[greenchilli]

What's the situation regarding the contents of packed lunches as OH who is already in Auckland says he has heard they are quite strict on how healthy they are only one chocolate bar per week, what have been your experiences?

[marcia]

We're not in Auckland - so can't comment for that area, and i would imagine each individual school has a different policy. At the end of the day they can't 'make' your child have certain things in their lunch boxes, but they do encourage you to provide healthy food and snacks, which is better for your child's health and also attention span in school.

I try to give my kids a selection of alsorts in their lunch and snack box (they have a brain food break and morning tea break and don't get lunch till 1.00) Sandwiches, fruit carrot sticks, popcorn, crackers, museli bar, small packet of biscuits etc. I never give them chocolate bars or sweets in their lunch boxes though.


HTH

[Familyofmonkeys]

I assume you are taking about kids packed lunches for school, rather than pack ups for work?

At daughters school they are allowed no chocolate, soft drinks, sweets, cake at all and they advise not to send in muesli bars if they are the ones with choc topping. OH made the mistake of putting a single choc button at the bottom of a tub of raisins for brain food one friday as a surprise.....her teacher saw it and told her not to eat it!

[JoJo76]

I assume you are taking about kids packed lunches for school, rather than pack ups for work?

I hope so, imagine turning up at work to be told 'what do you think you're doing, you had a crunchie on monday' :)

[Jon-and-Lou]

our son only goes to pre-school, and upon enrollement, we were given a brochure about what makes a healthy packed lunch.

Always have tried to give him healthy food, and only on the odd occasion has he had crisps for school.

anyway - we commited the cardinal sin - popped a non-choccy cereal bar in one day as I was short of bits, and my poor hubby got told off at collection time!

Kinda good in a way, but a bit OTT in this case,

Lou

[JasonS]

at my kids school the rule is no fizzies or lollies. i do pack homemade treats like chocolate chip cookies, cake, and other treats occasionally. i have not been told off by any teachers yet. the only problem for my kids is that their friends want a share of the treats and as a result it leaves very little for my kids in the end. :uhoh

laurel

[Flutterby]

i had no idea they were strict about it, but i'll be pleased not to be giving my daughter the same rubbish that i used to have to eat.

[Familyofmonkeys]

I hope so, imagine turning up at work to be told 'what do you think you're doing, you had a crunchie on monday' :)

:laugh:laugh

[mcacmartin]

Silly question, and not one intended to cause a fight, but why would it be a problem that they are asking for healthy stuff in your kid's lunch? Surely they could they have treats etc at home, so packing them a lunch with a sandwich, fruit, veggies etc in it shouldn't be too much of a hardship?

It's an innocent question, I guess I'm just having trouble understanding why it's an issue for people that the schools insist on these things. For me, it won't be a problem. I think the sweetest thing my kids have had in their lunches is the occasional chocolate chip cookie. On the whole I pack a sandwich, some cheese, some crackers, fruit (grapes/apples/bananas), yogurt and sometimes lately a muesli bar. The only thing our current school (and granted we're still in Canada) tries to encourage is that the lunch be healthy on the whole and be as packaging free as possible.

I figure when the kids come home from school, if I want to give them a treat they can have it then.

Just curious..

[ant7jen]

You should see what I pack myself for lunch at work. :laugh

[mcacmartin]

You should see what I pack myself for lunch at work. :laugh

Hahaha....I was thinking much the same thing. I might pack my kids healthy stuff, but I can't say the same for me :laugh

[shakyle2906]

Our sons school promote healthy eating too - in the pack we had before he started, there were suggestions what is to go into their lunch box.

They have brain food break too at 10am - fruit only, not even allowed a yoghurt.

They also have a snack bar there - with lots of healthy options too - although it disheartening to see some of them come into class ordering a pie as i know it sounds awful, but theyre parents cant be bothered! Its the same kids each day eating same stuff.

Our little one normally takes in a sandwich, cheese and crackers, yoghurt and fruit as well as brain food fruit. Occasionally have sneaked in a mini bar of milky way or a cookie but not told off yet!

Sharon
x

[janrzm]

I don't think it's a case of objecting to healthy foods as such as more a case of wanting to start off on the right foot.
From my experience if the kids know what the rule is, they are happy to go with it.
I struggle with packed lunches for 1 of my 4 kids as he won't eat any fruit. So when it comes to variety of healthy stuff it's difficult. Not sure what happened with him, as I did exactly the same when he was a baby as I did with his brother, who will eat any fruit or vegetable in sight!
I have however just had a minor breakthrough and got him to have 8 grapes with his lunch! [not sure how many end up on the floor!]
It's a shame, as at their school in the UK they always have free fruit at breaktimes.
Also here they are not allowed sweets or chocolate bars. Crisps and biscuits are fine.

[NZ Hopeful]

I hope so, imagine turning up at work to be told 'what do you think you're doing, you had a crunchie on monday' :)

Coffee on screen moment! :laugh:laugh

[mcacmartin]

It sounds like some of the schools go to an extreme with the whole healthy thing. Surely if the parents are happy to have their children have the occasional treat (though I dont see how yogurt qualifies as unhealthy LOL)...then the school should go with it.

I understand that they don't want the sugar high that some of the kids might experience, but they also have to understand that perhaps some families aren't as well educated about healthy options as they might like.

School is such a hard road to travel, without much guidance. Hooo boy....can't wait to get used to a new system. Hehe.

[castleclan]

Im all for healthy dinners but knowing how much energy my son expends walking to and from school and at play times and sports clubs I would hope he could have some high energy food too. Also a balanced diet should allow some sugary/ fatty foods. doesn't forbidden 'fruit' or in this case chocolate bars become all the more tempting?

[Familyofmonkeys]

(though I dont see how yogurt qualifies as unhealthy LOL)

I think it was just for 'brainfood' that youghurt is not allowed. Most NZ primary schools seem to have this.....it is a supervised 5 minute mid-morning snack (separate from morning tea when many kids go out to play and don't neccesarily eat anything) which is normally for items of fresh fruit or veg only and a drink. My daughters school don't allow yoghurt for this either.



but they also have to understand that perhaps some families aren't as well educated about healthy options as they might like.


I think that is the point really.....if everyone understood about healthy options and made good food choices for their children, they wouldn't need to have these rules in place. It educates the parents as much as the children.

[canajanz]

What's the situation regarding the contents of packed lunches as OH who is already in Auckland says he has heard they are quite strict on how healthy they are only one chocolate bar per week, what have been your experiences?

Where does he work that they can control his lunch????