Do your children eat a cooked lunch at school?

[scifisam]

There is no way that any sarnie, outside of some ginormous sagging thing, can deliver the same nutritional content as a proper sit down meal. Especially when you consider the sarnies that most children prefer.

Yep, a well designed pack lunch can be as balanced and healthy as a hot meal. But it's also arguably less easy to achieve and more easily circumvented - swapping or throwing away disliked items is probably more common and less easily noticed than a fussy eater from one plate.

I've got to say, I still prefer a hot lunch 90% of the time. It's finding the time to prepare and eat it which is more of a probelm.

Now you're just being silly. Yes, kids might throw the healthy bits away - just as they might do with a cooked meal. Yes, sandwiches can be samey and unhealthy - just like cooked meals can. It's just`daft to think cold food = unnutritious.

Right, I'm off to collect my poor, starved daughter. I'm sure she'd be much better off if she came home to a hot dinner rather than eating sandwiches and so on in order to spend more time doing sport and playing at the park, but I'm cruel like that.

 

[tarannau]

Does any school still just feed its kids Turkey Twizzlers and Chips these days? It was rare in my day, let alone 20 years after in the post Saint Jamie Fatlip era.

Besides, even a twizzlers, beans and chips meal is likely to have a protein and carbo boost that the vast majority of sarnies will struggle to match.

 

[scifisam]

A packed lunch would mean I would have to think up what to give my hypothetical child for lunch and dinner!

I do not have very much imagination.

That's one of the reasons I'd rather she stick to school dinners.

Though her school does have the option of a sandwich and salad bar instead of a hot meal (the queues are equally long, apparently). Those bastards!

 

[scifisam]

Does any school still just feed its kids Turkey Twizzlers and Chips these days? It was rare in my day, let alone 20 years after in the post Saint Jamie Fatlip era.

Besides, even a twizzlers, beans and chips meal is likely to have a protein and carbo boost that the vast majority of sarnies will struggle to match.

It makes me laugh that you're so proud of not having food issues when you so obviously do.

 

[quimcunx]

Does any school still just feed its kids Turkey Twizzlers and Chips these days? It was rare in my day, let alone 20 years after in the post Saint Jamie Fatlip era.

Besides, even a twizzlers, beans and chips meal is likely to have a protein and carbo boost that the vast majority of sarnies will struggle to match.

Depends what the kids choose to have. Or they might go home for lunch to me, me and my lack of imagination. It's not protein and carbs that people tend to be short of, it's the green leafy veg and things they reject.

 

[tarannau]

I love the fact that you're still playing strawman and implying that I'm saying 'cold food = unnutritious'

I don't mind you having your say, but your talents at misreprenting the words of others, playing the 'poor me martyr' card and making attacks on others about food issues are a little unpleasant and transparent. Why can't you stick to what people are actually saying rather than shovelling words into their mouth?

I stick by my comments. It is hard to make a sandwich that is as nutritionally balanced as a hot meal. Equally it's arguably harder to make a balanced pack lunch that kids will eat - with a one plate hot meal there's more room to conceal and moderate healthy ingredients for example.

 

[Pip]

So aaaanyway. Don't kids have to eat proportionally more than adults? I don't think two hot meals is excessive if that's what you're used to, but I have to admit to being pretty shocked at how much my tiny nieces put away. If you're a fifth of my size you should eat a fifth of what I do - well apparently fucking not

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Sandwiches don't have to be boring, samey and un-nutritious. Would you refuse to give your child a packed lunch, then? Course, 'packed lunch' doesn't always have to mean 'sandwich' either.

Of course I wouldn't refuse to give my child a packed lunch, but then I would know what they were getting - A because I gave it to them and B - because I was making them dinner as well.

C - we were talking about sandwiches for dinner, not packed lunches of any sort. What are you on?

D - A sandwich as most people know it will be bread - one or two fillings and a little salad. How ever much you jazz that up, I don't want the only meal I am making for my kids every day to be a bloody sandwich.

BTW - I love sandwiches and my daughter has one almost every day (more like every other) but I also get to make dinner for her and choose what else she eats throughout the day.

 

[geminisnake]

Because they have normally had a sandwich at lunchtime and a cooked meal in the evening.

I was hoping to save some money here dammit!

Think giving them a sandwich would be a false economy hun. If they're anything like my son they would just go and help themselves to crisps/ yoghurt/ fruit til they're full.

Boy had school meals, cooked tea and anything else he could eat when he was at school and the wee git is only just into the 'normal' weight range.

 

[dodgepot]

it's best not to ask questions like this on urban, moomoo. just trust your own judgement. it only ends in tears otherwise.

 

[scifisam]

I love the fact that you're still playing strawman and implying that I'm saying 'cold food = unnutritious'

I don't mind you having your say, but your talents at misreprenting the words of others, playing the 'poor me martyr' card and making attacks on others about food issues are a little unpleasant and transparent. Why can't you stick to what people are actually saying rather than shovelling words into their mouth?

I stick by my comments. It is hard to make a sandwich that is as nutritionally balanced as a hot meal. Equally it's arguably harder to make a balanced pack lunch that kids will eat - with a one plate hot meal there's more room to conceal and moderate healthy ingredients for example.

Yeah, unnutritous was a slight exaggeration, but I'd expect people to know that and know it was hyperbole - after all, they can see your posts too.

'Poor me martryr?' WTF? Where on Earth am I doing that? And making attacks? Um, you using that phrase kinda makes it look like you're playing a 'poor me martyr card.'

Anyway, whatever. You reckon it's nigh on impossible to make a packed lunch that's as healthy as a cooked meal. I think that anyone who can make a healthy hot meal can make a healthy sandwich. We are never going to agree, and it's really not an issue worth putting effort into.

Of course I wouldn't refuse to give my child a packed lunch, but then I would know what they were getting - A because I gave it to them and B - because I was making them dinner as well.

C - we were talking about sandwiches for dinner, not packed lunches of any sort. What are you on?

D - A sandwich as most people know it will be bread - one or two fillings and a little salad. How ever much you jazz that up, I don't want the only meal I am making for my kids every day to be a bloody sandwich.

BTW - I love sandwiches and my daughter has one almost every day (more like every other) but I also get to make dinner for her and choose what else she eats throughout the day.

Moomoo's kids are being offered sandwiches because they don't have packed lunches any more. Hence me mentioning packed lunches. I'm on my sofa right now, since you asked.

Not sure why you're getting all defensive and sweary, btw. I do understand you not trusting the school to feed your daughter well (or at least make sure she eats all the healthy stuff), and already said that.

It's just that I reckon that a carbohydrate with some protein and some veg (like most sandwiches) isn't less healthy just because the carbohydrate is bread. There are lots of easy sandwich fillings (and breads) that kids will like - unless they're very picky, in which case hot food isn't going to be problem-free either - so it's easy to have a variety too.

Fine by me if you disagree with that - I don't really understand why, but it's not as if it's important.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Not sure why you're getting all defensive and sweary, btw. I do understand you not trusting the school to feed your daughter well (or at least make sure she eats all the healthy stuff), and already said that.

It's just that I reckon that a carbohydrate with some protein and some veg (like most sandwiches) isn't less healthy just because the carbohydrate is bread. There are lots of easy sandwich fillings (and breads) that kids will like - unless they're very picky, in which case hot food isn't going to be problem-free either - so it's easy to have a variety too.

Fine by me if you disagree with that - I don't really understand why, but it's not as if it's important.

I can't remember swearing.

sandwiches are fine but the point here (which you are ignoring) is that I said if I was only monitoring one foodstuff a day that went into my kids it wouldn't be - a half tomato, six slice of cucumbers worth of veg - sandwich.
A sandwich for dinner for your kids every day? you think its a good idea? I don't think it sends out the right message for a start.
If I sound grumpy its only that i have to repeat myself over and over just for your benefit.

Yes I do understand you can put 100 carrots between two slices of bread and it's still a sandwich, but I think you will agree that is not what we are talking about here.

 

[mentalchik]

it's best not to ask questions like this on urban, moomoo. just trust your own judgement. it only ends in tears otherwise.

this ^


my youngest (who is now at college) was a nightmare with lunch at school, packed lunches came back uneaten(he said he would rather play out) and school dinners were a problem with the waiting around thing (again would rather do something else)

he eats well now but is a 'grazer', very skinny and not a huge eater !

 

[moomoo]

it's best not to ask questions like this on urban, moomoo. just trust your own judgement. it only ends in tears otherwise.

I know, I know!!!

I was just wondering what other parents did. I'll carry on cooking them a dinner most nights but won't feel guilty about them just having sandwiches on busy nights.

Of course, the other problem is when I've bought a pizza for their dinner and they have all had pizza for lunch...

 

[weepiper]

I stick by my comments. It is hard to make a sandwich that is as nutritionally balanced as a hot meal. Equally it's arguably harder to make a balanced pack lunch that kids will eat - with a one plate hot meal there's more room to conceal and moderate healthy ingredients for example.

Er. Do you actually have kids? It's FAR easier IME to get kids to eat a packed lunch (tailored to their tastes) than a one-plate hot meal.

Mine hardly ever have a cooked lunch, they almost always ask for 'things on a plate' which is some combination of sandwich/crackers/fruit/tomatoes/cucumber/carrot/cheese/cold meats etc etc. They will generally clear a plate of this sort of thing without fuss, whereas if I try and present them with a plate of shepherd's pie etc they will moan and complain and fuss and pick around the 'concealed' healthy ingredients and have to be coerced to eat. They are WISE to this concealing business let me tell you.

 

[Clair De Lune]

My daughter has a massive appetite. She is seven and I swear she eats way more than me. And before anyone asks, no she is not fat, in fact she is very slim.
She has cereal or two pieces of toast for breakfast, fruit as a mid morning snack in school, cooked lunch in school, sandwhich, and more fruit or a yoghurt or whatever when she gets home, a cooked dinner at about 6 and then often another snack before bed.

But not all kids are like my daughter or need that much food....so no you are definitely not a bad mum moomoo! I am sure your kids would tell you if they didn't have enough

 

[invisibleplanet]

Mine eats a cooked lunch at school, has a sandwich (or huge cake) when he gets in, and then eats a cooked dinner around 7pm

 

[RubyToogood]

Personally I'd add vegetable soup to the sandwich. Well, not IN the sandwich, you know what I mean...

 

[clicker]

The cooked meal option at school....looks good on paper, we get sent home the menu and it looks very appetising. Then i saw the trays one day....they are like prison trays, dinner and pud get put on the same tray at the same time....cue mingling of smells and the odd dodgy slosh of custard across your quiche.

I only make mine have cooked dinners for autumn and winter term....on the basis that it is better than a cold sarnie...I had hoped they'd go for the hot pudding choice and have warm tums....unfortunately they are inherently healthy and pick the fresh fruit.....but it wouldnt be their only hot meal of the day......they eat again at 7ish and are well ready fo it.

 

[feyr]

my kids have a school lunch which is sometimes a hot dinner, other days its pizza or salad, the menu is sent to parents every month so that i know what they are eating to plan their evenig meals

at work, lunch for our students ranges from sandwhich, salad and a bag of crisps, to a cooked meal. dinner is always a cooked meal but could be something simple like muffin pizzas if they've had a big lunch. plus the option of a snack 3 times a day ( usually fruit or a yogurt).

lots of other meals that are as easy as a sandwhich but that feel a bit more dinner like, like baked spuds, or chunky soups

 

[_angel_]

Yes they get a school dinner and a hot dinner when they come in.

Giving them a sarnie in the evening I'm sure is fine, dependent on how big it is and what goes in/ with it, but to be honest it sounds a little odd! And it's probably more work than shoving something in the oven as well.

I'd like to know what they ate during the day and they can't tell me, so sometimes it's probably the same again.

I know I've been asked whether I give em "supper" as well but that seems a bit much and they get plenty at tea time even though we don't do hot pudding or dessert at home, they always get an adult portion so that's enough.

Our school dinners at high school were so horrible I used to prefer to not to eat all day long.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

There's no school dinners served at my daughter's school, so she has to have a packed lunch.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

My daughter has a massive appetite. She is seven and I swear she eats way more than me. And before anyone asks, no she is not fat, in fact she is very slim.
She has cereal or two pieces of toast for breakfast, fruit as a mid morning snack in school, cooked lunch in school, sandwhich, and more fruit or a yoghurt or whatever when she gets home, a cooked dinner at about 6 and then often another snack before bed.

I'm pretty sure my daughter (at just over two) eats more than me too. They are growing I suppose and that takes energy.

My daughter has weatabix and some fruit for breakfast then maybe some toast and some more fruit at about 10am. I only have a cup of tea and maybe a slice of toast if that. For lunch we both have a sandwich but my daugher will have some more fruit and a cracker at about 3pm. Her dinner portions are smaller than mine though I suppose *(she has what we have).

I don't know where is all goes.

 

[scifisam]

I can't remember swearing.

sandwiches are fine but the point here (which you are ignoring) is that I said if I was only monitoring one foodstuff a day that went into my kids it wouldn't be - a half tomato, six slice of cucumbers worth of veg - sandwich.
A sandwich for dinner for your kids every day? you think its a good idea? I don't think it sends out the right message for a start.
If I sound grumpy its only that i have to repeat myself over and over just for your benefit.

Yes I do understand you can put 100 carrots between two slices of bread and it's still a sandwich, but I think you will agree that is not what we are talking about here.

I just can't be arsed to argue about this right now. You're going to keep repeating 'sandwiches are boring' and I'm going to keep counteracting with 'they don't have to be, and I don't mean just adding more of the same veg,' and it's not really worth arguing over.

Just thought I'd respond so that it didn't look like I was rudely ignoring you. Am a bit bored of everything right now, even arguing on the internet, but that's not due to any one particular person.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

I just can't be arsed to argue about this right now. You're going to keep repeating 'sandwiches are boring' .

No I'm not because I never said sandwiches are boring and I don't even think they are. I am actually fairly passionate about making good sandwiches. I practically insist on making my wife's if she needs them for lunch, and I use them as a useful tool almost daily to teach my daughter (2) how to prepare ingredients.

We aren't going backwards and forwards, you are simply not reading my posts properly and I have just been repeating myself. I don't think I am arguing about anything other than that. Yawn.

 

[scifisam]

Talking about sandwiches as 'a half tomato, six slice of cucumbers worth of veg' or '100 carrots between two slices of bread' does sound like you think they're boring. I mean, I can't see into your mind, you know, I can only read your words on the screen. Do you not think that your descriptions sound like you think sandwiches are boring? Seriously?

This is one of the reasons I dislike 'debates' at the moment. I hate being accused of not reading someone's posts properly, so end up coming back to defend myself even though it's not like anyone who matters is actually reading this. Stupid.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

And if so, do you do them a cooked meal in the evening as well?

Mine get free school dinners and I thought I'd get away with giving them a sandwich at tea time but they seem to expect a proper dinner!

Is that normal or have I raised a bunch of greedy kids?

We used to send a bag lunch, but in high school, there's a cafeteria, so we send money, and it's hot food.

They're growing kids, so by the time school is over at 3, they need a snack. Then we have a full hot meal at about 7.

 

[moomoo]

Talking about sandwiches as 'a half tomato, six slice of cucumbers worth of veg' or '100 carrots between two slices of bread' does sound like you think they're boring. I mean, I can't see into your mind, you know, I can only read your words on the screen. Do you not think that your descriptions sound like you think sandwiches are boring? Seriously?

This is one of the reasons I dislike 'debates' at the moment. I hate being accused of not reading someone's posts properly, so end up coming back to defend myself even though it's not like anyone who matters is actually reading this. Stupid.

Don't I matter?

Anyway, thanks to you lot making me feel like a bad mother, I am now doing the kids hot meals in the evenings. Except once a week when they will have sandwiches. Alright?!!

 

[girasol]

my son has a cooked meal at school, then something at the after school at 4, then cooked dinner in the evening.

the school dinner menu is pretty decent (thanks Jamie!) and he enjoys the food.

 

[moomoo]

My youngest loves his school dinners. He even asked me if I could buy 'grey' sausages.