It’s nice of them to point this out but done in the wrong way. What they should do is send a newsletter to all of the children’s parents pointing out what is red, amber and green food. Say they prefer green foods then leave it up to the parents. That way parents are better informed but have the final say.

Look if it’s an everyday thing yeah say something, not in a cowardly note though that’s just rude! But if it’s a once off then hell no ! A teacher or school has no right to dictate wether a treat is acceptable or not! If I ever had a note like this sent home to me I’m pretty sure that teacher would eat it the next day! I wonder if that would be considered the “red” category

I’ve no issue with the no junk policy. However sometimes a school can’t see on the outside what’s in the food. I packed for example once to slices of wholemeal bread with raw chocolate spread (without sugar) and they assumed it was Nutella and I was told off because it was unhealthy. They then gave me some “healthy” suggestions like chicken nuggets, ham sandwiches, devon sandwiches, cheese bacon rolls etc. On which I replied I don’t do those foods as I consider them processed and very unhealthy 😛

I think there is a point where things are taken too far. I am very careful about what I feed my children, however, occasionally I will give them a little treat and as I prefer for them to eat it during the day so they have the day to burn it off it does sometimes get packed in their lunch for day care. I would not take kindly to receiving a note like this because just because I pack something as a one off for my child doesn’t mean that I don’t normally pack healthy choices or know how to feed my kids nutritious foods- it is not the choice of anyone else how I parent. It is my choice and mine alone.
My parents had a similar thing with my primary school once where I wasn’t supposed to get Petit Miam yoghurt (how stupid considering yoghurt is fairly healthy!) and so my parents complained and I was allowed to eat it inside the principal’s office so that the other kids wouldn’t see.

When my kids were in kindy and primary school they had strict policies of no junk food or foods that looked like junk which included muffins, cakes, museli bars, etc….
Im always amazed at articles that show things like cupcakes and they they say “Great lunch box treats for the kids”…..I was just very used to the rules for my 3 kids and had no issue with them at all.

What a load of bull shi.! The chocolate cake may have been a healthy one that had almond meal in it and reduced sugar etc. This is really over the top.

They can make a general statement to all parents but the woman shouldn’t have been singled out. A healthy diet is important but ultimately it is the parents business what they give to their child/ren.

How do they enforce this? Do they check each child’s lunch box before they eat? It’s a bit of an invasion of privacy! Who knows whether the chocolate slice was actually a healthy alternative, or if its the child’s only treat for the week! It might be more helpful for schools to just give parents suggestions for healthy lunchboxes rather than judging what they bring

Can understand both the school’s and parent’s point of view. With so many children allergic to dairy, eggs, nuts, chocolate, etc. it must be a minefield to be a school teacher these days.

I have children from 34 to 4 year olds and all have had to have something healthy for their snack or lunch. This is nothing new having to have something good. It is only meal of the day, it is not hard to find something that fits. I am not just saying fruit , there are vegetables, eggs and others.

Did they ask what type of chocolate it was? Obviously not ! It could have been gluten free cocoa, containing fruit or vegetables, lactose free, nut free, egg free according to a child’s dietary requirements. There are some children (and adults) who are fructose intolerant. Fructose is the natural sugar in fruit. Lactose is the natural sugar in cow’s milk. Some are allergic to eggs. I know one child who is highly allergic to egg yolk. They should be more concerned if any children are allergic to ingredients in some medications. Some leech out through you skin for about 10 hours and the child/adult or their things should not be touched by anybody has taken it. Some can effect the child’s balance, behaviour and brain function.

Who were they to judge, how could they tell it wasn’t a gluten free dairy free almond meal chocolate zucchini slice? Foods can be deceiving. A better way to handle it rather than singling out one parent just pop a reminder note about healthy foods in the whole classes bag

It is a good practice by school, knowledge and education responsible, to encourage healthy eating. Special ly today when our busy life is all about convenience. I would encourage my child to go for healthy options so that I don’t have to worry about health options later.

At my kids kinder there is a no cake, chips or junk food (naked food only) & water only policy but as he is only there for 5 hours a day i dont have a issue with it.. ( he gets treats when he gets home) My son who never eats fruit at home but will in a kinder setting it works for.. as they have fruit time where fruit or a healthy snack then sandwich time later in the day.. ( if a parent sends something unacceptable it gets sent home.. but this is clearly stated in the sign up papers for the kinder so you know what you are getting into.. )

The school my older kids go to have a water only policy.. No other drinks are accepted.. they also state the must be fruit for brain food time but that whre it ends other than nuts free snacks..

Hello. Suggest all you like .. that’s cool now … It’s like this when you pay my bills when you clean my house when you feed my children when you pay for their needs .. then you can tell me what you will pack ..because you will be paying for it not me.. if I pack chocolate slice that is because it is a reward.. no one tells me except the Doctor which I pay for what to feed my children then he only suggests this might be a good idea.. Omg if one of my grand children could only eat from the green section or the healthy section she would starve to death.. beacause she will not eat anything except spaghetti bol cucumbers nuggets grapes and ham sandwiches on white bread .. that’s her diet … Dr says she is healthy her blood works says she is fine her weight is perfect for her very tall height.

Just ridiculous!

I don’t have a problem with it. The kinder is just trying to promote healthy eating and is that such a bad thing??? Keep the ‘red food’ category for at home as a treat.

I always considered the red food catagory a sometimes food category as it is what I would do at home. On saying that I tried not to send red foods to kindy just because the time I did she got singled out and was not a happy camper with the carer!

I believe the form of communication is the problem. Instead of being singled out it would be better to give all the class a refresher note listing the different options of the categories.

The Right Bite Program discourages these foods not disallows. It’s part of a healthy eating program which I applaud. HOWEVER, if something is not forbidden I will send it if I choose to send it. Just because something is a “red” food only means that it’s a sometimes food. Now if she were sending the child with chocolate cake and ONLY chocolate cake on multiple occasions there would be a reason to communicate with her. In a more appropriate manner. That manner they chose, not the teacher but the school, for “enforcing” the program was insulting. The mother isn’t a child. Treat her like an adult and speak with her or have a stock standard WRITTEN note. I don’t react kindly to crayon like drawings telling me I did something wrong but speak to me or write me an appropriate note you will get a better response.