packed lunches. How times have changed!

When I was at school (1944 - 1955) we had a large cooked school meal and a pudding which was usually some kind of cake or pastry with custard. It was all polished off with gusto, and we were always ready for 'seconds', if there were leftovers.
Then we went out to play for the rest of lunch break. At home I had another cooked meal, usually followed by another sweet treat. Then out to play again, until bedtime. We were active all weekend. Riding bikes, running, skipping, playing ball games. We were all fit and healthy, in spite of the large amount of calories we consumed.
In spite of the emphasis on healthy eating, many schools have cut back drastically on childrens' physical activity. As a result of this, and parents being over-protective about letting their children play outside, I think that we were much fitter than today's children are.

my daughters school bans any drink bar water no chocolate no junk food etc dont know what they would make of my friends lunch when we were at school; everyday she would bring a doorstep sandwich with tomato ketchup on and a kitkat!

Well you know where you can stick your raw carrots, can't stand them. With our memories of what seem like unimaginative sandwiches, crisps, etc not many of us were obese, were we?

How strange that a packed lunch post should arrive today. Sixth form GD is here for a couple of nights and has just started a weekend job. She was working today (and will work tomorrow). I made her egg and soldiers for breakfast and made her pack up - a cheese sandwich (wholemeal bap), mini-tomatoes, a Co-op chocolate twist, home-made lemon square, satsuma, yoghourt and a bottle of water. All eaten!

Same again tomorrow.

When her mother was in the Infants, DH made her pack-up one day. Unfortunately he didn't notice the bread was mouldy.

Apparently crisps are worse than sweets for dental decay as the little pieces which stick on to the teeth do not dissolve like sugar does so crisps are a very bad choice for lunch kits.
You learn something new every day!

I can see what Greengran means. I remember the cake and custard, and other ‘ unhealthy’ food, but when I was at school there was only one ‘ fat girl’ in the whole school, yet now when I go to our local primary there are at least four in each class, despite the ‘ healthy eating’ policy, so I think it must be the reduction in activity having an effect. Or is it that we only had our three ( albeit unhealthy) meals a day, and weren’t constantly eating crisps, sweets, etc?

When my grandsons were here at Christmas they weren't allowed any chocolate or anything unhealthy. They had fruit platters every mid morning and fresh veg with whatever for tea - particularly broccoli which they love. The elder one (4) starts big school in Aug as soon as he's 5 (NZ) and at the moment going through what they call enrichment at nursery - a program to get them ready for school. One day a week they have to take an empty lunch box and they prepare their own lunch then sit together to eat it. He's loving it. More so than his dad did - neither of mine had packed lunches - their school was only round the corner so they came home for lunch. However I've been packing my husband up for the last 5 years - if I gave him carrot sticks there would be some strong language and a lot of mickey taking by his colleagues

My children took packed lunches to school for years and they were the usual boring stuff - sandwich, crisps, Penguin, apple.
None would ever take eggs, although they liked them, because other children would complain loudly about the smell.

Many more children these days seem to have allergies. One of my grandchildren suffers from severe anaphylaxis and because of this her whole family became vegan.

At her primary school the children with allergies ate their packed lunches at a special table in the dining room under the supervision of a teaching assistant. She told my daughter that the packed lunches my grand-daughter had were the most amazing packed lunches she had ever seen. It does take a bit of time and planning but it can be done.

Mind you I wouldn't have wanted the teaching assistant's job as my GC who is allergic to all dairy products, eggs and sesame could be eating a peanut butter sandwich while sitting next to a child with a peanut allergy who was eating a cheese sandwich.

Greengran - same years for me. Leek roly poly, spotted dick etc.
There was no obesity problem in those days, we were too active. And we had no other choice ( rationing)..

I'm sorry. I couldn't be doing with all that. My children got a sandwich and/or apple crisps biscuit. I think children are pampered nowadays. Parents giving themselves a hard time. just my opinion ?.

Esspee I find that hard to believe about crisps. I must Google it.

Goodness true! who would have thought crisps were so bad! thanks for pointing out Esspee.

Reading about all the veg sticks etc, I wonder if some of these children are getting enough carbohydrate to fill them up. They may go home hungry and eat lots of unhealthy snacks. The old cheese or ham sandwich and a piece of fruit, even if boring, might actually be healthier. (and a lot less trouble!).

This isnt actually a post for discussion. Just to say I think a "like" facility would be good...as on Facebook.?

Greengran.... hear hear. well said! ( old school dinners)