can I block child's ability to buy food?

[Anonymous]

Just learned my child with borderline weight issues has been buying lunch for much of this current school year, even though I'm packing a lunch every day. There was no $ in their myschoolbucks account as we were packing lunches, but they were able to overdraw the account by $28.

Is there a way to prevent them from doing this? We are packing healthy-ish lunches, had noticed child seemed to be gaining weight since school started and now see they've been eating double lunch.

[Anonymous]

Your boy is HUNGRY. Pack more filling lunch. Make them pay the $28 and tell them it's clear they're hungry when just eating what you pack so you're going to pack more.

[Anonymous]

Just stop packing lunch and let them buy.

And when did your eating disorder start?

[Anonymous]

Yes they can overdraw. I never understood this because why set a limit if it doesn’t matter?
Cut off his hot lunch account (tell him) and make him make his own lunch every day. Go grocery shopping with him and have him choose his own lunches for the week. Sky is the limit. Get creative - thermos with lentils and naan? Sandwich with turkey and bacon? Chopped salad with chicken and cheese? Etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just stop packing lunch and let them buy.

And when did your eating disorder start?

It’s really expensive now and still mostly crap food.

[Anonymous]

How old is he?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your boy is HUNGRY. Pack more filling lunch. Make them pay the $28 and tell them it's clear they're hungry when just eating what you pack so you're going to pack more.

+1, what did he say when you asked?

[Anonymous]

See a nutritionist or doctor soon. By controlling your son’s eating habits in this manner he is heading to an eating disorder. Give him a choice- hot meal from school or one HE packs. There has been great progress made in the quality of school lunches lately. Some are very tasty and appeal to kids.

[Anonymous]

Poor kid. He’s hungry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just learned my child with borderline weight issues has been buying lunch for much of this current school year, even though I'm packing a lunch every day. There was no $ in their myschoolbucks account as we were packing lunches, but they were able to overdraw the account by $28.

Is there a way to prevent them from doing this? We are packing healthy-ish lunches, had noticed child seemed to be gaining weight since school started and now see they've been eating double lunch.

There is a difference if he’s buying actual food or just some snacks - cookies, chips, fries. You can see on the account want was actually purchased

[Anonymous]

The lunches I pack: turkey and cheese on a bagel, chicken salad sandwich, peanut butter and jelly or honey sandwich.... a yogurt or applesauce, grapes, string cheese or fresh mozzarella, pirates booty, a granola bar. Generally he eats everything except the sandwich, says it "got squished and looked gross" etc.

So then buys a second lunch from the school, usually their nachos meal, chicken and waffles meal or the Power Pack with an uncrustable and cheezits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The lunches I pack: turkey and cheese on a bagel, chicken salad sandwich, peanut butter and jelly or honey sandwich.... a yogurt or applesauce, grapes, string cheese or fresh mozzarella, pirates booty, a granola bar. Generally he eats everything except the sandwich, says it "got squished and looked gross" etc.

So then buys a second lunch from the school, usually their nachos meal, chicken and waffles meal or the Power Pack with an uncrustable and cheezits.

So, if he's not eating the sandwich, of course he's still hungry. He's basically only eating a few snacks. Either pack his sandwich in tupperware so it doesn't get squished or pack him something else in a thermos. Or let him buy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The lunches I pack: turkey and cheese on a bagel, chicken salad sandwich, peanut butter and jelly or honey sandwich.... a yogurt or applesauce, grapes, string cheese or fresh mozzarella, pirates booty, a granola bar. Generally he eats everything except the sandwich, says it "got squished and looked gross" etc.

So then buys a second lunch from the school, usually their nachos meal, chicken and waffles meal or the Power Pack with an uncrustable and cheezits.

So, if he's not eating the sandwich, of course he's still hungry. He's basically only eating a few snacks. Either pack his sandwich in tupperware so it doesn't get squished or pack him something else in a thermos. Or let him buy.

Agreed. And let him have more input into the sandwich or sandwich alternative.

Also, you can call the school and ask to speak to the cafeteria manager and see what limits can be placed on his account. I just had to call my kid's school to stop my son from buying all the extra snacks with his lunch.

[Anonymous]

Yeah call the school and tell them he’s not allowed to buy lunch. If he gets hungry, he just gets hungry. That’ll teach him to eat his smashed sandwich next time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The lunches I pack: turkey and cheese on a bagel, chicken salad sandwich, peanut butter and jelly or honey sandwich.... a yogurt or applesauce, grapes, string cheese or fresh mozzarella, pirates booty, a granola bar. Generally he eats everything except the sandwich, says it "got squished and looked gross" etc.

So then buys a second lunch from the school, usually their nachos meal, chicken and waffles meal or the Power Pack with an uncrustable and cheezits.

You have to pack the sandwich in a hard container. Or just buy the Uncrustables in bulk at Costco or wherever and send 1 of those in his lunch if he’s usually buying them at school. If it’s good enough for NFL players, your kid can eat it too! https://people.com/nfl-players-eat-at-least-80000-uncrustables-a-year-8734457