Jamie Olivers school dinners?

Question

My 15 year old brother is still at school and is having a terrible time over his dinners....

There is nothing he likes on the new menues and him and all his friends are not having any dinner at all most days!
Carrot sticks and pasta with tuna are not to every kids taste.
Any one else having this problem with their kid?

I know in an ideal world all kids would eat healthily - but surely the kids refusing to eat them at all can't be good!

Kate you are right - but shouldn't there be a choice to eat healthily or not? Or maybe a bit of balance at least....

Answer 1

there should be a choice to heathy meals at school but there also be things that the children like eating aswell

Answer 2

I am a teacher, and believe me, the changes that have been made to the dinners are a really good thing. Most parents would be horrified if they could have seen what the children were being given prior to the changes - at my last school it was not uncommon to see a child being given a quarter of a sandwich and a dollop of mashed potato, and nothing else. The food was terrible and the portions were too small, and the parents were paying £7.50 a week.
I can understand that there would be some resistance to the changes by the children, as they are not in the habit of having so many choices, or making healthy food choices. It is going to take time and encouragement for them to come around to the idea - but in the long run it is a change that is necessary unless we want to bring up a nation of unhealthy blobs.
I would encourage your brother to stick at it for a bit longer if I were you, to give it a fair try. If he really doesn't like them after half a term for example, then let him take a packed lunch, but it would really be a good idea to help him to develop the habit of making healthy food choices.
Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Jamie Oliver Rules! Not everyone likes carrot sticks, but there are lots more choices than that if we're honest. I agree with the other reply which said peer pressure has an effect too. My daughter mostly has packed lunch (she's 8 yrs), but is willing to give things a try. At least now kids have the choice of more healthy food cooked from fresh, rather than salt, sugar and fatty additive-packed ready made foods.

All kids like junk food, and would eat it as often as possible given a choice. Realistically its ok now and then but healthy choices are better for brain power, growth, health and energy levels. :-)

Answer 4

Well, the answer is clear-take him shopping with the £8 or £9 that his school dinners cost and buy sandwich box food for the week that he has to prepare the night before(or in the morning).

At 15yrs old he is not only old enough to be choosing what he eats for lunch he is old enough to start learning about budgeting and food preparation.

Teach him how to cook a little bit-things like making his own coleslaw, preparing a salad, pitta breads and perhaps cooking a chicken so that he can have sandwiches(rather than buying processed meats).

In a very few years he may well be entering the big wide world on his own at university and this seems like an ideal opportunity to instill some basic survival skills.

When he sees how little, or with careful budgeting how much, he can achieve with £9 he'll have learnt a valuable life skill that many 30yr olds don't possess.

Answer 5

Hi there. I really think Jamie Oliver has been fantastic on this score I commend him all the way. I hate reading in the Sun or Mirror of mums turning up at the gates with junk food. Just yesterday there was something in the Sun, a woman saying you cant make kids like fruit and veg. Well Im sorry, but what a cop out? How will these kids grow and treat their kids? Whole generations of people who dont care that their children are healthy. I am not over the top with mine, I let them have treats but they eat plenty of fruit every day and enough veg.

Answer 6

Is 15 not a bit old to be fussy about food? Perhaps your brother could make himself a packed lunch or alternatively be a bit more adventurous about food since he is nearly a grown up now.

I think if you offer an unhealthy option every day then that is what the majority of kids will choose because that's what they are used to. What kind of food does your brother get at home? Parents are responsible for their childrens diets too - if he's used to eating rubbish at home then he's less likely to eat healthy at school...

Answer 7

At 15 i would imagine it is more to do with the peer pressure than not liking the food.
If its that bad, he can take a packed lunch.
You cannot deny that what Jamie Oliver is doing in our schools is fantastic.

Answer 8

Sounds like the cook has no imagination.
Until recently I worked in a school and the cook did great healthy meals that the kids all enjoyed.
Some examples - sweet and sour chicken with rice; shepherds pie or spag bol (both with lots of veg hidden in it!); fruit salad with ice cream.
Could your parents not have a word with the head teacher or kitchen manager?

Answer 9

my children are fussy eaters too and they point blank refuse to eat school dinners even before this new healthier eating came into force, the only thing i can suggest for your brother is to take a packed lunch at least that way he will be eating something for his lunch

Answer 10

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