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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.

Tizliz Fri 29-Nov-24 12:04:04

If you have the energy make your own beans. Jamie Oliver has a good recipe which you can alter for what you have in the cupboard. Make lots as it freezes well.

Nanato3 Fri 29-Nov-24 13:11:09

It's fine if it's once or twice a week but not everyday.
Do the G/C have a cooked meal later when they go home ?
If they have a cooked meal later a sandwich would be fine , cheese or ham and salad .
My G/D loved me to give her cheese and cucumber sandwiches and a piece of cake but when she went home she had a cooked dinner .

Tonysarahjackson Fri 29-Nov-24 13:19:01

Definitely yes,can't see that hurting one bit,that was mainly what I had for lunch on school holidays....keeps their little tummies full of love til teatime...

mabon1 Fri 29-Nov-24 13:26:35

It's just fine, why are you worrying.

chrissy08 Fri 29-Nov-24 13:34:58

Beans on toast is one of the best things you can give them. Healthy & delicious too!

Wyllow3 Fri 29-Nov-24 13:43:51

Sounds great. The quantity may vary depending if they've had a full meal at school dinners or not. Carrot sticks to nibble on?

Harris27 Fri 29-Nov-24 13:46:35

Absolutely fine done the nutrition course at work. I’m preschool teacher it’s full of energy and goodness.try them with spaghetti beans or scrambled eggs on whole grain toast if they like it. Your doing fine👍

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.

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

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

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

😁

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 14:47:36

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

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.

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 14:58:51

smile
Horribly robust. I like that.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Nothing out of the ordinary there, frankly.

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.

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

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

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.

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!