Readers weigh in on new school meal proposals by the government

Readers discuss healthy eating in schools, if Trump wants war and what Defence Secretary Healey should do (Picture: Supplied) Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments This reader says treats should be allowed in schools OMG, it appears that we are governed by imbeciles. The government has decided the offer of sausage rolls and pizzas, as well as fish fingers, chips, cakes and ice creams, will be restricted in schools in order to reduce obesity and tooth decay (Metro, Mon). It beggars belief how people with no common sense have managed to climb their way up to govern a whole nation. It is well known that children are fussy eaters – they will not eat something they do not like the look, the taste or the texture of. And if children are obese or suffering from tooth decay by the time they reach primary school it is too late. A child of five cannot brush his/her teeth properly or buy healthy food, this is a parent’s responsibility. The government should take the parents to task for parental neglect, preferably with compulsory education. And has it not occurred to anyone that a slice of cake or a jam doughnut or an ice cream at school might be the only treat some children get, because their parents cannot afford such treats? Not everyone is eating cakes instead of bread but this appears to be beyond the imagination of education secretary Bridget Phillipson. Eliza Thornton, London This reader says treats such as sausage rols should be permitted (Picture: Getty) Children eat balanced meals in Madrid, reader says The government says it is determined to eliminate junk food from school menus. They might take into account what my grandson had for lunch at St Anne’s School on Monday – mixed vegetables, followed by a seafood main and seasonal fruit. St Anne’s is, of course, a British school in Madrid. Jules Stewart, London ‘No wonder’ children are overweight, says reader No wonder one in three children are overweight and 60 per cent of the nation is obese, feasting on school dinners that include chips, fish fingers, chicken nuggets, hash browns, ice cream, waffles and jam doughnuts. I’m sure today’s menus sound delicious, though, to the generation who went through school in the 1940s and 50s, when we had to endure boiled potatoes and cabbage, Irish stew, sausage and mash, liver, spam fritters etc followed by semolina, sago, roly poly and spotted dick. Yet they set us up for life – and 
I remember we had only one or two overweight boys and girls in our classes at that time. Maybe it did me some good as 
I am still here at 83 and can tackle two six-mile walks every week and have the recommended healthy BMI for my height. That said, I still dislike sago and semolina. Ken Davies, Ex Wirral Grammar School For Boys, ‘Sapientia Ianua Vitae’ Well done to Phillipson This reader supports the propsed food ban (Picture: Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images) Hats off to Bridget Phillipson for making a big move towards healthier school dinners. The next step, advocated by the charity Before Becoming A Parent, is to teach every school student about good nutrition for their future kids, as well as about all the other ways to be a good enough parent and foster emotional wellbeing. This could help cut down future rates
of crime and mental illness. Ros Kane, Before Becoming A Parent Co-Founder, via email Do children actually just need more exercise? If the government wants to tackle childhood obesity, it’s obvious that children need more exercise, rather than sitting around watching TV or staring at a computer screen. Maybe the government should stop concreting over all the green spaces to build more housing estates and instead create more parks and playgrounds, where kids can get some fresh air and exercise. Let’s face it, they can try to force them to eat less fattening food at school meal times but there’s nothing they can do to stop them stuffing their faces with sugar and fat-laden food and drinks once they get home. Byron Felson, Bolton This reader says exercise is the answer to childhood obesity (Picture: Supplied) ‘Trump does not want a war’, says reader I hope that after reading Iranian in London Shapoor’s comments in support of the US and Israeli war on the mullahs of Iran (MetroTalk, Tue), the anti-Trump brigade finally pipe down. Trump is trying to rid Iran of tyranny and gets criticism from the Pope and very little support from Nato. He does not want war but there is no other option when dealing with unreasonable dictators – and people on the Left need to grasp this. Instead of moaning about the cost of petrol going up, just spare a thought for Iranians who have had a lot worse to put up with over the last 46 years. I hope things improve for the Iranians – without Trump, they never would have. Denise, London Reader says dad used to drive without using petrol… Further to the rise in petrol prices caused by the US and Israeli war on Iran, many years ago, my late dad, to save fuel, would switch off the engine, put the gear in neutral and freewheel when going down a hill. Phil, Carlton What should Healey do? This reader asks others what they would have done in Healey’s position (Picture: Supplied) Molly and Penny (MetroTalk, Mon) are critical of defence secretary John Healey’s issuing of a warning to Russia not to damage our underwater cables and pipelines. Perhaps they would like to tell us what he should do instead, rather just what he should not? Blockade St Petersburg? Sink a few Russian naval vessels? Engage in a pointless Cold War style tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats? Fire missiles at Moscow? Any other suggestions? If you were defence secretary, just what would you do under these circumstances?
Chris, Gateshead No justice, says reader Having just read about a thief on a suspended sentence simply having it extended further after stealing a £250 doll from TK Maxx, it shows just how bad our judiciary has become (Metro paper, Tue). Readers weigh in on Wireless Festival's cancellation and Kanye being banned from the UK 'When did human rights become a dirty word?': Readers discuss the state of the world Trump's actions in Iran come under fire: Readers weigh in with their thoughts It’s no wonder people have no fear of the police. What sort of message does this send to other criminals? Gary, Essex Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments Arrow MORE: The must-have Dunelm garden chair rated five stars by shoppers is now on sale Arrow MORE: After a deal? Save up to 78% on big name brands – from Apple and Amazon to Dyson Arrow MORE: The Metro daily cartoon by Guy Venables Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source Puzzles Newsletter Get your favourite puzzles when they are ready to play on the website sent directly to you every day and track your daily streak!

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