The parents of a 6-year-old British boy who was suspended for bringing cheesy chips — brand name Mini Cheddars — to school as part of his lunch are slamming the administrators for their over-the-top response.
“We just do not see how they have the right to tell us what we can feed our son,” said mom Natalie Mardle, about 6-year-old Riley Pearson, to the Daily Mail. “If anything, Riley is underweight and could do with putting on a few pounds.”
The boy attends Colnbrook C of E Primary School near Slough, England. The facility has implemented a healthy eating initiative, calling on parents to quit sending in kids with sweets and junk foods in their lunches, including chocolate and soda, The Independent reported.
Little Riley carried a bag of Mini Cheddars with his lunch — and in response, the teacher called for a meeting with his parents. The teacher then deemed the boy had been “continuously breaking school rules” and sent a letter home advising of a four-day suspension, The Independent reported.
His mother also told the newspaper: “Having a balanced diet also includes eating some carbohydrates, sugars and fats. It is not about excluding some foods. It is about getting the mix right.”
The parents are due to meet with school administrators on Tuesday to see whether Riley can return to school.
The head teacher said of the no-junk food policy, The Independent reported: “We have had a wonderful response, and the parents and children are on board and pleased with the way the policy has been impacted on our pupils. We cannot talk about individual circumstances, but there is one family who are not prepared to support the policy.”
The head teacher also said that breaking the policy “potentially harms that pupil,” the media outlet reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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