Healthy eating in school, has it gone too far?

[anonymous]

What is your view?

We have had to hide scales, tape measures and food packets. My son has been told by other children that he is eating the wrong things in his lunch box and that he is fat. He is an adverage size for his age. It has gone so far that he wont always eat at home and sometimes makes himself sick after eating.
This has all started since his class has started learning about healthy eating.


How much do you think they should be told?
What about telling them about healthy fats?
I`m intrested to know what you all think

[smirnoff]

sweetie i dont know who you are but this sounds more serious than just "healthy eating" to me adn i think that you should seriously think about getting some professional help.

IMHO i dont think that there is anything wrong that children are taught about choices, but it sounds to me as if your son is being bullied and that is unacceptable.

Ben knows about healthy choices. He refuses to eat certain things put in his lunchbox BUT i know what he has eaten and can sort his diet out at home.

Sweetie sending you huge hugs and lots of love and hugs and support

[Netty]

If it is putting him off eating, and even causing him to make himself sick, then he does have issues that need to be resolved.

Can you see your doc/HV or school nurse with him and chat about the "right foods" to eat? Including of course some fats, which are essential for everyone to eat, especially growing kids!

I think I would also have a word with the school and let them know what effect this "information" has had on him.

To answer your questions generally though: Yes I think it is good that children are taught about different foods and what is good/healthy and what isn't - but not to the extent of excluding all "bad" things.

Depending on their age, they can be told of different dietary requirements, and that some people have allergies to things (ie peanuts) so be careful when sharing food, or people with diabetes need to control their blood sugar levels etc, to give them the wider picture on "healthy eating".

I think everyone needs some fat in their daily diet - and children should be made aware of this, and especially the omega 3 and 6 ...

[lizzie]

I'm all for eating healthy and teaching them to eat healthy too but as a overweight child and adult i want my children to have better eating habits than me and out of 8 of the children 4 are over weight so the need for healthy eating is important but on the other hand there is good fat and bad fat and all children need a certain amount of fat in there bodies , our schools have brought in the healthy eating for the kids but are'nt raming it down there throats YET and everything in moderation IMO

[Ravenfire]

I dont think healthy eating is the problem I would say there must be something else behind this. Speak to the school and ask for details of the school nurse. They should be well used to dealing with situations like this and able to find out the reason for your child making themselves sick although it does sound like it could be because of bullying.

Until you are able to speak to the school nurse (although they should get in touch very quickly if you explain the circumstances) ask your son what foods he would like in his lunchbox to see if that can help make a difference at all.

I think the information they do get at school is very useful and helpful, as is any information they get at home. I think school just tries to educate you that its not good to eat all the sugary foods and ones high in fat all the time, which obviously is very true.

Hope you get it sorted

[emmalouise]

i do think the healthy eating in school is a good thing, a lot of children don't get good nutrition at home and its not always the parents fault, at least if they are encouraged to eat healthily at school it might make all the difference to their lives as they grow up.xxx

[ruthie]

Gosh what a worry for you. The first thing I would do is tell the school what is happening teaching children about healthy eating is a good thing but they also need to be taught that people come in all shapes and sizes and perhaps the teacher could raise this matter during one of the lessons. If your son continues down this route I would make an appointment with the doctor and get it nipped quickly in the bud quickly.

[ruthie]

Thinking about this I guess the down size of teaching about it is that is makes them more aware of body shape and size and could lead to eating disorders and some bullying perhaps it would be better to go back to the old method of the school nurse who use to weigh and measure you each year and then they could contact and work with the parents if there appears to be a problem with the childs weight. They could still have healthy options for school meals and suggestions for healthy packed lunches without making the kids too aware. It should be the parents place to worry about what their child is eating not really the childs they have enough to cope with growing up today. It's a hard one.

[nicholamarie]

you need to get this sorted quickly or your son is going to be ill. he shouldnt be bullied at school and you need to make the teachers aware of this straight away.

he need to see a doctor or school nurse as like someone else said it may not be just the food issue here.

healthy eating is something they should learn, my boys are really fussy when it comes to what they eat , my eldest boy only eats apples with no skin so i cant put thenin his luch box as they go brown so he has yoghurts and cheese instead but he does get the fruit at home.

i hope things get better soon but it needs sorting quickly before it spirals out of control

big hugs

[Ravenfire]

Thinking about this I guess the down size of teaching about it is that is makes them more aware of body shape and size and could lead to eating disorders and some bullying perhaps it would be better to go back to the old method of the school nurse who use to weigh and measure you each year and then they could contact and work with the parents if there appears to be a problem with the childs weight. They could still have healthy options for school meals and suggestions for healthy packed lunches without making the kids too aware. It should be the parents place to worry about what their child is eating not really the childs they have enough to cope with growing up today. It's a hard one.

I dont think it necessarily makes them more aware of their body shape just of the foods they are eating. Unfortunately its always been the case that if your child is seen as different they will get picked on. My DD is tiny and she is Y6 - the smallest in her class - and she gets some of the boys picking on her because of it, but she doesnt let it phase her now because I have helped her in the way she deals with it.

It may well be the parents place to worry about food, unfortunately an awful lot of parents have bad diets themselves. The schools promoting healthy foods can only be a benefit to the children by instilling in them at an early age which are the good foods and which are the bad foods.

The statistics now for the amount of obese people in this country is frightening and something has to be done.

If the school are not adequately dealing with the bullying then you need to ask for their anti-bullying policy and to take it from there.

[Lemon]

i think its good as it reinforces wht i try to teach at home
sorry for your son, hope u can get it sorted

[ruthie]

It may well be the parents place to worry about food, unfortunately an awful lot of parents have bad diets themselves. The schools promoting healthy foods can only be a benefit to the children by instilling in them at an early age which are the good foods and which are the bad foods.



I obviously don't know exactly what they are taught as not got kids at school but if they are teaching about healthy eating don't they mention its how not to get overweight? I don't think it's a bad thing as long as they are made aware that as I said that everyone is different (i guess what I mean is as long as all points are covered) and the thing is what can a child do about it if the parents will not take it on board. Do schools take the parents on board when they teach about this?

[Ravenfire]

I obviously don't know exactly what they are taught as not got kids at school but if they are teaching about healthy eating don't they mention its how not to get overweight? I don't think it's a bad thing as long as they are made aware that as I said that everyone is different (i guess what I mean is as long as all points are covered) and the thing is what can a child do about it if the parents will not take it on board. Do schools take the parents on board when they teach about this?

I guess a child can go home and say to the parent I dont want a,b, or c foods they are high in fat etc. and at least if some parents take this on board then what the schools are trying to promote is working. Weight isnt what they are being taught about as every child is different in height and weight for their age, instead they are teaching them what is good for you, what is bad for you and by educating them at this age their are hoping it travels through to adulthood.

[anonymous]

Thank you all for your imput. I`m not saying its wrong to teach them about healthy living, would just like it to be more balance.
My DS has been moved to a different lunch partner today to see if things get any better on the bullying about food front. Will let you know how it goes.

[Ravenfire]

Hope that works - please let us know - must be horrible for him.

[Trinity]

I agree with the others that there is more to this than the school teaching kids about healthy eating.

I think it's great that schools are letting kids know about what foods are healthy and which aren't but I personally would take it a step further and get the parents involved. It's all well & good if the kids are being taught about healthy eating but if they are going home to turkey twizzlers and chips every night then what good is it doing?

I also agree that there has to be a balance and the kids be told that it's ok to have that pizza, a packet of crips and to be taken out for the occassional McDonalds as long as it is in moderation and not every day.

I would make an appointment with his teacher and let them know how you are feeling and more to the point how your son is feeling. It can't be pleasant for him but once the teachers are aware of who the culprits are then they can deal with.

Good luck and hugs coming your way. :kisshands:

[nicholamarie]

hope he had a better day at school today

[loopychick]

i think you need to have a chat with the school about this because this is a type of bullying and also have a chat with your son too i can't really commoent much more because my ellie isn't at school yet so i dont really know what else to do but i hope you get it sorted soon xxxx