To better gauge how parents feel about nutritional lunches and a school milk programme for their children, The Royal Gazette spoke with seven mothers. All except one, whose child does not drink milk, agreed that they would pay for their children to get a half pint of milk daily.

A few parents noted that cost would factor in their decision.

Apart from one (whose 12 year-old-daughter is in Sandys Secondary Middle School), all their children are in primary schools with no school cafeteria.

Six of the seven mothers said that they prepare their children?s lunch daily themselves, while one woman said her husband makes the lunches for their three children.

In her home she said lunch making is considered a chore. She welcomed the idea of a school cafeteria and/or other eating options at the school. She said her husband usually gives the children a sandwich or soup.

Marguerita Carter admitted that planning lunch for her 12-year-old daughter is sometimes a bother ?especially if I am running late?.

She feels strongly about nutrition and said because of this a lot of mental planning goes into her preparations. ?I just wish they would get fresh lunches without having to contend with all the junk they consume when they are away from home.?

She said her daughter is demanding. ?She has to have what she likes otherwise it comes right back home to the trash. She will stay hungry all day.

?You have to try to be creative and at the same time prepare what the child loves.?

Unlike the other mothers we spoke with, there is a cafeteria at Mrs. Carter?s daughter?s school. ?But a lot of things there are repetitious and the children complain,? she said.

Eljahara Hassell has a four-year-old in nursery school and says she would love it if a cafeteria were there. ?I cannot stand preparing lunch.? She said not much planning goes into the items she chooses and thankfully her daughter is not demanding except about the type of sandwich she is given.

Usually she is given a sandwich, fruit, drink and a healthy snack. Her daughter?s nursery school upholds a nutrition policy and parents are not allowed to give their children juice boxes, or lunchables. ?Basically it has to be a trash-less lunch,? she said.

Sharalle Riley was the only mother we spoke with who said she truly enjoys preparing her daughter?s lunch.

?She does not eat sandwiches at all and so, every evening I ask her what she wants for lunch the next day,? Ms Riley said. ?She thinks about it and makes the decision. Sometimes she wants hot pockets or leftovers or soup. We put it together and she takes it the next day.?

Lunch making takes about 20 minutes each evening in their home. It helps that the school, Bermuda Institute, makes no restrictions on what she can give her daughter to eat.

Luonia Bailey?s five-year-old son attends West Pembroke Primary. She said while the school has not ?hassled the parents on lunch items?, her son is a fussy eater and will not eat the same thing very often. This makes planning lunches time consuming for her. ?I find it a necessity but wouldn?t mind cutting it out of our schedule,? she said. She said that a school cafeteria would be a good option for parents that could afford it.

?I would like for a cafeteria to offer different items than an average kid?s menu that I find in the restaurants ? items such as hot dogs, chicken nuggets and burgers,? she said. ?I found that an issue recently when I travelled. There were not any healthy choices.? Her son?s lunches rotate between hot meals and a variety of sandwiches.

A pair of sisters who are mothers had very similar views on lunches for their children. Kanderee Gatton said she wished she had more creative ideas while Rukiya O?Connor said: ?I just want her to have more of a variety, but still healthy with a goody every now and then.?

Her daughter?s school, however, enforces the Government?s Nutrition Policy for schools. ?Fruit is a must and no snacks like fruit roll-ups, chips or anything along those lines,? she said.

Lunchables are on the taboo list for schools but Mrs. O?Connor said she sometimes gives her daughter one.