[vixxann]

following on from the maths/education thread going at the moment I have been giving a bit more thought to NZ schools (in a positive manner I have to say!) but I wondered what the regime with school dinners was...

Over here obviously we've had the big controversy /Jamie Oliver thing and trying to get healthy lunches - which hasn't gone down to well in lots of schools:roll

My kids (and most at their school) take packed lunches - what's the norm to do in NZ? and what are cooked school lunches like?

[Oregonkiwi]

Schools in NZ don't have "school dinners" or cafetarias (so far as I know - there may be a few that do.) Most kids take a packed lunch. Schools also often have a small store or "tuck shop" where kids can buy sandwiches, meat pies etc - not usually particularly healthy stuff, although some schools are trying to improve that.
It's a while (ok, a long while!) since I was in high school though so maybe other people have more up to date info.

[StevieD]

Butty boxes I afraid Vicky!!

[Carol]

Yeah - no school lunches here.

But at least we get to decide what they eat.

Chips and "turkey" twirly things wouldn't be my own personal choice for my kids!
;)

[wiki]

Packed lunches are the norm - but most schools will have pies and things like lasagne toppers that can be orders in the morning and are put in a pie warmer pre-lunch.

Some bigger schools sell sandwiches and most high schools and intermediates have a small tuck shop.

[Rizak]

Forget school lunches.
I want to know if I can get home lunches ...

[gil]

No school dinners, as has been said. They can take enough food to cover "morning tea" (morning breaktime) when they all eat something and lunch. Sometimes it looks as if our 10 year old son needs a separate rucksack just for his food! Our Primary, Intermediate and College all have a "tuck shop" which sells a range of things from "Fresh Green Salad" $4, to American Hot Dog $2.50, to "Pizza Pies (Heart Foundation Approved)" $2 !
We had a letter from the primary school at the start of term asking us not to give the kids processed foods in their lunch boxes as it inhibits concentration and is generally bad for them (or words to that effect). I obviously can't speak for other schools, but our three seem switched on to healthy eating and nutrition.

Gil
x

[Diny]

Yeah - packed lunches only in our school too.

However, on Fridays the kids can order a 'bought lunch'. We have a list/menu of items that can be bought from the local take away. The kids hand the order and payment in first thing in the morning and at lunch time their take away meal is delivered.

We use this system as a kind of reward. If the boys have been well behaved and have worked hard during the week then they get a bought lunch. If they haven't then they have a packed lunch from home (usually vegemite and lettuce butties - a big favourite with them).

Diny

[Sam B]

Now I've started work, I'm in kindies and pre-schools a lot, and was surprised to see that at snack time it seems to be mainly cakes and muffins, (no fruit) handed out at snack time, so may not have same drive towards healthy food as in UK, where snack time was usually fruit, raw veg and hummus and pittas etc (well it was in pre-schools in Cornwall).

I give my kids big, healthy packed lunches, but they come home STARVING these days with all the swimming and activity.

[Junnifer USA]

My kid had several regular healthy choices. Wednesday was Suchi Day. Kids Loved that one.
The Pizza Day was not too bad. And for morning tea they were only allowed fruit. (Lunch might include a junky addition) Only beverage allowed was water!

Jennifer

[Diny]

My boys aren't allowed to take any sweets (lollies) into school - they are totally banned. If any of the kids are found with sweets they are confiscated and then returned to them at home time.

They are allowed snacks during lesson time too (something I totally disagree with) - fruit, nuts, raw veg etc.

Diny

[wilson182]

My daughter has packed lunch only, although I think they have a cafeteria. They have fruit and fitness every morning, and the school insists on a least one piece of fruit in their lunches. They are only allowed to take their drink bottles in the classroom if the have water in them. Probably at least once a term the PTA has a bought lunch fundraiser which is not particularly healthy, but apparently they tried the healthy option and it wasn't very popular.

[gil]

My boys aren't allowed to take any sweets (lollies) into school - they are totally banned. If any of the kids are found with sweets they are confiscated and then returned to them at home time.

They are allowed snacks during lesson time too (something I totally disagree with) - fruit, nuts, raw veg etc.

Diny

Ditto on the lollies front for ours.

Interested to understand why you totally disagrre with healthy snacks being permitted during lessons?

Gil

[Marie P]

My kids school have packed lunches ,but new this term is a menu where they can pre-order cookies ,drinks ,fruit etc.

They have to take 3 or 4 items of BRAIN FOOD which is eaten during the day fruit ,popcorn or carrot sticks .No chocolate or sweets allowed.

They sell hotdogs on a tuesday which you have to order as a fundraiser.

Marie x

[Diny]

Ditto on the lollies front for ours.

Interested to understand why you totally disagrre with healthy snacks being permitted during lessons?

Gil

The kids get a morning break, a lunch time and an afternoon break, surely they can manage without eating in between. Just another one of my old fashioned gripes.

I think it's just an unnecessary distraction. Water bottles on the desk are fine - but no food, just yet another excuse to stop working.

Diny

[Carol]

Diny - after I read and read and read again - of the positives of allowing kids to "graze" during the day - I did eventually relent and allowed my class to eat fruit/veggies (not nuts) and have a constant supply of water throughout the day.
Some kids liked it - and thrived on it.
Some didn't bother.
It certainly seemed to calm some of the more "boisterous" ones down.
http://www.okea.org/SOEA/04fallconf/brainbasedresearch.pdf
just one article on it....


The College (High School) have a cafeteria - but had a terrible choice of menu.
We requested they look at it in relation to student behaviour - along with many other parents apparantly.
It HAS changed in the fact they are offering sandwiches now and fruit.
But pies etc are still on the menu - it's a popular choice of course.
Would love to see them just gone!


The other problem wih teenagers (well mine anyway) is that they just dont bother with lunch sometimes - not a lot you can do about it when they are that age. But it is obvious when they come in from school and eat a whole packet of cereal in one go - it's not an ideal situation!
:mad:

[gil]

I think it's just unnecessary. Water bottles on the desk are fine - but no food, just yet another excuse to stop working.

Diny

I think I would agree if they had to stop, but isn't the point to "graze" as they work? And it's healthy stuff which keeps their concentration and behaviour in the right place.

And of course, they don't have to nibble if they don't want to! Good point Carol!

Gil

PS Bit of a ramble on the side:
Personally, I grew up being told how rude it was to eat in the street, that I should always clear my plate and never eat between meals. These strictures always felt wrong to me and when I had my first baby, I also balked at the advice to feed her every four hours and use a watch to ensure I didn't exceed 10 minutes per boob. So when I could exercise the choice myself, I became far more relaxed about these sorts of things with my kids, and have always provided the healthiest food I can manage (even when I was a single mum on Income Support). They don't like junk food particularly and all eat well. They don't have any food issues or anxieties as food is just something that's built in to their day. If they need a (healthy) energy boost during their day, I am happy for them to do so.
Now OH, up until VERY recently clung to those strictures and used to get cross with the kids for eating between meals etc (Uh oh! Mixed message parenting, I hear you say! :yes) However, he has done a fair bit of reading on this and has now become the grazer he actually needs to be....healthy and happy all round.

[Diny]

Yeah - some good points there. I tend to agree with alot of what you say - apart from eating in the street. I think it looks awful (but there again I hate to see a woman with a pint glass - just looks tatty) Buttoning up my flak jacket.

Back on topic.

I just think that if a kid has a good breakfast before school, a snack at morning tea, then lunch, then an afternoon break, they really shouldn't be needing anything in between.

Personally I think it verges on piggy/greedy.

But you know me - give me a popular belief and I'll challenge it.

Diny

[Diny]

I think I would agree if they had to stop, but isn't the point to "graze" as they work?


Yeah I guess that is the point, but I'd rather teach a kid who's sitting there contentrating on the lesson rather than tearing off bits of pitta bread and dipping them into humous.

Diny

[gil]

I just think that if a kid has a good breakfast before school, a snack at morning tea, then lunch, then an afternoon break, they really shouldn't be needing anything in between.

Personally I think it verges on piggy/greedy.

Diny

You're right, Diny, it certainly can verge on the piggy, thinking of some kids we knew in UK who were often given crisps for breakfast, break, lunch and afternoon break, with chips for tea! And guess what they would eat in between?......that's right, more crisps! Honestly! Important to keep an eye on quantity and quality, I agree.
On a personal note, I often need something to eat in between if my energy levels start to dip, just a piece of fruit or something and I feel tons better. For years, I experienced an energy dip around 2 pm, at school, university and in working life. Then some clever soul suggested a bit of fruit or whatever and it made the world of difference to me. I hadn't dared eat between meals as it had been drummed into me as a child, as I said. I would imagine there are kids who experience similar in many classrooms too.

I'd rather teach a kid who's sitting there contentrating on the lesson rather than tearing off bits of pitta bread and dipping them into humous.


I'd rather teach a kid who can concentrate too and if they need fruit/pitta to do so, I'd personally prefer that than have them lose concentration and even risk them becoming disruptive.

Interesting discussion!

Gil

[vixxann]

Wow - thanks for all the comments folks - keep it coming - I love to hear all about the NZ ways, and there does seem to be some variations in schools/areas - plus some possible changes ahead for others??

Incidentally - I work in a primary school as a teachers assistant plus welfare duties at lunchtime - despite "healthy lunches" being introduced, as in most UK schools, my kids tried them and then asked to go back onto packed lunches. For which I was grateful as school dinners were £8 a week EACH! I have three children and NOT HAPPY about paying £24 a week for their lunches!
The numerous goodies (and nutritional) foods that can be packed into a lunch box for each child do not cost me anywhere near that amount.

On the NZ issues - I'm not sure how I feel about eating in classes, I think it would depend a lot on how each individual teacher handles it and restricts any messing about etc. Kids that have things explained to them with good reasons given and all pros and cons, are normally fairly agreeable and would do what is best overall for everyone.

Regards - pizza days etc, that sounds fun and as mentioned - always good for a treat/reward!;) Any mention of pies gets my eldest son frothing at the mouth - he cannot wait to try NZ pies - he's pie crazy!! So any pastry encrusted items sold in his high school would be very popular :roll

Overall - I think I am rather impressed with the comments on the NZ way (as I increasingly am about the NZ way for most issues!) maybe I'm on a one-track road:)

[Diny]

Interesting discussion!

Gil


It certainly is.

I know what you mean about the energy dip. I get mine at 4 pm - you can almost set your clock by it.

Diny

[Carol]

I wouldn't have let them have pita and hummus (messy) - but I didn't see a few dried raisins or a satsuma or a few carrot sticks or a small bag of popcorn as a problem at all.
Once the novelty wore off (it took them about a week) it all settled down to those who preferred to graze did so - and those who didn't just didn't bother.
It wasn't a big deal - and like I say - it certainly changed some behaviours.

Also - I insisted that if they were going to graze - they brought the food into the classroom as they came in - so they weren't up and down the whole time and disturbing learning time.

Everything revolved around the QUALITY of the learning time they had.
ANd if they needed to eat to achieve the quality I was looking for - then they could.

[ellenmelon]

when i was in primary school in chch (cant remember much about school lunches when i was at primary in new plymouth) the only hot food you could get ordered in was pies/sausage rolls etc. it was a treat for a lot of people, including me and the two terms i was there i wouldve had a pie about 5 times!
at highschool we had a tuck shop that only sold mainly healthy food..and the only soft drink available was a can machine in the 7th form common room (and if we were found to be selling it to the younger girls it was unavailable for a week). the tuckshop sold hot quiches/pies, meusli bars,home baking, fruit, some of those healthier crisps you can get, juicies (frozen fruit juice iceblock, i lived on these in summer cause they were only 80cents :) )rolls/sandwiches and there were lollies/chocolate too but the scheme that my school belonged to enforced that i think 80% of it had to be the healthy alternative.
most high schools that my friends went to had a similar set up. some of the private schools (especially those that had boarders) had cafeteria's.

[Sam B]

What happens about kids from really poor families who would have had free school dinners in the UK? Do some of them go hungry?

[Oregonkiwi]

Do some of them go hungry?
Yes, unfortunately.
This has been in the news a lot lately, (start of the new school year plus political posturing has suddenly made it "news worthy") e.g.:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/search/story.cfm?storyid=00000466-B441-15C9-A23A83027AF10111

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/search/story.cfm?storyid=0000CB7F-EA24-15C8-A08783027AF1010E

[vixxann]

another school related question...

regards UKs Nanny state gone mad eg. in NZ are teachers / staff allowed to put suncream on kids at school / nursery?

In UK we had to sign a form when my little girl was at nursery to give them permission to put cream on her - at the primary school I work at we cannot do anything like that. Whilst I understand many aspects of this - I think a lot of the time the schools and councils are just so scared of private lawsuits that they won't allow you to do anything.

Curious as surely in NZ its really important regards the suncream?!