School Dinners

[90DC]

matt seymour,

How did I know semolina would get a mention. Times have changed since the 70s and we now live in a country where scaremongering is widespread and that has caused certain changes to happen. I have only ever witnessed the 70s from BBC Life on Mars and music videos, but I am pretty sure the word 'calorie' will only have been spoken by fantasists. There is no issue with chicken nuggets if made with the same cuts of meat you'd expect to eat from your roast chicken, namely breast and there's nothing wrong with thigh. The argument about school dinners supposed to be disgusting is a bit of a cult amongst people who don't attend school now. When I was at school in the 90s and early 00s, school dinners were disgusting too. But a lot has changed since then and I make no reference to TV chefs.

sirearl and cobby,

I get what you're saying. I buy field fresh frozen peas. I'm not actually sure I can buy fresh peas, but any other veg I buy is fresh. The frozen veg tastes like mush. The only other products I buy from freezers are fish and ice cream. If I set standards for my children to adopt at home, then why does it appear that the school are setting standards which imply that everything a child eats should be highly processed and pumped with God knows what?

 

[Consistency]

I love ice cream and hot chocolate custard, I still do that sometimes and I liked that chocolate hard cake with mint custard.

 

[90DC]

I've heard the argument that frozen veg is better in some ways in the past, but you have to admire the way Birds Eye turned a marketing exercise into news.

The research was carried out by the Institute on behalf of Birds Eye the frozen food manufacturer.

Most of my veg is bought from the local grocery and a lot of it was picked within 24 hours, or so they tell me. Veg, all the same, is better than highly processed mush contained in vacuum packs and heated up in a microwave oven at schools.

 

[Beachcomber]

I've heard the argument that frozen veg is better in some ways.......

Frozen veg is as good, if not in some cases better than fresh.

We need to make sure we understand the distinction between frozen food and processed food.

 

[matt seymour]

matt seymour,

How did I know semolina would get a mention. Times have changed since the 70s and we now live in a country where scaremongering is widespread and that has caused certain changes to happen. I have only ever witnessed the 70s from BBC Life on Mars and music videos, but I am pretty sure the word 'calorie' will only have been spoken by fantasists. There is no issue with chicken nuggets if made with the same cuts of meat you'd expect to eat from your roast chicken, namely breast and there's nothing wrong with thigh. The argument about school dinners supposed to be disgusting is a bit of a cult amongst people who don't attend school now. When I was at school in the 90s and early 00s, school dinners were disgusting too. But a lot has changed since then and I make no reference to TV chefs.

sirearl and cobby,

I get what you're saying. I buy field fresh frozen peas. I'm not actually sure I can buy fresh peas, but any other veg I buy is fresh. The frozen veg tastes like mush. The only other products I buy from freezers are fish and ice cream. If I set standards for my children to adopt at home, then why does it appear that the school are setting standards which imply that everything a child eats should be highly processed and pumped with God knows what?

You're right, there is a lot of scaremongering and most of it is completely unfounded.

My grandparents lived to be almost 100 years old. They cooked everything in lard, didn't have low-fat anything or strange drinks with "friendly bacteria" in them or any other such nonsense. They weren't told that too much red meat would give them cancer or warned about the dangers of using salt.

You can eat almost whatever you like as long as you are active and burn off the calories. That's what kids aren't doing now. I rarely see kids playing in the street anymore and when walking past the local school there isn't much going on apart from kids all clustered together in groups doing bugger all. My school dinners were absolutely dreadful, but I went out to the playground afterwards and ran around and I was always slim and in good shape regardless of the rubbish I had just ingested.

As long as they get a decent evening meal and a good breakfast inside them all they need is a bit of exercise. Unfortunately, modern life makes everything easier and easier and we have become more and more lazy.

 

I've heard the argument that frozen veg is better in some ways in the past, but you have to admire the way Birds Eye turned a marketing exercise into news.



Most of my veg is bought from the local grocery and a lot of it was picked within 24 hours, or so they tell me. Veg, all the same, is better than highly processed mush contained in vacuum packs and heated up in a microwave oven at schools.

I guess what they are saying is that frozen veg is better than supermarket stuff that is pumped full of preservatives to extend shelf life .

Hence one does not know how old the stuff is?

No doubt that freshly picked and eaten food is best.

Earl

 

[90DC]

Frozen veg is as good, if not in some cases better than fresh.

We need to make sure we understand the distinction between frozen food and processed food.

I understand the distinction. Frozen veg is fine, I just prefer to buy it fresh. It is the ever-popular processed convenience food which is often frozen, which I have an issue with. I am also aware that many fresh foods available at supermarkets these days go through certain processes and I don't condone the 'ready meal' culture.

 

[90DC]

We rarely see kids playing these days because if they're out in the street, they are vulnerable to peadophiles, if they climb a tree at school, the health and safety executive will be there with a ladder and trampoline quicker than you can say Timbuktu. I am sure many children these days see interaction as Liking eachother on social networking sites and their enjoyment comes from playing on the XPlaystation Wii. The fact is, peados and sprained wrists have long existed, but again, it comes down to scaremongering. May I also add that the shift in culture is not entirely the fault of the examples I have given.

'Health experts' often seem to forget when they're warning us about this and that is that people have been around for thousands of years, one thing or another will kill each and every one of us one day. Whether it be red meat, a bus or a terrorist attack. However, it is my expectation that the standards I have set for my children at home as a result of all the scaremongering and by me wanting the best is achieved at their schools.

It is a very interesting point that you make about eating rubbish and then running around, burning it all off and I have heard this before. Children of these days are eating disgusting food in a different form, but aren't getting the exercise. 'Health experts' are constantly blaming computer games, the internet and 'bad parenting' for a rise in obesity in children, but they shy away from blaming chicken nuggets, sausage rolls and curly fries (Otherwise known as convenience food).

My view is that whilst my children cannot make their own decisions regarding food, I will feed them a varied, balanced diet (Not hummus and rabbit food) and try to instill a respect of 'making it yourself' and healthy living. What they do when they grow up is their choice, but as children, they deserve nothing less.

 

[Beachcomber]

.......I will feed them a varied, balanced diet (Not hummus and rabbit food) and try to instill a respect of 'making it yourself' and healthy living. What they do when they grow up is their choice, but as children, they deserve nothing less.

Well said that man!

All our food is home cooked - no pots of sauces, we bloomin' well make it from scratch - which doesn't take much longer than heating convenience food in an oven.


I'm positive the dramatic rise in athsma, allergies, food intolerances etc. in kids is due to the poison they are fed on a daily basis.

Just as bad as toxic food is the idiotic obsession with cleanliness - where every surface has to be sterilised to within an inch of it's life!

A great example of this was the soap dispenser sold on the pretence that it squirted out soap automatically so no need to touch it and risk contamination - one of the parents at my boys school was banging on about how great it was - how you won't spread germs because you don't need to touch the soap dispenser.

So I asked her how much the motion detecting taps cost - as the whole idea of the soap dispenser would be null and void if you had to touch the taps to turn them on, then get the soap, then use your hands again to turn the tap off.

She went very quiet.

Household cleaners that kill MRSA!!!

Well blow me - most people have MRSA / eColi in their noses, ears and guts!
The bug isn't the problem, it's the uncontrolled growth of the bug is the problem, yet idiotic people but this crap and spend a fortune disinfecting their homes and damaging the health of themselves and their kids.

I've even seen hand wash sold as killing H5N1 virus!
Unless your rolling around in bird poo, H5N1 is as much a risk as getting hit by lightning!

Yet people believe the scare mongering, live in fear of the world around them, and continue to spoon feed their family poison in ignorance.

(rant over - sorry :redface

 

[90DC]

Haha, I love that post Beachcomber,

I too, have argued the case against the motion handwash unit. My feeling is that if I have a pump one and get the handwash on my hands and wash with warm/hot water, I'll remove what germs would have been on the pump from my hands. These gimmick products are almost pointless but sell well due to this exact scaremongering.

I also hold the view that people who wrap their kids up in cotton wool by obsessively cleaning surfaces and disinfecting their homes is damaging. Children should be allowed the opportunity to get certain viruses so their immune systems can develop properly. (I feel I'm a little out of depth and cannot support this argument, but it makes sense to me).

There is a difference between cleanliness and over-cleanliness. I clean work surfaces after me and the place appears to be clean and tidy. My carpets were cleaned last week because they looked dirty, not because I hadn't done them for two weeks and was scared the carpet bugs were multiplying.

Glad I'm not the only one who cooks the 'proper' way. I agree with you about how little time it takes to cook up a stir fry or a shepherd's pie, I can also vouch that it is much, much cheaper to cook from scratch than it is buying jars of this and that or food ready to cook. It is also a good feeling knowing exactly what went into a particular dish.

 

[Cobby]

I love ice cream and hot chocolate custard, I still do that sometimes and I liked that chocolate hard cake with mint custard.

Chocolate Crunch/Chocolate Concrete & Custard pretty much defined school dinners for me. Brilliant.

My grandparents lived to be almost 100 years old. They cooked everything in lard, didn't have low-fat anything or strange drinks with "friendly bacteria" in them or any other such nonsense.

Genetics/Anecdotal/Lucky. A heavy smoker living to 100 doesn't mean smoking isn't bad for you.

You can eat almost whatever you like as long as you are active and burn off the calories. That's what kids aren't doing now.

This is bad advice. Generally, with regard to weight control, 'burn more than you eat' is fine, but if all you eat is junk food you will damage your liver and kidneys and several other organs. A bit of junk food isn't a problem, especially for kids (assuming you don't care about their sleep patterns/attentiveness at school).

 

We rarely see kids playing these days because if they're out in the street, they are vulnerable to peadophiles, if they climb a tree at school, the health and safety executive will be there with a ladder and trampoline quicker than you can say Timbuktu. I am sure many children these days see interaction as Liking eachother on social networking sites and their enjoyment comes from playing on the XPlaystation Wii. The fact is, peados and sprained wrists have long existed, but again, it comes down to scaremongering. May I also add that the shift in culture is not entirely the fault of the examples I have given.

'Health experts' often seem to forget when they're warning us about this and that is that people have been around for thousands of years, one thing or another will kill each and every one of us one day. Whether it be red meat, a bus or a terrorist attack. However, it is my expectation that the standards I have set for my children at home as a result of all the scaremongering and by me wanting the best is achieved at their schools.

It is a very interesting point that you make about eating rubbish and then running around, burning it all off and I have heard this before. Children of these days are eating disgusting food in a different form, but aren't getting the exercise. 'Health experts' are constantly blaming computer games, the internet and 'bad parenting' for a rise in obesity in children, but they shy away from blaming chicken nuggets, sausage rolls and curly fries (Otherwise known as convenience food).

My view is that whilst my children cannot make their own decisions regarding food, I will feed them a varied, balanced diet (Not hummus and rabbit food) and try to instill a respect of 'making it yourself' and healthy living. What they do when they grow up is their choice, but as children, they deserve nothing less.

I suspect the scaremongering is triggered by the legal profession who are willing to sue schools and anybody at the drop of a hat.

The irony being that over protection of kids puts them at more risk as they do not built immunity to life's little problems.

Earl

 

[90DC]

I suspect the scaremongering is triggered by the legal profession who are willing to sue schools and anybody at the drop of a hat.

The irony being that over protection of kids puts them at more risk as they do not built immunity to life's little problems.

Earl

Yes, that and media hype, but it would definately appear to be something to do with health professionals.

 

[loubycee]

I haven't read, sorry, everyone elses response as don't have time but I read your menu.

That's an atrocious menu, but for a day I wouldn't worry.

Our school lunch is £2.10 but I try to healthy and balanced lunch bags - but fridays, they have school dinner ( fish and chips ). Once theyget to a certain age they see what their friends are eating and get fussy so its important to encourage them without being forceful.

Our school are very strict, and they do check the childrens own lunch bags and write letters to us parents should the kids have sneaked anything in there, or should the parents have been so stupid to think that chocolate/sweets/crisps are acceptable...the most of us are careful to put a balanced meal in there and make sure that, when they're home, they get a healthy meal also.

We are updated on the menu, should we choose it, every season and we get a full bit of detail on what will be served every day during the week - even those that don't choose/want/use it.

The OP's school choice of menu does surprise me hugely, but if your little one doesn't usually have it then you perhaps should just let it go and carry on making sure that the lunch bag is fun packed with the healthy stuff

 

[loubycee]

Just re-read the original post, only thing is most schools use catering businesses - thats why the dinners are more expensive. Sadly, most of those will buy from the same type of catering wholesalers as pubs do

Couldn't they have arranged a more British menu, like 'real' roasted chicken and vegetables, low fat sausages and potato wedges. pah.

Rant over

 

[Steve Sellers]

I suspect the scaremongering is triggered by the legal profession who are willing to sue schools and anybody at the drop of a hat.

Legal profession your target of the day?

The legal profession are not willing to sue anyone at a drop of a hat, not unless someone is paying at least anyway.

 

Legal profession your target of the day?

The legal profession are not willing to sue anyone at a drop of a hat, not unless someone is paying at least anyway.

Legal profession have been a particular target of mine for many years along with various other parasitical professions.

Earl

 

[Banned]

Legal profession have been a particular target of mine for many years along with various other parasitical professions.

Earl

SEO - they have to be the most singularly parasitic "profession" by far.

They have been a particular target of mine for many years

 

[Steve Sellers]

Legal profession have been a particular target of mine for many years along with various other parasitical professions.

Earl

Banned, you took the words right out of my mouth.

 

SEO - they have to be the most singularly parasitic "profession" by far.

They have been a particular target of mine for many years

And mine.

Earl

 

[90DC]

SEO - they have to be the most singularly parasitic "profession" by far.

You've not had the privilege to meet too many estate and letting agents, have you?

 

[Banned]

You've not had the privilege to meet too many estate and letting agents, have you?

Actually yes, but at least they don't charge me anything until they have achieved what they promise, unlike SEO.

SEO, "monthly fee please, no results guaranteed and don't expect those results for six months". Estate agents may not provide results, they certainly don't charge you the full wack in advance regardless.

 

[90DC]

@Banned, I see where you are coming from about money and results, but the same can be said if you were investing in a business, you put the money in and don't see that business making money straight away, but you know to expect it.

Most estate agents expect to do very little for a lot of gain, are up themselves and haven't a clue about marketing property. They've made their money from aggressive marketing and a presence, 'SEO experts' usually operate from their international headquarters (Otherwise know as their bedroom) and make promises they know they cannot keep because Google controls online marketing and where a website lands up in the big mess of 'results'.

 

[Cobby]

In fairness you need a fair amount of tech know-how to even approach the SEO marketplace and be taken seriously.

It would appear that any idiot can be an estate agent. I have been shown around houses by estate agents unable to tell the difference between Tudor and Victorian, and one woman that told us one particular wall was an example of 19th century construction when I knew the builder that put it up 10 years previously.

 

[Banned]

told us one particular wall was an example of 19th century construction when I knew the builder that put it up 10 years previously.

About time that builder went on a refresher course then I reckon!