Let them eat crisps

This post is not likely to prove popular with nutritionists or with healthy eating campaigners, and is likely to go against current government policy. You see, I want my six-year-old daughter to eat crisps.

Of course, I am aware of the calorific value of crisps and their fat content. Believe it or not, that is the reason I want her to eat them, at break time, at school, every single day of the week.

I can sense your horror.

The reason? Because if she did not eat crisps at school, IJ would be eating next to nothing.  She would arrive home starving, just as she did today. And no-one wants to see their child starve.

IJ is a fussy eater with a reasonably restricted diet. She takes a minuscule packed lunch to school each day, including the aforementioned crisps. Naturally, I would prefer it if she took in more food and added in some fruit and milk, but so far even the work we have done with her paediatrician has not changed the fact that she becomes distressed if her packed lunch is changed in any way.

Now her school has a new head teacher and he has banned junk food at break time. So IJ can't eat her crisps. For many children, switching to a healthier option is a good thing -- for IJ it means that she is surviving all day on a quarter of a ham sandwich and a kit-kat, except today a friend asked her for her chocolate and she gave it away.

This is the reality of coping with a child who is a very fussy eater. If chocolate is banned next, then we have a very serious problem on our hands.

Photo credit: mzacha

Comments

[Josie]

They have to take her needs in to account, they have to. This is completely not on. Would her paediatrician be willing to contact the school?

She can't survive a day at school on so little :( Poor IJ. Hope you can get something sorted - don't be afraid to fight this. IJ has a right to eat at school and have them accommodate the difficulties she has with food.

Much love xx

[Working Mum]

This is much more than fussy eating so I'm sure a letter from the paedeatrician will inform the school of her needs. I do hope she can be helped to eat normally in time - it must be such a worry for you.

[YoungMummy]

Oh bless her, that's terrible. What a nonsensical approach to children's diet. Of course they should encourage healthy eating, but I think banning food, especially when it's brought in from home, isn't the way to do it. Was there no consultation with parents about it?

I guess you'll have to speak to the head and explain the situation - it seems like it's a policy that hasn't been properly thought through.

[Ellen A]

No, it's not on.
My Boy One was very food averse for a while - only eating chocolate donuts that hadn't had the chocolate bit blemished in any way. The school didn't help by plugging a healthy eating campaign. I found he got much more chilled about food if I let him have as much of what he wanted and took it in baby steps - choc donut to ordinary donut and so on. Start calling her food phobic or nutritionally averse to give the thing more gravitas, it's too easy to ignore 'fussiness'.

[TheMadHouse]

I really feel for you, I am fortunate in the fact the boys are rubbish bins and eat everything and anything, but I do feel that there should be exceptions - you need to talk to the head

[nappyvalleygirl]

I think you do need to talk to the school if necessary with a letter from the Doctor.

I know my niece was allowed special dispensation from her school to have ketchup on all her food - she wouldn't eat any food without it!

[Foodie Mummy]

Marie's school does not accept either crisps or chocolate at all. Well apart from Fridays which is treat day. Only then is she allowed 1 treat (and that's 1 bar of chocolate or 1 pack of crisps not both). Oh and no pop corn whatsoever any day. Maybe she can get a special exemption with a doctor's note?

[Jen @ Suburban Mum]

I have similar difficulties with the kiddo's eating habits. Luckily his school haven't banned anything yet but his cousin's school just up the road have stopped chocolate and crisps. The kiddo would survive on a small ham sandwich (no crusts) and half an apple if his school did the same.

I agree with the other commenters, a letter from the doctor should surely help?

Good luck.

[Expat Mum]

We have some great veggie baked crisp things? Would that be stretching things too far for her? They're fairly healthy.

[Iota]

Oh gosh, what a problem. I think the school should be flexible enough to make exceptions, with a letter from the paediatrician, as everyone suggests.

[Vic]

Do you know what the school would do if she rolled up with crisps in her lunchbox every day? If it's a letter home but IJ still gets to eat them it's gotta be worth ignoring the rule.

[Chris]

I suspect (with my teacher and governor hats on) that this is the school's attempt to get its Healthy Schools Status badge to go on its headed paper etc. Schools are being pressurised on many fronts to bring up our children for us. However, many of us don't want them to do this, are happy bringing up our children ourselves, see them as individuals and would love to see the back of the nanny state! I would, like everyone else, urge a plea to the headteacher backed up by a letter from your paediatrician cos this is really not on.

[Antonella]

I think it's up to the parents to decide what's best for their kids and not to the schools or even worse the Government. My daughter was told off at school for eating a vitamin C that looked like a Haribo! As said by other readers above, I really think that it's a matter of school status above all. All the best to your little angel! Ciao. A.

[Tamsin]

I totally agree with what everyone else is saying. It is up to you to bring your daughter up and decide what is best for her. I am all for the schools offering a healthy lunch instead of feeding children burgers and chips all the time. However, as far as I'm aware the parents that send their children to school with a packed lunch usually do so for a reason like yours.
I do hope you get sorted out with her eating habits, I would imagine it is a bit of a nightmare to say the least!

[Susan Mann]

I think that everything is fine in moderation. As her parent you should be the one who is allowed to say what is in her packed lunch. I can understand that they want to try to encourage eating healthy but not if it means your little one starves. I understand you could speak to the head teacher but that would mean changing it for all. I am not sure what to suggest here other than not having them in a crisp packet have them in a tub, would that work? xx

[stigmum]

I really feel for you, especially as my son isn't a fussy eater. However, I don't have a phd in nutrition, nor a gcse, but I thought a pack of crisps was a 'must have' in a lunch box...They don't flinch at my son's school, it's a potato after all. It's like the others have all said, you've got to get letter writing. I feel for you on that count too... Good luck x

[A Modern Mother]

That's horrible. I guess you'll be speaking with the head. Is he approachable?

[Heather]

Ack! As everyone else has said, they MUST take her into consideration. how is the poor thing supposed to concentrate and learn? I hope you get something sorted xx

[Rosie Scribble]

Thanks, Josie. I agree -- the school need to accommodate her difficulties with food. I'll contact her paediatrician if necessary. I'm sure she'd be prepared to contact the school. xx

[Rosie Scribble]

Thanks Working Mum. Yes, this is more than fussy eating. A letter from her consultant should help matters. Her teacher has been very helpful so far, so I'm hoping her needs can be accommodated without it coming to that.

[Rosie Scribble]

Thanks YounyMummy, yes, I'll speak up to the head if I need to. A blanket ban seems ridiculous as it does not take into account each individual child's needs. There was no consultation with parents at all. Hopefully it will all get sorted.

[Rosie Scribble]

Thanks, Ellen, that is hugely helpful. I agree that describing it as 'fussiness' may make it seem insignificant, so I'll dig out the correct medical term and use this. Has to be worth a try. I agree, it's not on. IJ's school's sudden emphasis on health eating has resulted in her thinking that certain high fats foods are not bad, but as she is so slight, I actually need her to eat these high fat foods. So I'm giving her one message and the school another. I wish they would trust the judgement of parents. We do know what we are doing!

[Rosie Scribble]

Thanks, TheMadHouse. I will make sure I take me concerns to the highest level if that's what is needed. I agree, there should be exceptions based in individual needs. A blanket ban on junk food ignores this. x

[Rosie Scribble]

Thanks, I think the school should give her special dispensation too. I've spoken with her teacher and he is going to speak to the head in my behalf. (My daughter loves ketchup too!)

[Rosie Scribble]

I think she should get a special exemption. I'm sorting it out at the moment. Marie's school does sound very strict but I guess if that had always been in place at IJ's school then she would have taken in a different lunch from day one. I think the issue for IJ is that the rules have suddenly changed. I'd be happy for her to take an apple in but I want her to have the crisps too!

[Rosie Scribble]

IJ's eating habits sound similar to your own child's. It's hard work at times isn't it? I've spoken to her teacher who is going to speak to the head on my behalf. Hopefully it will get sorted out. If not, then I'll get a doctor's note.

[Rosie Scribble]

I think all crisps are banned but it's certainly a good idea for me to look into alternatives. She needs some more variety in her diet anyway so I'll check out the supermarket shelves. Thank you.

[Rosie Scribble]

Thanks, Iota. I think the school will be flexible if I explain IJ's personal circumstances. It's a good school and they have been willing to support her in the past when she has needed it. It is frustrating that th new head has come in and imposed a blanket ban on junk food. I wish he'd give us parents a little more credit in knowing what is best for our children!

[Rosie Scribble]

Vic, after reading your comment last night, I put some crisps in her lunchbox today! She did eat an apple at breaktime instead of her crisps, but at some point during the day the crisps got eaten! Result! She was worried about talking them in because she thought her teacher would tell her off, she also thought she couldn't eat them because they are 'junk'. I reassured her that I actually wanted her to eat them. Hard work!

[Rosie Scribble]

Chris, I have done some investigating and you are absolutely right -- the junk food ban is directly linked to the school recently achieving the Healthy Schools Status which it now does not want to lose. I agree with you, I want to bring my child up myself without the nanny state. I wish we could be trusted to know what is best for our own child. I have spoken to my daughter's teacher who is meeting the head on my behalf. I've made me views quite clear although I hate having to battle like this.

[Rosie Scribble]

We have those vitamins too and yes, they do look like Haribo! I agree that parents should be left to decide what is best for their kids. Their needs should come before school status. I'll make sure this situation gets sorted out. Thanks x

[Rosie Scribble]

Tamsin, you are exactly right. I send my daughter in with a packed lunch for a reason. I'd love her to wat a hot meal at school but it would be too difficult for her with her current food issues. I agree, we should be allowed, as parents, to make the right decisions for our own children. Things are slowly improving with her eating so I'm not too worried.

[Rosie Scribble]

I agree, I should be allowed to choose what goes in her packed lunch. We've had more success today and she may be able to eat her crisps for lunch. Now I have to encourage her to do that - she would rather play outside, but if she is hungry enough she'll eat them. It is very stressful this parenting business isn't it?!

[Rosie Scribble]

Thank Stigmum. I've spoken to her teacher and he is going to speak to the head on my behalf. Hopefully that will resolve matters. A blanket ban seems daft, it doesn't take into account the individual child's needs at all. I'll get it sorted. xx

[Rosie Scribble]

He is new but he does seem approachable. IJ's teacher is great. I've spoken to him already and he's going to speak to the head on my behalf. So fingers crossed. Hope you are nearer to getting a flight home x

[Rosie Scribble]

You are quite right -- no child can concentrate and learn on an empty stomach. I think they have to take her needs into consideration. I'll make sure they do xx

[jay]

Ok I haven't read all the other replies, but as a mother of a child who struggles with foods, I know that you are within your rights to request that the school conform to your wishes. Noah genuinely struggles with foods, usually resulting in him gagging on foods, consequently being sick. Sadly, because he knows he has to eat, he keeps trying but is repeatedly sick. His diet has gotten an awful lot better, but it comes from me hounding the arses of the staff at nursery. Your girl has to survive. And the school has no choice but to give you that right to help her survive.
All the very best, honey. xxx

[Mwa]

Is a KitKat better than a packet of crisps? Weird logic.

[Brits In Bosnia]

Having a fussy eater is so very difficult. I hope the school is sympathetic to her. Big hugs. x

[Lucy Quick]

Oh that's awful.

I do hope you've managed to come to some sort of arrangement with the school x