A number of schools around the country have introduced healthy eating guidelines for packed lunches, limiting the number of snacks or the type of food that should be put in the packed lunch.

One such school, in Larkfield, Kent, has caused some controversy by banning a pupil from eating his lunch in the dining hall because it contained three snacks instead of the required one savoury and one sweet snack.  The pupil was made to eat in the headmasters office or, on a number of occasions, sitting in his father's car outside the school gates.

Following complaints from the pupil's father and discussions between Kent County Council and the school governors the decision was made that the pupil could choose to eat what he wanted in the company of his friends.

In its defence, the school said that the guidelines had been introduced with approval from all parents and only after a trial period.  Also, both the pupil and his father had been reminded of the healthy eating guidelines.

Decisions over packed lunches are made by the school rather than the catering service but we still eagerly watch such news stories because we are interested in promoting the benefits to young people of healthy eating.

Let us know how you would feel if such a situation arose in a local school.

• Was the school being overly-strict with the pupil?
• Or do you feel that it is pointless to have such guidelines unless they are strictly enforced?

• Does the fact that the school included parents in the decision to introduce guidelines mean that this pupil's father should have supported the school in putting the guidelines into practice? 
• Or was he, as a father, within his right to make the decision on what his son would eat?

• Do you think children would choose to eat healthily even if they were offered other options?
• Or do you think it is important to guide children more strictly towards the correct foods?

Let us know your views by visiting the Contact Us page and sending us your responses.