KEY POINTS:
The tradition of the humble school pie will become increasingly rare if schools adhere to the Ministry of Health's latest guidelines on food.
Health officials have released the framework for guidelines to be launched in June which will advocate that schoolchildren eat pies and sausage rolls only once a term.
So should pies be off the menu for kids?
This forum debate has now closed. Here is a selection of your views on the topic.
Kevin Godwin
How often should children be allowed to eat pies? Dont ask questions like that while the Labour government is in the mood its in, asit could finish up as law overnight. Would make a nice amendment to the Bradford bill, the no smacking and only one pie a month bill.
Pamela Peris
I believe we need to be educated about the value of a pie compared to a fresh made sandwich. The first step would be to educate parents about what they could pack for their kids to school. In school, canteens should not serve fatty food like pies and sausage Rolls, instead... Fresh products. Some suggestions: Fruits, fresh sandwiches - instead of Ham, use lean beef, Lean chicken Slices. Oats are a good source of fibre.. It can be yummy too. Raisins can be a fun thing to snack on. Rather than cookies/ chips etc.Carl
They have gone too far! I appreciate these are just guidelines, but what is the point is no decent pie loving kiwi kid can follow them?
Charles
Here we go again!! The ministry now telling us how to feed our kids!! What is going on, as if we dont know what is good and what is bad for them? Who do they think we are? This is crazy and disgusting. First the Anti-Smacking Bill and now this?
Carol Thomson
Pies and sausage roll should be occasional treats because they are more often than not made with poor quality meat and fat. Fat in itself isn't actually a problem in my view if the quality is good. The problem with a good deal of the food that school children eat is that it isn't good quality and that more than anything bothers me, having said that a little bit of what you fancy isnt a bad thing but pies and sausage roles shouldn't be every day food. The question as always is how to educate people about nutrition because while it would wonderful to think they would change their behaviour of their own accord for the most part they don't in which case I think schools do have a role to play in helping children make better choices.
Jakazembung
The more the children are restricted from having pies and sausage rolls, the more actively they look for them or buy them in the dairies, and they will be proud when having them as they will think it as a form of rebellion.
