School lunchboxes

[discoball]

Hi,everyone
Just wondered what the general opinion is on schools checking lunchboxes etc... I think that the schools can educate/advise/etc... but should not go so far as to actually look in lunchboxes and confiscate things (that don't actually belong to them). My DD has a tuna sandwich, a bag of baked crisps (shock, horror), a piece of cheese, a tangerine, a small bar of milk chocolate (!!!!) and a bottle of water. Now whilst this isn't perhaps the ultimate in healthiness, it certainly isn't particulary bad and she eats very healthily in the evenings and at other times. I don't mind them educating, but I think that good or bad, it is up to PARENTS to put whatever they like in their own children's lunchboxes. How do you all feel about it? Thanks.

so has she had things confiscated?

No, but my friend's daughter had something of hers confiscated, although they live in a different county, not sure what various policies are? I'm just saying that in theory, if it did come up, I would not be happy about it!!!

how old is your dd?

I don't see the problem with sending them to school with healthy stuff and saving the crisps/chocolate until after school. It saves all the little darling's whos parents pack cous cous, carrot sticks et al feeling left out. Stops the strops and arguments.

I disagree I'm afraid. If all parents were sensible, great - but when it comes to children being sent to school with a half-eaten McDonalds/two cans of Red Bull/three chocolate bars for lunch, SOMEONE has to draw a line.

I think it's a reasonable thing for a school to have a stance on. If you want to feed your children criminally poor food, or none at all, you should pick them up from school and do it at home - nobody can stop that sad

having said that, sadly the policy is a blunt instrument and leads to children being banned from having a home-made flapjack in their lunchbox when the children having school dinners are shovelling cake and custard for pudding. But that's an abuse/misinterpretation of a good policy, not a shit policy. IMO.

is this secondary school or primary?

secondary school

well, in some schools they now have smart cards which log what choices a pupil makes at lunchtime and if they are, for example, only eating chips - or only an apple - their parents are informed.

I thnk we as parents have to accept that schools are now able to do whatever it takes to enforce School Rules/policy during school Hours.
The trouble is, any policy is only as good/bad as the people enforcing it. There are always going to be individuals who perhaps use guidelines as The Letter Of The Law and don't use common sense.
On the whole though, I think schools do need to be helping children make healthier food choices.
And there is no perfect way of helping those who are not able to work it out for themselves, without it impacting on those parents and pupils who do have more awareness.

I do agree with that molly - any policy, however well-conceived, is a blunt instrument in the hands of people who haven't had it explained to them properly/don't personally agree with it/are too dumb to understand it

but I still think if it stops a few children from being sent to school with a chewed big mac and a red bull for lunch, it's worth the agony for the rest of us

the smart card sounds brilliant, I woult like to have my boys permamently wired-up to one of those

We have a healthy eating policy at school and only healthy snacks are allowed for playtime (while the staff stuff themselves with cake!! )

The idea is that most of the lunchbox is healthy and a treat is allowed. DS(7y) takes a sandwich, salad, frube, mini roll and juice. To me, this is a sensible lunchbox and I would be cross if the mini roll was taken away.

However, some of the lunchboxes are appalling stuffed with chocolate and crisps and coke and I think this has been addressed with some parents.

But sometimes I do despair at the attitudes of some of the parents at schoool.........

no no, Greeny, I am agreeing with you!

And 5 years ago I was ranting because my primary school was telling my son couldn't have home made shortbread in his lunch as it was classed as cake/biscuit and therefore contrband!

But I really do see it is for the greater good now.

I still moan about not being able to send in a little chocolate bar as a treat

but my school isn't that ridiculous, and I do feel sorry for the children who haven't got any proper food at all... so I now support the policy and thinks schools really do have to have a line on this.

so I think we agree exactly on this one

I think this is especially important at secondary school actually, because many children make their own lunches so haven't even got the safety net of a parent throwing in some fruit to even out the crisps, coke and Mars Bars....

But not much they can do about those who take their dinner money to the local chippy, I suppose.