Susie O’Brien: Enough of overzealous food policing by kindy lunch box lieutenants

IT’S not the job of a preschool teacher to give a child or parent a frowny face about the contents of their lunch box, writes Susie O’Brien.

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LET’S sack the lunch box lieutenants. It’s not the job of a preschool teacher to give a child or parent a frowny face about the contents of their lunch box.

I don’t blame one South Australian mother for being mortified after teachers told her off for sending a piece of chocolate cake to kindergarten.

The teachers left a note with a large red frowning face that read: “Your child has a chocolate slice from the red food category today. Please choose healthier options for kindy”. How humiliating.

It’s not the job of a preschool teacher to police lunch boxes. Picture: Thinkstock

What if this were an isolated one-off break from tofu and spinach wraps? What if it was the kid’s birthday and it was a well-deserved treat? What if the child had baked it and was really proud to show his or her friends?

I think it’s sad when this kind of overzealous food policing gets in the way of common sense and good manners.

Cake is on the “red food group” list of foods that are seen as “occasional” treats. Although it’s banned from canteens, it’s not banned from lunch boxes. So staff in this case had absolutely no right to do what they did and treat this parent like a naughty child for breaking the rules.

While I can appreciate the opportunity schools and kindergartens have to provide children and parents with information about healthy eating, it’s clear some staff are on a power trip.

As a working mother of three kids, I try hard to ensure they have healthy meals and lunch boxes, but I don’t need feedback from their teachers on the occasional time they get a treat.

The mother in question had eight children, so I could imagine she was taking a well-earned break from wraps and fruit.

Policies governing the provision of food in most childcare centres and kinders tell staff to “encourage” parents to ensure their children bring healthy food.

Suggestions include newsletters and information sessions, not leaving nasty notes left where children may see them.

Parents are encouraged to ensure their child has lots of fruit and veg.

I don’t mind teachers having the odd quiet word with some serial offenders who continually send their kids to kinder with fatty, salty or sugary foods. Some parents genuinely don’t realise, for instance, that some squeezy yoghurts, muesli bars and fruit straps have more sugar than a chocolate bar. However, this must be done politely and as a very last resort.

Interestingly, the policies that govern the kindergarten in SA also state that teachers should model healthy eating. I’ll bet that doesn’t always happen.

Imagine how that teacher would feel if the parent in question slipped her a big disapproving red note after spotting her munching on a Mars Bar behind the shelter shed at break time?

It’s no wonder parents are getting sick of the political-correctness scourge inflicting our preschools and schools. Such madness includes “Grandfriends’ Day” instead of Grandparents’ Day, bans on hugs, spray-on deodorant, T-bar shoes, dogs, hoodies, beanies, sideburns and birthday cakes.

In some places, foods considered to be healthy like watermelon and bananas are banned, leaving parents confused and annoyed.

Listen up, parents. Keep giving your kids the occasional treat in their lunch boxes. No one has the right to stop you — not the teacher, the principal or anyone else.

— Susie O’Brien is a Herald Sun columnist. Read more of her columns.

Email Susie: [e-mail] or follow her on Twitter: @susieob.