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Is beans on toast an ok tea for school age children?

(108 Posts)
Kandinsky Thu 28-Nov-24 17:58:05

Plus cheese on toast, spaghetti on toast etc.

I’ve started picking GC up from school ( -ages 4 to 7 ) and I have them until 6.00pm.
I just been giving them something on toast at around 4.30pm, plus a piece of fruit.
Is this ok?
Tbh I’m just too tired to do anything else.

MissAdventure Fri 29-Nov-24 19:17:16

My girl, aged about two, was flinging herself around, gearing up for a tantrum,insisting she only wanted "dibbits" to eat.

I couldn't work out what she meant, but it turned out to be a poached egg, with bread cut into soldiers, , so you could "dibbit" in the egg. smile

Greciangirl Fri 29-Nov-24 19:04:31

I have just this minute cooked scrambled eggs on toast for my grandson.
It went down a treat. He’s always liked them since he was a baby.
He is nine years old.

MissAdventure Fri 29-Nov-24 18:05:38

Yes, my daughter always ate fruit and veg, from being a baby.

It's not necessary to slave over a stove to make it, thankfully, and I printed above that beans on toast are a healthy meal, mostly.

Just the same as restaurant food, I'd imagine.

Allira Fri 29-Nov-24 18:01:53

Fleurpepper

If it is the main meal of the day, it is fine only once in a blue moon.

Do they have a proper balanced lunch, with veg? Will they have a 'proper' balanced meal with parents later?

They eat fruit too.

My DGC likes salad vegetables eg cucumber, peppers, small tomatoes, celery, chopped up as finger food. Easy and healthy.
Jacket potatoes with cheese and beans are easy too.

Dinahmo Fri 29-Nov-24 17:38:32

I seem to remember we often beans or spaghetti on toast when I was young - back in the 50s. My mum used to cakes - usually Welsh Cakes and we had those too.

Not especially healthy but we used to walk a lot to get to school etc.

Fleurpepper Fri 29-Nov-24 17:35:20

If it is the main meal of the day, it is fine only once in a blue moon.

Do they have a proper balanced lunch, with veg? Will they have a 'proper' balanced meal with parents later?

Poppyred Fri 29-Nov-24 17:29:49

Of course it is!

keepingquiet Fri 29-Nov-24 17:24:09

I was raised on beans on toast! Tinned spag on toast is still one of my faves-don't do beans so much anymore for obvious reasons!

wibblywobblywobblebottom Fri 29-Nov-24 17:16:12

I had beans on toast for tea countless times when I was a child. It didn't do me any harm. At least it's not McDonalds which is poison.

whywhywhy Fri 29-Nov-24 17:02:52

Yes! Or maybe jacket potatoes with beans on top. Yummy!

Cateq Fri 29-Nov-24 16:35:52

My brother, cousin and I used to go to our Grans house for lunch when we were at secondary school. Beans and toast was served often, along with my gran’s special scrambled eggs. What I would give to sit at her table one last time.

MissAdventure Fri 29-Nov-24 16:05:05

Nothing out of the ordinary there, frankly.

Sennelier1 Fri 29-Nov-24 15:45:43

On wednesdays I pick up our GS (7) from school (not in the UK) and we have a complete hot meal with him at noon. He is used to many different foods and eats his veggies like a pro. He snacks on cherrytomatoes, apple and clementines. In the afternoon he is allowed biscuits and yes some have chocolate on them, exceptionally some candy (f.i. a few Frutella). He drinks mostly water and sometimes applejuice. In the early evening he will eat some pasta or a sandwich.

cc Fri 29-Nov-24 15:24:15

Norah

It's fine.

If they tire of beans on toast, perhaps cook up some chickpeas, make houmous. Children like houmous on toast, celery, carrots - healthy protein.

Yes, my grandchildren love houmous, with carrot or cucumber and some crispbread. We always have it in the house as it's my go-to lunch.

cc Fri 29-Nov-24 15:21:33

I only have my grandchildren one or two evenings a week during term time, but when I do they have a snack, usually a cake, when they come out of school as they have a proper meal at lunchtime.
They eat their evening meal 5.30-6.00, often pasta with meat sauce and/or cheese, sometimes pizza or fish and chips, with a little salad or veg. Sadly they don't like beans, it would be a good quick meal to give them with tomato or cucumber which they love.
I give them cereal, eggs and toast every morning too, some days they are unfillable at the moment, must be a combination of the colder weather and the fact that they're growing.

Mollygo Fri 29-Nov-24 15:14:02

Allira

Beans, scrambled or boiled eggs, cheese on toast is fine.
Jacket potato with cheese and beans or tuna, all simple to do.

Followed by yogurt and fruit should provide the nutrients they need.

Protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins and minerals.

Yes.
I give my DGC fruit or toast if they’re hungry as they don’t eat till 5pm. If they’ve had a school dinner, they ought not to need anything till then, and we often had evening meals as you describe above apart from yoghurt which I don’t remember.
I agree with your euphemistic comment about the school meals though.

MissAdventure Fri 29-Nov-24 14:58:51

smile
Horribly robust. I like that.

Labradora Fri 29-Nov-24 14:52:40

Never did me any harm!
Also I think children quite like this sort of thing occasionally.
My mother was on a very limited budget and we occasionally had beans on toast or beans and chips because that was all she could afford at that time.
We were generally well fed with stews and pies and fish and chips(which is actually quite a healthy meal) and chicken roast and tinned salmon on Sundays. .
The occasional something on toast however...... no problem;
Generally speaking I'm a horribly robust woman.

MissAdventure Fri 29-Nov-24 14:49:46

Yes, beans on toast can be nutritious and part of a healthy, balanced diet. Beans are a good source of plant-based protein, fiber, and B vitamins, and they can help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, canned baked beans often contain added salt and sugar, so it's best to choose lower-sodium options or make your own. Here are some tips for making beans on toast healthier:
Use wholemeal bread: Wholemeal bread has more fiber than white bread.
Choose lower-sodium options: Look for baked beans labeled as low-salt or reduced sugar.
Add vegetables: You can make beans on toast more nutritious by adding vegetables.
Pair with other foods: Beans on toast can be part of a balanced meal when eaten with vegetables, eggs, or slow-release carbohydrates.

MissAdventure Fri 29-Nov-24 14:47:36

Beans on toast is fine, though.
It's not masterchef, just a nan helping out with childcare.

Pippa22 Fri 29-Nov-24 14:43:10

If having your grandchildren until 6 by the time they get home and dinner is cooked surely they will be too tired to eat ? I would want to make sure they had a “ proper “ meal with vegetables for these precious, growing children.
School dinners are not always very nutritious so I would feel they needed an actual dinner. However if you are too tired to do that perhaps a conversation with the parents is needed to say this arrangement is too much for you and that’s ok to say.

MissAdventure Fri 29-Nov-24 14:36:13

😁

Astitchintime Fri 29-Nov-24 14:30:58

Well, we have just had beans on toast for lunch and they were lovely. The wind might get up later though grin

Missiseff Fri 29-Nov-24 14:27:18

Mine have spag bol every week, except with rice not spag & I put loads of different veg in, including red kidney beans which they love. Chuck it all in the slow cooker in the morning

Norah Fri 29-Nov-24 14:01:21

It's fine.

If they tire of beans on toast, perhaps cook up some chickpeas, make houmous. Children like houmous on toast, celery, carrots - healthy protein.