School Children Reportedly 'Banned From Bringing In Packed Lunches' After Staff Noticed Unhealthy Food | HuffPost Life

Staff reportedly saw kids bringing in leftover McDonald's.

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Life editor at HuffPost UK

Children in a primary school have reportedly been banned from bringing in their own packed lunches after staff spotted pupils bringing in unhealthy food.

Some pupils at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School in Milton Keynes bought in "cold McDonald's" to eat and "leftover sausage and chips", according to the Evening Standard.

From September 2016, the school has requested all four- to seven-year-olds have school dinners for more healthy alternative.

Cathy Yeulet via Getty Images

Head teacher of the school Rosemarie Jones wrote to parents, according to Daily Mail: "Children bring unacceptable lunches, for example two chocolate bars and a yoghurt or cold chips and sausage or a packet of biscuits and crisps.

"We've even seen children with a cold McDonald's in their lunchbox. How can this be healthy?"

She said it was better for the children's health to have a nutritious meal - that is part of the free school dinner scheme.

Children in Years 3 and 6 will be able to bring packed lunches as usual, but the younger years will not.

She said children would be given a choice of a hot meal or they can order a packed lunch.

The Huffington Post UK have contacted St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School for further comment.

In March 2016 it was revealed some schools were charging parents a daily fee to allow children to eat packed lunches they have brought in from home.

The fees, which have been charged by both primary and secondary schools, have been found to be up to £1.80 a day to cover “cleaning and supervision costs”.

The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) revealed the issue during their Annual Conference.

“Parents almost feel like they’re being fined because they haven’t gone for the school meal,” Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT said at the time.

“Schools are justifying it by saying, ‘You’re having to be supervised to eat your lunch and therefore if you’re not having a school meal, you’ve got to contribute towards that supervision because you’ll be in the dining room, sitting there’.”

Healthy Eating Advice

Watch Those Portions(01 of20)

"Portion control is your secret weapon, especially when it comes to a big spread," says Weight Watchers Leader Claire Keyes. She recommends making everything smaller when prepping your dishes – cut the chicken breasts in half, slice the bread thinner and make bite-sized cupcakes. Your guests won't even notice the difference. (credit:Jupiterimages via Getty Images)

Plan Appetizers In Advance(02 of20)

"Don't be sucked into the easy, last-minute deep-fried spring rolls," notes Keyes. "Simple prepping will lead you to just-as-tasty twists on classic appetizers." She suggests a Weight Watchers recipe for rice-paper wrapped summer rolls, or grilled chicken satay. (credit:jumpphotography via Getty Images)

Plan Around Power Foods(03 of20)

Power Foods is a Weight Watchers term for a list of foods that are both nutritious and satisfying due to their low energy density and healthfulness. Some examples include whole-wheat couscous, avocados and luncheon meats with reduced sodium. (credit:aetb via Getty Images)

Fresh First(04 of20)

"When putting out chips and dips, go for a fresh mango salsa or guacamole and leave out the rich asiago and onion dips," says Keyes. "If you're looking to add one creamy dip, make it a Greek-yogurt based spinach dip surrounded by a plate of colourful veggies." (credit:bhofack2 via Getty Images)

A Lighter Bar(05 of20)

"Instead of sugary mix, make sure to have fresh mint, berries and limes on-hand to add flavour to your drinks," advises Keyes. "Your guests won't even realize they are sipping something good for them." (credit:betyarlaca via Getty Images)

Make Salad A Star(06 of20)

Everyone might be there for the turkey, but that doesn't mean they don't want to eat their vegetables too. Spruce up your salad with ingredients like celery root, pomegranate seeds or cabbage slaw (shown). (credit:Olha_Afanasieva via Getty Images)

Be Carb-Conscious(07 of20)

"Instead of heavy lasagna, make a ratatouille or baked eggplant parmesan," suggests Keyes. "Also, try substituting the mashed potatoes for sweet potatoes, cauliflower or squash." (credit:Marzia Giacobbe via Getty Images)

Healthy Dessert Options(08 of20)

Keyes says you shouldn't opt out of dessert entirely, but instead, provide options that use fruits or vegetables, or other lower fat cooking methods. "Use applesauce instead of oil to moisten your brownies and consider cakes that incorporate vegetables like sweet potato Bundt cake, chocolate beet cake or zucchini bread," she suggests. (credit:ehrlif via Getty Images)

Give Everyone A Goodie Bag(09 of20)

"Insist that everyone goes home with leftovers so they can enjoy the treats all week – especially the ones you know you'll be tempted to revisit the next day!" says Keyes. (credit:Rachel Husband via Getty Images)

Don't Get Overstuffed(10 of20)

When you're starting to feel full, put down the fork for a few minutes. Keyes recommends drinking a big glass of water, and then, if you're still feeling peckish, pick the fork back up! (credit:Zoonar RF via Getty Images)

Get Nutty(11 of20)

"Nuts are the perfect snack for mingling," says Keyes. "Put out a few all-natural mixes for guests to munch on in between courses, or as an alternative to hors d'oeuvres." (credit:Louise Lister via Getty Images)

Limit The Number Of Choices(12 of20)

"It's a fact: the more choices one is faced with, the more one will eat," notes Keyes. So avoid serving a big buffet or cooking twelve different starches. Make a few smart selections instead of giving in to overzealous sampling. (credit:Image Source via Getty Images)

Make A Splurge Worth It(13 of20)

"When you are tempted by Christmas cookies, make sure to ask yourself, 'Are these good enough to spend this many Points [the Weight Watchers method of counting calories, fat, etc. per day] on?' If you make educated decisions you can still have your cake… and eat it too," says Keyes. (credit:Lesyy via Getty Images)

Entertain(14 of20)

Don't forget, there are more ways to spend time with family over the holidays than just sitting around and eating. "Why not go for a walk with your guests after supper, or get a game of touch football going in the afternoon?" asks Keyes. "Whip out the karaoke machine, go caroling around the neighborhood or take a toboggan out with the kids. If you fill your days with great, family-friendly activities, you and your guests won't have time to overindulge." (credit:moodboard via Getty Images)

Invest In Lower Fat Ingredients(15 of20)

"If you're preparing a big dinner, why not use half-fat ingredients whenever possible?" says Keyes. "It is often difficult to tell the difference where taste and flavour are concerned. By swapping regular ingredients, foods and drinks for their half-fat alternatives, you can make a big cut-back on fat and calorie consumption." (credit:Robert Byron via Getty Images)

Trim The Trimmings(16 of20)

To stay healthy, be aware of the amount of cheese, gravies, sauces, butter, and whipped cream, which can be easily pared down. (credit:Maren Caruso via Getty Images)

Keep Dressing On The Side(17 of20)

"Place a variety of dressings on the side, and let your guests decide what to use and how much to put on," says Keyes. (credit:Lew Robertson, Brand X Pictures via Getty Images)

Let Someone Else Taste(18 of20)

"If you're tempted to eat while cooking, take a break and enjoy a low-calorie but fulfilling snack instead," recommends Keyes. (credit:Tom Merton via Getty Images)

Put The Freeze On It(19 of20)

Make sure you put any leftovers directly in the freezer. "By getting the excess food out of sight, you will avoid the temptation of eating it in the days (or moments) immediately following your guests' departures," notes Keyes. (credit:Robert Remen via Getty Images)

Be Flexible About Traditions(20 of20)

"Often, we serve a recipe because that's the way it has always been done," says Keyes. "Make sure you consider how important that tradition is and try and make some new, healthy memories too." (credit:ChickiBam via Getty Images)

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