Kids snacks at private schools

[Anonymous]

Because apparently I have too much time on my hands, I went and checked the snack menu for Beauvoir:

https://hub.merig.com/menus/beauvoir-school?filter%5Bcategories%5D=true&filter%5Bdayparts%5D%5B%5D=Breakfast&filter%5Bdayparts%5D%5B%5D=Lunch&filter%5Bdayparts%5D%5B%5D=Dinner&filter%5Bformat_type%5D=text%2Fhtml&filter%5Binterval_name%5D=Week&filter%5Blocation_id%5D=49&filter%5Bshow_footer%5D=true&filter%5Bstart_date%5D=04%2F18%2F2026

and GDS

https://hub.merig.com/menus/georgetown-day-school-lower.html?filter[interval_name]=Week&filter[dayparts]=[%22Dinner%22,%22Breakfast%22,%22Lunch%22,%22Brunch%22]

Since those are the two Big 3 schools where the Kindergarten is in DC, as OP said.

I like that both offer fruit for snack. I also think that offering something junky, a few days a week, not twice a day as OP stated, is fine, because we know the research says that making something forbidden can make it higher value. So I'm fine with the Beauvoir menu. The GDS menu, on the other hand has the following in one week:

Cheezits twice
Goldfish twice
Potato chips
Oreos

That seems like a lot to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Either bring your own snacks or shut up about the complementary snacks. All the complaining by stay at home moms with nothing better to do will just make them eliminate the snacks altogether for everyone.

Something that is part of the tuition is not complementary.

Check the enrollment contract. Daily snacks are not included.

I think all 3 "Big 3" schools include lunch and snack in elementary school, and don't allow outside food. Have you read all 3 enrollment contracts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because apparently I have too much time on my hands, I went and checked the snack menu for Beauvoir:

https://hub.merig.com/menus/beauvoir-school?filter%5Bcategories%5D=true&filter%5Bdayparts%5D%5B%5D=Breakfast&filter%5Bdayparts%5D%5B%5D=Lunch&filter%5Bdayparts%5D%5B%5D=Dinner&filter%5Bformat_type%5D=text%2Fhtml&filter%5Binterval_name%5D=Week&filter%5Blocation_id%5D=49&filter%5Bshow_footer%5D=true&filter%5Bstart_date%5D=04%2F18%2F2026

and GDS

https://hub.merig.com/menus/georgetown-day-school-lower.html?filter[interval_name]=Week&filter[dayparts]=[%22Dinner%22,%22Breakfast%22,%22Lunch%22,%22Brunch%22]

Since those are the two Big 3 schools where the Kindergarten is in DC, as OP said.

I like that both offer fruit for snack. I also think that offering something junky, a few days a week, not twice a day as OP stated, is fine, because we know the research says that making something forbidden can make it higher value. So I'm fine with the Beauvoir menu. The GDS menu, on the other hand has the following in one week:

Cheezits twice
Goldfish twice
Potato chips
Oreos

That seems like a lot to me.

Beauvoir parent here- the school does not follow that snack menu. Snacks are usually worse than advertised. They do usually have generic fruit on hand (bananas, oranges) but what kid is choosing that over goldfish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Either bring your own snacks or shut up about the complementary snacks. All the complaining by stay at home moms with nothing better to do will just make them eliminate the snacks altogether for everyone.

Something that is part of the tuition is not complementary.

Check the enrollment contract. Daily snacks are not included.

I think all 3 "Big 3" schools include lunch and snack in elementary school, and don't allow outside food. Have you read all 3 enrollment contracts?

The contracts do not specifically mention providing lunch or snacks. It is not required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Either bring your own snacks or shut up about the complementary snacks. All the complaining by stay at home moms with nothing better to do will just make them eliminate the snacks altogether for everyone.

Something that is part of the tuition is not complementary.

Check the enrollment contract. Daily snacks are not included.

I think all 3 "Big 3" schools include lunch and snack in elementary school, and don't allow outside food. Have you read all 3 enrollment contracts?

The contracts do not specifically mention providing lunch or snacks. It is not required.

Oh for god's sake. The contracts also do not "specifically mention" teaching math. Snacks and lunch are part of what is advertised as part of the school experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Either bring your own snacks or shut up about the complementary snacks. All the complaining by stay at home moms with nothing better to do will just make them eliminate the snacks altogether for everyone.

Something that is part of the tuition is not complementary.

Check the enrollment contract. Daily snacks are not included.

I think all 3 "Big 3" schools include lunch and snack in elementary school, and don't allow outside food. Have you read all 3 enrollment contracts?

The contracts do not specifically mention providing lunch or snacks. It is not required.

Oh for god's sake. The contracts also do not "specifically mention" teaching math. Snacks and lunch are part of what is advertised as part of the school experience.

They are complimentary and not required. Complain all you want and they can remove them. Especially snacks for your little snack monster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because apparently I have too much time on my hands, I went and checked the snack menu for Beauvoir:

https://hub.merig.com/menus/beauvoir-school?filter%5Bcategories%5D=true&filter%5Bdayparts%5D%5B%5D=Breakfast&filter%5Bdayparts%5D%5B%5D=Lunch&filter%5Bdayparts%5D%5B%5D=Dinner&filter%5Bformat_type%5D=text%2Fhtml&filter%5Binterval_name%5D=Week&filter%5Blocation_id%5D=49&filter%5Bshow_footer%5D=true&filter%5Bstart_date%5D=04%2F18%2F2026

and GDS

https://hub.merig.com/menus/georgetown-day-school-lower.html?filter[interval_name]=Week&filter[dayparts]=[%22Dinner%22,%22Breakfast%22,%22Lunch%22,%22Brunch%22]

Since those are the two Big 3 schools where the Kindergarten is in DC, as OP said.

I like that both offer fruit for snack. I also think that offering something junky, a few days a week, not twice a day as OP stated, is fine, because we know the research says that making something forbidden can make it higher value. So I'm fine with the Beauvoir menu. The GDS menu, on the other hand has the following in one week:

Cheezits twice
Goldfish twice
Potato chips
Oreos

That seems like a lot to me.

Beauvoir parent here- the school does not follow that snack menu. Snacks are usually worse than advertised. They do usually have generic fruit on hand (bananas, oranges) but what kid is choosing that over goldfish?

PP who said it was GDS to say I did not realize that what BVR said they were giving out and what they actually give out is worse. So I apologize for only clocking GDS as giving out too many unhealthy snacks. (I assume all give out slightly worse than advertised, but GDS gave me pause at the rate they advertised)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because apparently I have too much time on my hands, I went and checked the snack menu for Beauvoir:

https://hub.merig.com/menus/beauvoir-school?filter%5Bcategories%5D=true&filter%5Bdayparts%5D%5B%5D=Breakfast&filter%5Bdayparts%5D%5B%5D=Lunch&filter%5Bdayparts%5D%5B%5D=Dinner&filter%5Bformat_type%5D=text%2Fhtml&filter%5Binterval_name%5D=Week&filter%5Blocation_id%5D=49&filter%5Bshow_footer%5D=true&filter%5Bstart_date%5D=04%2F18%2F2026

and GDS

https://hub.merig.com/menus/georgetown-day-school-lower.html?filter[interval_name]=Week&filter[dayparts]=[%22Dinner%22,%22Breakfast%22,%22Lunch%22,%22Brunch%22]

Since those are the two Big 3 schools where the Kindergarten is in DC, as OP said.

I like that both offer fruit for snack. I also think that offering something junky, a few days a week, not twice a day as OP stated, is fine, because we know the research says that making something forbidden can make it higher value. So I'm fine with the Beauvoir menu. The GDS menu, on the other hand has the following in one week:

Cheezits twice
Goldfish twice
Potato chips
Oreos

That seems like a lot to me.

Beauvoir parent here- the school does not follow that snack menu. Snacks are usually worse than advertised. They do usually have generic fruit on hand (bananas, oranges) but what kid is choosing that over goldfish?

PP who said it was GDS to say I did not realize that what BVR said they were giving out and what they actually give out is worse. So I apologize for only clocking GDS as giving out too many unhealthy snacks. (I assume all give out slightly worse than advertised, but GDS gave me pause at the rate they advertised)

PP- Yea that’s pretty bad!!!!

[Anonymous]

My kid goes to GDS and desserts are banned. I doubt they are giving out Oreos but if so it’s once a week. If you are happy at your school I wouldn’t leave over snack. One bag of goldfish just isn’t that big of a deal. The lunch menu has so many healthy options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to GDS and desserts are banned. I doubt they are giving out Oreos but if so it’s once a week. If you are happy at your school I wouldn’t leave over snack. One bag of goldfish just isn’t that big of a deal. The lunch menu has so many healthy options.

My kid doesn't like sweet "desserts", but he will eat chips all day if you let him... That doesn't mean he is "healthier" if I let that happen... junk food doesn't need to look like it came from a pastry shop to be unhealthy and addictive...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to GDS and desserts are banned. I doubt they are giving out Oreos but if so it’s once a week. If you are happy at your school I wouldn’t leave over snack. One bag of goldfish just isn’t that big of a deal. The lunch menu has so many healthy options.

My kid doesn't like sweet "desserts", but he will eat chips all day if you let him... That doesn't mean he is "healthier" if I let that happen... junk food doesn't need to look like it came from a pastry shop to be unhealthy and addictive...

But they won’t let him eat chips all day is the whole point. It’s one serving passed out. If he’s super hungry at lunch there are healthy options. I can’t believe that people care this much about snack ha.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to GDS and desserts are banned. I doubt they are giving out Oreos but if so it’s once a week. If you are happy at your school I wouldn’t leave over snack. One bag of goldfish just isn’t that big of a deal. The lunch menu has so many healthy options.

My kid doesn't like sweet "desserts", but he will eat chips all day if you let him... That doesn't mean he is "healthier" if I let that happen... junk food doesn't need to look like it came from a pastry shop to be unhealthy and addictive...

But they won’t let him eat chips all day is the whole point. It’s one serving passed out. If he’s super hungry at lunch there are healthy options. I can’t believe that people care this much about snack ha.

If you take away parent choice (no packed snacks), you’ve implicitly taken on the role of setting the default habit. So the default should be closer to “everyday fuel” than “everyday treat.” To me, chips/goldfish/oreos/cheez its are a treat. so that’s something we noticed when choosing schools that made us uneasy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Little kids, little problems. Nobody obsesses over diet more than the parents of the youngest kids who have nothing else to worry about.

This.

They obsess and yet they are mostly unhealthy themselves. When the kids get older they follow the parents slim or not. My kids were at one of these schools and I just didn’t/don't worry about it. Problem solved. I grew up UMC ate like crap and turned into a healthy slim athletic adult. Obsessing over a kid’s diet makes the kids worry about their diet - why would I want this? My older kids are tall, slim and athletic, like me, and when they were “snack young” they ate goldfish, ritz, and fruit etc.

OP - relax - so many things in life to worry about. This is not one of them. Seriously what do you think eating snacks like this 2x or even 4x a day will do? You are eating healthy at home I assume, so they are getting all the nutrients they need. Sometimes they just need calories. I suppose if your kids is really fat I can understand your concern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to GDS and desserts are banned. I doubt they are giving out Oreos but if so it’s once a week. If you are happy at your school I wouldn’t leave over snack. One bag of goldfish just isn’t that big of a deal. The lunch menu has so many healthy options.

My kid doesn't like sweet "desserts", but he will eat chips all day if you let him... That doesn't mean he is "healthier" if I let that happen... junk food doesn't need to look like it came from a pastry shop to be unhealthy and addictive...

But they won’t let him eat chips all day is the whole point. It’s one serving passed out. If he’s super hungry at lunch there are healthy options. I can’t believe that people care this much about snack ha.

The lunches are not that healthy. Plenty of pasta, chicken nuggets, pizza, grilled cheese, burgers, with a vegetable on the side, and often sides like potatoes or garlic bread. Do you think if the kindergartener is extra hungry they’re going for 2nds on broccoli? And it’s not one snack a day, many days it’s 2 times and 3 if they stay for aftercare, plus all the treats parents bring in for birthdays etc.

Sorry, you might care if you’ve lost family to obesity related illnesses. Healthy eating habits start young.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to GDS and desserts are banned. I doubt they are giving out Oreos but if so it’s once a week. If you are happy at your school I wouldn’t leave over snack. One bag of goldfish just isn’t that big of a deal. The lunch menu has so many healthy options.

My kid doesn't like sweet "desserts", but he will eat chips all day if you let him... That doesn't mean he is "healthier" if I let that happen... junk food doesn't need to look like it came from a pastry shop to be unhealthy and addictive...

But they won’t let him eat chips all day is the whole point. It’s one serving passed out. If he’s super hungry at lunch there are healthy options. I can’t believe that people care this much about snack ha.

The lunches are not that healthy. Plenty of pasta, chicken nuggets, pizza, grilled cheese, burgers, with a vegetable on the side, and often sides like potatoes or garlic bread. Do you think if the kindergartener is extra hungry they’re going for 2nds on broccoli? And it’s not one snack a day, many days it’s 2 times and 3 if they stay for aftercare, plus all the treats parents bring in for birthdays etc.

Sorry, you might care if you’ve lost family to obesity related illnesses. Healthy eating habits start young.

Wait GDS still lets parents bring in treats for birthdays? (My kid's school doesn't and I assumed it was universal).