Unless you’ve managed to avoid Instagram for the last week, you’ve probably come across the hilariously addictive Oreogate on Instagram. If you haven’t heard about this yet…condolences!

The story goes something like this.

A mum called Michelle apparently discovered that another child was bringing Oreos to school. Her daughter, Ava, wasn’t allowed Oreos (for some reason unbeknown to us) and, understandably, asked her for one.

Michelle’s solution?

Ask the other parents’ WhatsApp group to stop putting Oreos in their children’s lunchboxes.

Not because of an allergy. Not because the school had banned them.

Because Ava wanted one.

And so began Oreogate.

This obviously escalated…

There were arguments. Side chats. Complaints to the school. Alleged lunchbox inspections.

And then, plot twist (!) the kids started to outsmart the parents by trading snacks or competing for Oreos.

Frankly, Ava may be the smartest person in this entire story.

But there’s another twist.

Oreogate might not even be real.

The videos are a paid partnership with AI music company Suno, and the creator hasn’t confirmed whether the original WhatsApp drama actually happened.

So I have potentially spent a worrying amount of my week following fictional people arguing about Oreos…that’s marketing genius for you.

The annoying thing is… this is completely believable

Anyone with children knows that lunchboxes have somehow become far more complicated than putting some food in a box.

Is there enough protein?

Too much sugar?

Will they eat the fruit?

Is the school nut-free?

Can I send yoghurt?

Will the yoghurt still be yoghurt after spending four hours in a school bag?

And, most importantly:

Why did I spend ten minutes cutting strawberries when they’re all still there at 3pm?

Then there’s lunchbox envy.

You send cucumber, strawberries and a lovingly prepared sandwich.

Your child comes home and says:

“Sophia had Nutella.”

Of course she did.

Sophia is now living rent-free in my head.

So where do I stand on Oreogate?

Allergies? Absolutely.

If there’s a child in the class with a serious allergy, everyone follows the rules. No debate.

School safety rules? Fine.

But if you’ve personally decided your child isn’t having Oreos?

I’m afraid that’s between you, your child and the Oreo.

Because children are going to encounter people eating things they’re not allowed to have. Today it’s an Oreo. Tomorrow it’s an entire packet of Haribo at a birthday party.

Surely part of parenting is occasionally having to say:

“No.”

And then listening to your child explain why you are the only parent in the entire world who says no.

Perhaps we all need to calm down about lunchboxes

We’re all basically trying to achieve the same thing: send our children to school with something vaguely nutritious that they’ll actually eat.

Some mornings that’s homemade muffins, chopped vegetables and fruit arranged beautifully into little compartments (this is a rarity by the way).

Other mornings it’s a ham sandwich, a Babybel, a packet of something and a prayer.

And that’s fine.

If you are feeling particularly organised, we’ve already put together our easy school lunch ideas and our lunchbox edit.

If not?

Chuck in an Oreo.

Apparently, it makes school a lot more exciting.