Not OP but my DS is 11 going into 6th at Deal and was told during orientation that lunch is at 10:45. That is insane. He will 100% not make it until 3:15. He laughed at eating sandwiches at 10:45am and expects to eat a granola bar then, maybe a banana in between classes and then eat lunch at 3:15 before sports start.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wth. Do you think your parents were hand-wringing about what snacks to pack you in middle school as a teen/tween? Parents are nuts now.

In middle school we had two 15 minute breaks and 50 minutes for lunch, so we didn't have to snack. My middle schooler has no breaks and only 20 minutes for lunch. And because of COVID they are in the same room for all their classes. That's why snacks are important.

Great. Then your kid can put some snacks in their bag. This is not something that needs parental thought and planning. These are 12-14 yr olds. They know the snack world well by now.

Anonymous wrote:You can't eat in a MS classroom. Sorry.

“While they transfer classes” is not in classrooms. Reading is fundamental.

Anonymous wrote:Zucchini or berry muffins
Bananas and apples
Cheese sticks
Protein bars

Avoid nuts, as another poster mentioned.

By MS, the kids are sharing foods and kids with allergies know what they can/can’t have. Nuts are fine. A good source of protein and an easy/healthy snack that doesn’t need to be refrigerated.

Anonymous wrote:

Teach your kid that hunger isn't an emergency. Your kid shouldn't be eating in class or between classes -- they should be keeping their mask on.


Hunger can hinder learning.

The kind of hunger that hinders learning is the kind where you go to bed hungry and wake up hungry and there's no food. That's not the case here. The parent has the means to provide snacks, so presumably is providing meals. Schools are also giving breakfast and lunch. A kid who eats an early lunch at 11am and has a little bit of a rumbly tummy at 2:30 can wait an hour until they get home from school to eat something.

DS's school does not provide breakfast. Not every school does.

Anonymous wrote:Wth. Do you think your parents were hand-wringing about what snacks to pack you in middle school as a teen/tween? Parents are nuts now.

In middle school we had two 15 minute breaks and 50 minutes for lunch, so we didn't have to snack. My middle schooler has no breaks and only 20 minutes for lunch. And because of COVID they are in the same room for all their classes. That's why snacks are important.

Whatever they like to snack on

Teach your kid that hunger isn't an emergency. Your kid shouldn't be eating in class or between classes -- they should be keeping their mask on.


Hunger can hinder learning.

The kind of hunger that hinders learning is the kind where you go to bed hungry and wake up hungry and there's no food. That's not the case here. The parent has the means to provide snacks, so presumably is providing meals. Schools are also giving breakfast and lunch. A kid who eats an early lunch at 11am and has a little bit of a rumbly tummy at 2:30 can wait an hour until they get home from school to eat something.

Zucchini or berry muffins
Bananas and apples
Cheese sticks
Protein bars

Avoid nuts, as another poster mentioned.

Does MS have outdoor classrooms? In our. MS the kids are outside to transfer for at some classes and could quickly bolt down a protein bar. My son is growing a half inch per month right now and packing on muscle too, and it’s really hard for him to go hours without eating especially if he has PE. My daughter didn’t have this problem.

Nutri grain or some other protein bar.

OP, is your DC entering Grade 6 (probably 11 and unvaccinated) or Grade 7 (probably 12 and vaccinated)?

It matters here.

DS was in 7th last year and went back to school in person in March. He said a few weeks in teachers stopped caring if they ate in class. He would take the same snacks as his elementary school siblings - granola bars, cheese it’s…

I’m a HS teacher and kids eat in class all of the time. We don’t have snack time but they snack all day. At first, we were told they had to go into the hall. Within a month or so of returning we were told it was up to teachers if they ate during class.

Public middle school teacher here (I teach kids new to middle school, so they’re in the same situation as your DC). With COVID restrictions, students were not permitted to eat in classrooms last year, regardless of their lunchtime. Absolutely no eating in the hallway, either. I’d expect the same this year.

Cliff bars, protein bars, trail mix. That sort of snack.