I do wonder how many won't do it now the free meals are automatic. I'll be interested to just how much PP goes unpaid/unclaimed.

If, at some point, he wants the dinners, or finances make it necessary, I'll still do a good breakfast and dinner and healthy snacks.

Having eaten a fair few of these supposedly healthy school meals over the years, including our school's most recent menu, I'd certainly be upping the nutrition of any snacks and all meals provided at home. The portion sizes and quality at school are poor. Very poor.