Nutritionaly Balanced Meal

[cassa333]

What do you think a nutritionaly balanced meal for children aged between 4 and 10 years would be?

Well the LA here thinks that a large slice of cheese pizza, a portion of pasta, a dolop of sweetcorn and a large bisuite/cookie for pudding is nutritionaly balanced. Oh and add to that they always get given a piece of bread with it.

Are they right an d I am just being difficult or is this far to carb heavy?


I know that children need lots of energy but come on... Carbs carbs and more carbs is just plain stupid, isn't it?

[tenrec]

It doesn't sound too bad, but if you are worried, just make sure you give them food at home to make up the balance.

[ummmm]

How active are they?

[flump1]

Hi cassa, I am no expert but I would not offer bread with that meal and maybe swap the pasta for a dollop of coleslaw. I would give a piece of fruit instead of a cookie for pudding. Of course not everybody is able to afford fresh fruit/ coleslaw, it might be they eat as their income allows.

[annie0000]

I've seen worse, is this a school meal that you are referring to?

Our schools in Scotland follow the hungry for success programme:

http://www.scotland.g...s/2003/02/16273/17571

[pastafreak]

It sounds very carb-heavy,and not particularly balanced. There should be fruit and/or green leafy veg in there.
Children of that age should be learning about good nutrition-and this is not a good example of it.

[rockyracoon]

I wouldn't be happy with that as a school meal. Ring Jamie Oliver, he'll go round and sort them out.

[sherrardk]

I give mine a packed lunch so I know what they are getting and then they have a 'proper' tea.

[tiggerblue10]

Doesn't sound very balanced to me Cassa.

My workmate got told off by her sons headteacher for having a flump in his packed lunch. The rest of his lunch consisted of a healthy sandwich, yogurt, fruit, small box of raisins and a drink. Yet, if he was to have school dinners, they serve up sausage and chips, pizza and chips and puddings like spotted dick with custard. And he gets told off for having a flump as a treat in his lunch box!

[annie0000]

...I was assuming that the pasta was in a tomato based sauce

[cassa333]

The pasta had a slime of tomato but only enough to stop it sticking together.

As far as I am concurned that it is too carb heavy and would you believe that the LA said that based on meals served over a three week period the meals were balanced!!!

Surely all the meals should be balanced!!?

[DaisyNonna]

Sorry, but what does LA mean?

[pastafreak]

'Local Authority'