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My 5 yo came home yesterday from school stating that the teachers would not let her eat her rice krispie bar from lunch. She says that she tried the pizza and didn't care for it. She ate a little bit of the salad, and didn't like the pineapple. I knew that the salad and pineapple wouldn't go over well with her from the start but suggested she try the pizza (she really wanted to take "hot" lunch). Well because she didn't eat ALL of her lunch, they would not let her eat the rice krispie bar dessert. She had to dump her tray.
I have issue with this. I understand that they are to guide the kids to eat healthy, but to tell them what they are allowed and not allowed to eat from their tray seems extreme. If she wanted to ONLY eat the rice krispie bar she should be able to.
I have a note into her teacher
Am I over-reacting or does this seem weird? .
Answer:
I don't really understand their reasoning. I would think at least her eating something would be better that nothing. At my kids school, they don't tell them what they can or can't eat. They make sure they get all the healthy food on their trays, after that, it's up to the kids to decide whether to eat it or not.
Answer:
MY point exactly...she came home crying saying she was so hungry since she didn't get to eat her lunch. I am anxiously awaiting her teachers answers. I am mainly curious as to how the lunch room really works so that I can understand and help DD understand too.
Answer:
That would bug me too!!! I once got a note (years ago) that I sent too many treats in my sons lunch because that particular day he had Jello and chips in his lunch and they would not let him eat both!!! Let me tell you, I went off on them!!! They can eat what ever I send!!! With the hot lunch, I would get mad too!!! You paid for the entire lunch. It belonged to your dd What she ate and did not eat was her business. Now if they wanted to send you a note saying she only ate the rice krispie bar that would be fine. Just an informational note so you would know not to purchase that particular lunch again. At our school my kids could always get a peanut butter sandwich if they were still hungry or did not like what was on their tray.
Answer:
My ds school doesnt tell them what they can and cant eat and w/ my ds I am lucky if he even eats one item on his tray or lunch box some days! I do remember when I was in school though that we were forced to each everything in our lunch box or on our tray and I mean everything and if we didnt we werent allowed to go outside after lunch. Instead we were made to go into the hall and sit there until we finished!
Personally though I feel that your dd would have been better off to at least have eaten something on her tray and if that meant she ate the krispy bar then so be it. As a parent I would want my child to at least have something in their little tummy even if it wasnt the healthiest thing for them. Schools can just be weird sometimes and I certainly dont understand their reasoning for some of the things they do.
Answer:
I would be upset too especially because I know my dd and she will try anything! If she likes it - she'll eat it. She is a much better and MUCH healthier eater then I am.
I know she eats her veggies and other foods so if she asks me for a treat I usually give it to her even if she hasn't fully eaten what's on her plate because I know she must either really not like it or be just about full and saving room for a little dessert.
I'm totally on your side, but trying to see why this may have happened, they may have some kids who would rather eat the junk and fill up on that, then the normal healthy food and they are trying to make sure that doesn't happen. Like if you were really hungry you'd eat the pizza or salad or both, you can't only be hungry for the 'treat'. I know some families like this, if you don't eat your entire dinner plate then no dessert. I'm sure some children need that sort of guide line but NOT all children. They need to look at each student as an individual and the situation.
Good luck, let us know what the teacher says.
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good for you for sending a note. i would have called school and then b/c I pick them up would then talk with parties invovled. if she wasn'y allowed to eat it then the should not offer it at all. I'm mad for you. I'm getting all riled up over here.
allgirls
Answer:
I agree with the other ladies here...she should be able to eat what she wants.
However, maybe, just maybe, the lunch period was over and she had to get back to class. Still doesn't make it right....but maybe that was the case, she just ran out of time.
Good for you to check into it by sending a note. Hope it works out!!
Answer:
School lunches have always been a sore spot with me. I really hate the short amount of time the kids have to eat.
A 1/2 hour here!! My kids eat their food so fast.
I've worked at school cafterias before and I would have never told a student that they couldn't eat part of their lunch!
The only time we would focus on what a student was eating would be if Mom/Dad asked to try and keep any eye out and make sure things were doing OK (like giving away food, not eating, not having enough time ETC)
Answer:
OK - I just talked to the teacher. She says that Karenna said that she wasn't feeling well and that she didn't want to eat anymore. She was then told she could dump her plate. I can believe that - she had been sick over the Thanksgiving weekend. Now I don't know who to believe
The teacher says the normal "routine" at the school they follow is this....the kids have to TRY everything on the tray or they don't get to have the dessert. All the Asst's and teachers follow this rule. She states that otherwise all the kids would eat the dessert first and some would eat only that. I can see her point (and told her that) but if my child wants to only eat that - then she should be able to...I have paid for it...and I should be the one to discuss eating habits with my kids. She also said this....(and THIS really doesn't sit well with me - though it won't ever pertain to me)...there have been times when kids come with only chips and cookies in their lunch - she has taken them away - and gotten them hot lunch anyway because the original wasn't healthy. I don't see where this is OK for them to do. She (and the asst's) are NOT the parents. I also know (well have been told by my kids) that some eat parts of their lunch on the bus on the way to school.
I really like the school otherwise...is this just a small town school thing that is OK to do? Man - I have to say the school we came from was just the opposite. They would let any kid take any amount of stuff for lunch (no matter the cost). I guess ya just can't win for losing.