School Dinners vs Packed Lunch
School Dinners – a coined term for something yucky and barely edible? Countless films and comic references have made it difficult for the humble school dinner to be given any respect at all! Lumpy custard, crusty potatoes and of course mushy peas – all part of the school dinner legend!
Jamie Oliver famously heated up the kitchen with his healthy school dinners initiative. So – how about your child or grandchild? Do you worry yourself thinking what inedible objects may be served to your little darling from stainless steel serving trays fiercely guarded by terrifying dinner ladies? Or do you spend ages shopping for the perfect micro lunch with kids size this and mini that, all encased in a Disney or Spiderman packed lunch bag offering your child a delectable balance of foods that their friends will be envious of?
As a Primary School teacher of 14 years now I have seen the full range of both school dinners and packed lunches. And, surprisingly I have been the most shocked with packed lunches. Whilst school caterers have to submit menus in advance, scrutinised by senior Health officials in the council, packed lunches are on the fringe; unaccountable and often unbalanced. I have seen a growing child being given; biscuits, a packet of crisps and a vacuum packed sausage – and worse. And that is meant to sustain them? I have also seen wholemeal pitas, fruit, yoghurt and kiddie sized health bars and fruit juices. Extremes as you can see.
The truth is, modern school dinners nearly always offer a range, maybe even broader than can be offered at home – and for a low price.(Currently around £2. It may be worth remembering that some children are eligible for free school meals depending on income etc). A typical school dinner menu offered today could be: a vegetarian option of; courgette bake or spinach pockets, meat options; chicken curry with coconut milk. Vegetables; potatoes boiled and baked, steamed cabbage, carrots, broccoli, and wholemeal bread. Pudding of; diced fresh fruit -pineapple, apple, banana, or a sweet one of sponge and custard (no lumps or burnt bits recently spotted!). All schools have a salad bar with a minimum of 4 salad options, I have seen some with 6, including beetroot, seeds with beans etc. So, as you can see, school dinners have really moved on!
If you are concerned with dairy and wheat being in your child’s diet then that is a little harder to manage. On a low budget, school kitchens do rely at times on cheap but filling options such as macaroni cheese so vegan children may be a little out on a limb. School puddings do of course contain some sugar but not excessively and if there is a sugar issue then fruit is always on offer. As a vegan school teacher I generally manage and if I do take a school dinner I find that some meals are actually er…..yummy! Having tried and tested school dinners I have not noticed excess salt or artificial flavourings.
Interviewing the children on the positive and negative aspects of school dinners, “School dinners are really good here but if your class is last then the food can be cold”. So, the timing can be a bit of a lottery.
You may well enjoy the safe feeling of offering your child the best through your carefully prepared box of love. In that case your daughter or son is lucky as I have viewed some sorry sights coming out of those cute pvc bags. Bread, is of course the staple in a portable meal but it is worth considering that it can play heavily in the stomachs of some children, causing tiredness as the digestive system is using up so much energy to process such foods.
As a teacher I can categorically say that after lunch is the most difficult time to deliver any ‘serious’ lessons. Children can be lethargic and concentration low. Attention span and clarity in class is affected by; hydration (if your child is drinking any sugar fruit drinks etc then the sugar high would have burnt itself out over playtime and the low is now kicking in). The digestive system may be dealing with ‘sticky’ (mucus forming) foods such as cheese.
The overriding factor when it comes to food and educational success is drinking enough water and steering clear of sugar. So, in the little packed lunches are often lurking ‘mini’ packs of ‘Jaffa Cakes’ or mini snack bars coated in chocolate, albeit over some oats and nuts. These sugar laden foods clearly contribute to classroom behaviour. And fizzy drinks! Luckily most schools do not allow such poison any more. Sorry to be so extreme to label these drinks as thus but I have observed, on countless occasions how children literally act like they have taken amphetamines. They become hot, over excited and certainly not interested in sitting down and listening to their teacher!
On the ecological tip I may also add that I have observed some children’s sandwiches being endlessly wrapped in tin foil or put in ‘ziplock’ bags which are often one use only. School dinners on the other hand are served from large stainless steel tins with very little plastic or non reusable materials used. And instead of a miniature bottle of juice etc each day which is thrown away and will certainly not biodegrade for a few decades, the school dinner child drinks water from cups that are washed daily.
Should I be impartial and detached here? No! Unless you are really committed to offering your child a nutrition filled packed lunch free from sugar and a range of fruit and vegetables then treat yourself to some time off and yield to school dinners. Menus are planned a term in advance and copies are usually sent home. Or just ask in the school office to view one.
Finally, on the social front, children who eat packed lunches always sit together with other children doing the same. Whereas, children eating school dinners mix and socialise with a wider peer range including those older and younger than themselves.
P.S. A little ditty – When I was at school the dinner ladies always said “Hello ducky” as they served up lizard skin coated chicken (it was after one rather insufferable chicken slimy skin incident that at the tender age of 6 I rejected meat). “Mum, why do they call me a duck? I’m a little girl!”
If you have any questions or queries on food and hydration during the school day then please e mail me: info@blissedkids.com and rebeccarainbow.com
© Rebecca Rainbow Elliott 2009