Ham salad as main meal

[janminder]

Just wondering if you would consider this ok as a main meal after school, it was mentioned to one parent in passing that it was the meal for tomorrow as needed a quick meal to fit in with after school activity and they didnt seem happy as their child has sandwich for packed lunch

Choice of Ham, beef, cheese for the non meat eater
Salad potatoes
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Cucumber
Red pepper
Raw carrot


Thanks for your input

[Kiddleywinks]

What time's tea then? Save me a seat, sounds yummy

[cathtee]

It sound very good to me, you have put potatoes in so there will be something hot, and will give it some carbs. It would be something I would serve, and it could also be served with pasta on another occassion. yummy

[samb]

Well you are offering meat, potatoes and veg so I'm not sure why this is a problem but maybe to the parent a ham salad is literally ham and salad leaves? Not everyone adds the other bits to bulk it out or make it yummier. How about offering something else like boiled eggs, rice salad, coleslaw or coucous?

[The Juggler]

sounds like a perfectly balanced meal to me

[francinejayne]

we have that as a main meal, delicious! it is my 4 year old son's favourite tea!

[Pipsqueak]

doesn't that just sum up our attitude to food though in this country.
that is a perfectly acceptable meal - nutritious, balanced, etc

[janminder]

Thanks for replies, the potatoes were mentioned. I though it was ok but as this parent made the comment and has always been happy with my choices in the past 4 years it made me wonder. They are even happy for their child not to eat with me if they know in advance because of an activity but the child is going straight out from me tomorrow when picked up at 5.30om so wont get anything at home.

Chrissie, tea is at 5pm or just after

[md0u0131]

sounds good to me!

[miffy]

Was the parents objection because it's a cold meal and child has sandwiches at lunch time (ie another cold meal)?

I would just say you are providing a healthy balanced meal in accordance with the EYFS and leave it at that. If parent still objects say perhaps it would be better if child waited until he got home to eat.

Miffy xx

[Helen79]

If dd has a packed lunch at school then I'd prefer her to have a cooked meal in the evening but if that's what was for dinner then I wouldn't comment about it. She'd be more than happy with the ham salad but that's what she has for her packed lunch most days.
I'd add hot potatoes, rice or some pasta so it feels a it more filling for the kids who have had a cold lunch at school.

[BucksCM]

Sounds fine to me too.
Healthy, balanced and yummy!

[jaswinder bedi]

Good healthy diet I will garee with that!!!! I suppose Other menu on list you could add as children love this spaghetti on toast nice and quick with some choice of salad???

[Bridey]

Mmmm, my favourite

I serve salad occasionally, with hot crusty bread.

[EmmaReed84]

That sounds really tasty... I mean REALLY tasty, I had a ham and egg salad yesterday for lunch and that was filling, I even threw some away

[Bridey]

What about taking a picture of the child eating their lovely plateful of salad to show the parent?

[rickysmiths]

As long as the child will actually eat the salad it sounds good to me and it is a tea we often had as children.

If the child is not a salad eater then yes I would have a problem and I would cook peas and broccoli or carrots which could be prepared earlier in the day and don't take long to cook.

[marian]

Sounds fine to me - in fact I quite fancy a ham and egg salad for tea myself now



Marian x

[karensmart4]

It sounds fine to me except my children never enjoyed salad when they were younger and I would have worried that they hadn't eaten much.

What's for pud?

[Mouse]

I agree with what someone else has said. Some parents like their child to have at least one hot meal a day, so if they've had sandwiches at lunchtime, they want them to have something cooked in the evening.

My husband is the same. He always says the children need a hot meal in the evening. I say they don't. As long as it's a well balanced meal, what difference does it make it if it's hot or cold?

If all the children are happy to eat salad, I don't see a problem with it. I would probably add some crusty bread and maybe half a boiled egg (delicious with ham), but only because my children are picky about salad