Free meals for all school children

[dinger]

The latest thing to come into the news is free meals for all children at school in the battle against obesity .I don't see this working very well as older children go out of the buildings on their dinner break and head to the nearest chip shop or takeaway .We are quite close to schools here and see this happen every day .I tend to think there is a lot more damage been done by the opening of so many of these places for fast food .Perhaps something should be done about this as well as encouraging bad eating habits they also encourage rats where food is thrown everywhere . What are your views on this .

[sunflower]

Recently, on the news, school teachers in one particular school were trying to prevent children from going out of the gate at dinner break and encouraging them to have school meals. It made me feel cross to think that, when these teachers should be having their break, they were taking on the role of parent and trying to protect children from visiting fast food stores. I think that parents should take on the full responsibility of their children's health, with the support of the school to offer healthy 'snacks'. I do'nt think children want to eat a proper meal in the middle of the day, they just want to snack out. I also believe that fast food outlets near schools are a great temptation to children.

[dinger]

I agree and think maybe these places should only be allowed to open at certain times .This would at least stop children being able to visit them and eat fast food. It is'nt the responsibility of teachers we should all lead our children to healthy ways of eating.

[Ivy]

Why free meals? Has England developed into a third world country where parents are not able to feed their young? (sorry this is not limited to England we have the same discussion here. ) Young people should be taught at HOME what is healthy for them and what not but with the increasing number of parents who were brought up on ready made meals it gets more and more difficult to bring up the next generation in health. I as a mother want a word in what my children eat and where and how it was grown and prepared and I don't want them to eat in a canteen every day and I am not prepared to guarantee "free" school food via taxes as this would be how they would be funded those so called free meals. What about coeliac and diabetic children and those with food intolerances? Nobody would cook for them as there would be no funding for them. I think domestic skills should be part of the curriculum thus teaching BOYS and girls how to cook and what is in season at what time of the year . This would be more effective than any "free" meal. And adding a comment to sunflower's comment that food outlets near schools are tempting I say yes but we should bring our kids up in a way that they not fall for every temptation. Near to my school we had a burger chain . When it opened we all went there bought some burgers and chips and than found out that they were fat and not satisfying our hunger for a long time because we all knew what real food tasted like and how long it lasted until we got hungry again. Sorry about this rant but this topic touched a very sore point.

[Crocus]

I think something like this must (again) be taught to children at home by their parents. The times I went to my sister for a few days I prepare healthy, freeze it, or hubby will cook them healthy dinners, with veggies, with enough fruit during the day. We rarely have pizza or take away food. It's only now during school holidays where most of the friends are here that I will bake them pizzas, or hotdogs or hamburgers in the afternoon. Supper it's back to healthy food.

[Ivy]

A home made Pizza is very healthy when you use fresh ingredients and less expensive than deep frozen ones. I do agree if you never have any convenience food at home children will go elsewhere and try it out but if the rule is that this sort of food is just an exception than it quickly looses it's novelty

[dinger]

I have always cooked fresh food for my family and don't think I could enjoy any type of take away food apart for maybe if at the seaside a bag of chips. Adding not on a regular basis as even chips are not one of my favourite foods anyway.

[jazzactivist]

I also puzzle about the free school dinners / allowing children out of school at lunchtime situation in the UK. I think that it is the parents' reponsibility to ensure that their children eat healthily and the school's responsibility if they are offering meals to make sure that they are made of fresh, healthy ingredients and cooked properly by experienced and qualified staff. I regularly see children roaming around towns at lunchtime eating unhealthy food or nothing at all and wonder who is responsible for their welfare during this perod. Some people argue that this gives young people responsibility, but again teaching your children how to look after themselves when out alone is the parents' responsibility, not the school's. I think that children should either remain in school for the whole school day, or be allowed home to eat at lunchtime with their parents, by arrangement with the school.

When I was at school in SA there were no school meals, everyone took a packed lunch from home, and we weren't allowed outside the school at breaktime. I think that this is the best option, as it places the responsibility on the parents to provide the food, and on the school to provide a safe environment.

[Oola]

For me, it's a bit weird because when we were in compulsory education (up to 16), we weren't allowed out of school grounds at lunchtime. You either brought in your own packed lunch or had dinner in the school canteen. Simple but effective. Boggles the mind why schools let their kids out at lunchtime, I thought it would make life so much more difficult if there was a fire evacuation or something.

[Crocus]

Hi Jazz, "Some people argues that this gives young people responsibilty" is a very interesting thing you said, because to me it's the shifting of parents' responsibility to the children. Exactly the problem, some parents don't want to take responsibility and gladly places it on the shoulders of kids. Of course children will take the easy "nice appearing" option.

I remember the sandwich, fruit or juice packed for me by my mum. Later on in high school, it was only 2 Provita's, a fruit and thinly sliced carrot sticks. Sometimes a thin slice of cheese as well. And as you say, we were not allowed outside school. Kids still not allowed, and if they feel ill, or whatever, the teacher must sign a form, plus they must sign out at reception and the parents are informed. Which is what I prefer.