'You didn't send lunch': Daycare slams mum's unusual lunchbox for 4yo

"They’re delusional if they can’t see that’s a meal," she hit back.

less than 2 min read

March 7, 2024 - 9:24AM

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The lunchbox wars are back on after a mum this week was slammed for what she sent to daycare for her four-year-old daughter.

The mum, known as Emily, shared her shock online after her daughter’s daycare complained that “She did not send lunch” for the little girl.

"Usually, we send her a thermos with hot food, but this is what I packed today," Emily wrote.

"A container with a huge strawberry, four enormous green grapes, half a clementine, four slices of ham, a cucumber, a Babybel cheese, a pack of Breton crackers, an Oreo, a small bag of snack mix and a large pack of seaweed."

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Daycare tells mum this isn't lunch! Source: supplied

"Like a kids' charcuterie"

But the daycare centre told her that she had in facet "not sent lunch."

Emily replied, saying she had "covered all of the food groups. The meat, cheese, crackers and fruit are like a kids’ charcuterie."

She added in the post, "I have never experienced criticism for our food choices, and I hope they are not giving her a hard time about this nor food shaming her. Daycare is not at all my first choice but a necessary thing in our life. Stressed."

Most people in the comments sided with Emily, saying the centre's message was unfair and inappropriate.

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"They're delusional"

“Why are they commenting at all? If they want to prescribe what is ‘acceptable’, they should provide lunch as part of tuition,” said one.

Another added: “They’re delusional if they can’t see that’s a lunch. Sounds like someone just wants to start trouble.”

And a third wrote: “I would tell them they are not nutritionists; I’d also mention most reliable and up-to-date daycares have snacks and food included in the tuition.”

However, one commenter sided with the daycare: “You said you usually send a thermos, so they were probably looking for a thermos. I hope you weren’t too rude to them.”