What do kids do about really late lunch?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dont remember ever needing a snack, or honestly even a drink of water between meals as a high-schooler in the 90s. Is this something I've repressed or forgotten? Not being snarky, because as a parent i now have this same question "how will they survive without a snack!?" But is this a new thing, or do other parents remember being hungry growing up?

I only ate once per day during high school-- only dinner. I was too busy to eat at any other time!

Even my elite athlete kid is fine during school without a snack. He eats breakfast --> goes to training --> has a protein recovery snack --> goes to school --> has lunch at school --> has a snack after school --> goes back to training -->has another protein recovery snack --> has dinner --> has a before-bed protein shake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who grew up outside the US, I find this very amusing but not in a good way. In fact, we noticed the same thing with our child.

Here's how it works elsewhere: first of, even in middle and high schools, there are breaks between classes: at least 10min, one break (where milk could be bought and brought-from-home snacks be eaten) of 15min, and one outdoor recess of 20min. Until 12th grade. Second, lunch facilities were built such that everyone could have lunch at the same time (none of this taking turns in 6 shifts and seeing only half of each grade). No weird 52 minute periods when your period overlapped with some other grade's lunch time because the cafeteria seats only 150 kids (in a school built in the 2010s!).

When I compare this to today's insane schedule of 4min class changes and a single 20min lunch break I'm wondering why we're putting up with this. Kids that aren't packers (but have to buy their lunch) often spend half of that time in the lunch line. The remaining recess time was stolen as well and crammed in "study hall" or "intervention/enrichment" time (which I understand is usually just a waste of 25min where kids need to read a book or be otherwise quiet). The other day our child didn't make it to their next class between periods because they had to run from the gym on one end of the building to the other and back to a different wing to get their materials for the next class. To avoid being marked tardy, they are now working out a special exception where the school materials are dropped off in the classroom a period earlier (even though it's against the rules).

This all seems utterly insane and actually reminiscent of prison - I can't think of any other place with a similarly regulated schedule that is purposely designed to cut out any downtime. Note also that there's almost no time for socializing because each of these time periods is with a randomly assigned group of kids, particularly in middle school before AP classes and with few electives. The predictable result is that many kids talk during class, sometimes over the teacher, something that was taboo (and occurred infrequently) where I went to school. It prevents kids who want to use class time for their work from doing so and generally kills concentration.
Grabbing granola bars between classes needs to be done furtively because eating in the hallways is not allowed, and in any event, you'd get run over if you don't pay attention. Yes there are teachers who recognize this and allow snacks like in 8th period for early lunchers or before lunch for late lunchers like in this post.

Do Americans even remember a time with quiet class periods where you could concentrate, 10min class changes, a breakfast snack, consistent 45 minute periods, and a long recess where you could talk to your classmates and didn't feel the need to talk in class? Most people I talked to who went to school in the 90s or later think that this was always this way. I don't believe that's true, though, or is it?

Why is there no revolution? Why is everyone putting up with this?

People here have been raised to believe that all of this is perfectly fine and that they shouldn't complain. It has always been this way. I'm almost 60 and I cannot remember a time when it was different. Part of the reason is that people with a lot of money send their kids to private school, which is decidedly not prison-like, so the people with the power to change anything at all don't experience this. I have no idea why it's like this, though. Perhaps lack of school funding is part of the problem - fewer staff and teachers, more crowded and smaller buildings, insufficient resources, it all means more restrictions are necessary. People here don't even realize how under-funded most of our school systems are, because they have nothing to compare to. Also, the lifestyle tends to keep people so busy working, and so exhausted, and then give them just enough that they have something to lose. Doesn't make for revolutionary thinking. Anyway, I'm OP, and I think it's horrible and wish I didn't have to send my kid to public school at all, but we've done private up until now and just can't pay for it anymore. So this is a rude awakening for us, too. But most people here on dcum will blast you for worrying about your snowflake, so you can see how the thinking is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dont remember ever needing a snack, or honestly even a drink of water between meals as a high-schooler in the 90s. Is this something I've repressed or forgotten? Not being snarky, because as a parent i now have this same question "how will they survive without a snack!?" But is this a new thing, or do other parents remember being hungry growing up?

I only ate once per day during high school-- only dinner. I was too busy to eat at any other time!

Even my elite athlete kid is fine during school without a snack. He eats breakfast --> goes to training --> has a protein recovery snack --> goes to school --> has lunch at school --> has a snack after school --> goes back to training -->has another protein recovery snack --> has dinner --> has a before-bed protein shake.

I'm not a nutritionist, but that really doesn't sound like enough food for all that exercise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dont remember ever needing a snack, or honestly even a drink of water between meals as a high-schooler in the 90s. Is this something I've repressed or forgotten? Not being snarky, because as a parent i now have this same question "how will they survive without a snack!?" But is this a new thing, or do other parents remember being hungry growing up?

I only ate once per day during high school-- only dinner. I was too busy to eat at any other time!

Even my elite athlete kid is fine during school without a snack. He eats breakfast --> goes to training --> has a protein recovery snack --> goes to school --> has lunch at school --> has a snack after school --> goes back to training -->has another protein recovery snack --> has dinner --> has a before-bed protein shake.

I'm not a nutritionist, but that really doesn't sound like enough food for all that exercise.

He works with a Registered Dietician, physiotherapist, and coach on his diet. It is pretty strict regarding the minimum/maximum grams of protein, as well as the required grams of carbohydrates, but does allow him to be a kid and to have treats, as well. His breakfast and dinner are definitely larger than most kids eat!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher in elementary, it sucks when my class has the latest lunch. I’d be starving myself.

I have the last lunch. I already told parents kids can eat whenever.

[Anonymous]

Thank you PP! My kid (ES) has the late lunch — 1:45! Their teacher has flexible snack times whenever and I’m so grateful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher in elementary, it sucks when my class has the latest lunch. I’d be starving myself.

I have the last lunch. I already told parents kids can eat whenever.

+1 my child has last lunch in 5th, and the teachers tell the kids they can eat snacks whenever. I am so grateful!

[Anonymous]

If your kid's teachers don't let them have a snack to get them through until lunch then you ought to complain to admin and get other parents to also complain. There's no reason kids shouldn't have a snack. I guarantee you teachers and principals have snacks when they want to.

At the very least for a HS kid I would encourage them to put some snacks in their backpack, like half a sandwich, a piece of fruit, etc., and eat it whenever they have a few minutes. If anyone gives them any crap about this start the complaining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher in elementary, it sucks when my class has the latest lunch. I’d be starving myself.

I have the last lunch. I already told parents kids can eat whenever.

+1 my child has last lunch in 5th, and the teachers tell the kids they can eat snacks whenever. I am so grateful!

Same. My 6th grader has the last lunch and teacher said they can snack whenever.

[Anonymous]

My kid is in MS but eats breakfast at 715 then no lunch until 1250.
They have a 10 mi snack break built in between classes around 10am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who grew up outside the US, I find this very amusing but not in a good way. In fact, we noticed the same thing with our child.

Here's how it works elsewhere: first of, even in middle and high schools, there are breaks between classes: at least 10min, one break (where milk could be bought and brought-from-home snacks be eaten) of 15min, and one outdoor recess of 20min. Until 12th grade. Second, lunch facilities were built such that everyone could have lunch at the same time (none of this taking turns in 6 shifts and seeing only half of each grade). No weird 52 minute periods when your period overlapped with some other grade's lunch time because the cafeteria seats only 150 kids (in a school built in the 2010s!).

When I compare this to today's insane schedule of 4min class changes and a single 20min lunch break I'm wondering why we're putting up with this. Kids that aren't packers (but have to buy their lunch) often spend half of that time in the lunch line. The remaining recess time was stolen as well and crammed in "study hall" or "intervention/enrichment" time (which I understand is usually just a waste of 25min where kids need to read a book or be otherwise quiet). The other day our child didn't make it to their next class between periods because they had to run from the gym on one end of the building to the other and back to a different wing to get their materials for the next class. To avoid being marked tardy, they are now working out a special exception where the school materials are dropped off in the classroom a period earlier (even though it's against the rules).

This all seems utterly insane and actually reminiscent of prison - I can't think of any other place with a similarly regulated schedule that is purposely designed to cut out any downtime. Note also that there's almost no time for socializing because each of these time periods is with a randomly assigned group of kids, particularly in middle school before AP classes and with few electives. The predictable result is that many kids talk during class, sometimes over the teacher, something that was taboo (and occurred infrequently) where I went to school. It prevents kids who want to use class time for their work from doing so and generally kills concentration.
Grabbing granola bars between classes needs to be done furtively because eating in the hallways is not allowed, and in any event, you'd get run over if you don't pay attention. Yes there are teachers who recognize this and allow snacks like in 8th period for early lunchers or before lunch for late lunchers like in this post.

Do Americans even remember a time with quiet class periods where you could concentrate, 10min class changes, a breakfast snack, consistent 45 minute periods, and a long recess where you could talk to your classmates and didn't feel the need to talk in class? Most people I talked to who went to school in the 90s or later think that this was always this way. I don't believe that's true, though, or is it?

Why is there no revolution? Why is everyone putting up with this?

First, I don't know why we put up with it. My kids have to throw out lunch that they don't have time to finish. I've told them to sit there and eat it if they are hungry. Or take it with and eat in the hallway. The teachers forcing them to trash it and vacate can talk to ME.

We did not have recess or down time or milk break, but there was always time to get to your locker, chat a bit in the hallway, and have a decent length lunch. If we could just progress back to that it would be huge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who grew up outside the US, I find this very amusing but not in a good way. In fact, we noticed the same thing with our child.

Here's how it works elsewhere: first of, even in middle and high schools, there are breaks between classes: at least 10min, one break (where milk could be bought and brought-from-home snacks be eaten) of 15min, and one outdoor recess of 20min. Until 12th grade. Second, lunch facilities were built such that everyone could have lunch at the same time (none of this taking turns in 6 shifts and seeing only half of each grade). No weird 52 minute periods when your period overlapped with some other grade's lunch time because the cafeteria seats only 150 kids (in a school built in the 2010s!).

When I compare this to today's insane schedule of 4min class changes and a single 20min lunch break I'm wondering why we're putting up with this. Kids that aren't packers (but have to buy their lunch) often spend half of that time in the lunch line. The remaining recess time was stolen as well and crammed in "study hall" or "intervention/enrichment" time (which I understand is usually just a waste of 25min where kids need to read a book or be otherwise quiet). The other day our child didn't make it to their next class between periods because they had to run from the gym on one end of the building to the other and back to a different wing to get their materials for the next class. To avoid being marked tardy, they are now working out a special exception where the school materials are dropped off in the classroom a period earlier (even though it's against the rules).

This all seems utterly insane and actually reminiscent of prison - I can't think of any other place with a similarly regulated schedule that is purposely designed to cut out any downtime. Note also that there's almost no time for socializing because each of these time periods is with a randomly assigned group of kids, particularly in middle school before AP classes and with few electives. The predictable result is that many kids talk during class, sometimes over the teacher, something that was taboo (and occurred infrequently) where I went to school. It prevents kids who want to use class time for their work from doing so and generally kills concentration.
Grabbing granola bars between classes needs to be done furtively because eating in the hallways is not allowed, and in any event, you'd get run over if you don't pay attention. Yes there are teachers who recognize this and allow snacks like in 8th period for early lunchers or before lunch for late lunchers like in this post.

Do Americans even remember a time with quiet class periods where you could concentrate, 10min class changes, a breakfast snack, consistent 45 minute periods, and a long recess where you could talk to your classmates and didn't feel the need to talk in class? Most people I talked to who went to school in the 90s or later think that this was always this way. I don't believe that's true, though, or is it?

Why is there no revolution? Why is everyone putting up with this?

First, I don't know why we put up with it. My kids have to throw out lunch that they don't have time to finish. I've told them to sit there and eat it if they are hungry. Or take it with and eat in the hallway. The teachers forcing them to trash it and vacate can talk to ME.

We did not have recess or down time or milk break, but there was always time to get to your locker, chat a bit in the hallway, and have a decent length lunch. If we could just progress back to that it would be huge.

Unfortunately they had to limit time between classes to prevent fights and bad behavior. Like kids vaping in bathroom or whatever. Blame the parents raising these little sociopaths.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dont remember ever needing a snack, or honestly even a drink of water between meals as a high-schooler in the 90s. Is this something I've repressed or forgotten? Not being snarky, because as a parent i now have this same question "how will they survive without a snack!?" But is this a new thing, or do other parents remember being hungry growing up?

I definitely didn’t have a water bottle but I may have eaten a granola bar in between classes.

[Anonymous]

High school students should be able to eat something in class. Most teachers are fine with it. It isn't grade school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid's teachers don't let them have a snack to get them through until lunch then you ought to complain to admin and get other parents to also complain. There's no reason kids shouldn't have a snack. I guarantee you teachers and principals have snacks when they want to.

At the very least for a HS kid I would encourage them to put some snacks in their backpack, like half a sandwich, a piece of fruit, etc., and eat it whenever they have a few minutes. If anyone gives them any crap about this start the complaining.

If parents would teach their children to clean up after themselves and to be accountable for their own actions, teachers may be more open to allowing snacks in class. When they stuff trash into desks or just leave trash all over the floor, spill food and drinks all over, or refuse to follow rules about no nuts or peanuts, teachers don't want to allow snacks.