Son's school getting on board!

[spyrosmom]

School started last Thurs, and we got a letter home tonight from the school stating that NO JUNK FOOD will be allowed for the kids' birthday parties or other class celebrations. They will no longer allow candy, cake, cupcakes, ice cream, chips and such. They are asking that parent bring healthier snacks like pretzels, granola bars, raisins or even non food items (pencils, small games, etc) Granted pretzels and granola aren't exactly stellar in the nutrition department, but they are better than cupcakes.

They don't allow pop with lunches, and haven't since he's started there (he's in 3rd grade). Now if they would get the lunch menu together, that would be great. Tomorrow is chicken fingers (questionable) cheesy taters (I don't wanna know) and mixed veggies (prob out of a can - yuck!) and milk. We let him eat the school lunch or we pack a lunch, depending on what DS wants. If its something extra nasty or funky, we tell him he has to bring a lunch. A lot of the kids buy lunch and I think that's why he wants to sometimes, too. Not a biggie once in a while.

They way I see it, even the little steps count, and I'm glad they put the kabosh on the junk for birthdays.

Nan

 

[kathryn]

That's definitely a step in the right direction (though the school lunch doesn't sound much more healthy!).

 

[coloradomama]

Nan, my 10yo daughter came home with a similar letter! I make her a balanced, healthy lunch to take but did let her take goldfish crackers (1/2 whole grain, 1/2 extra cheddar) as a snack today and she was told that if she wants goldfish crackers for a snack that she needs to pair it up with things like nuts, cheerios, fruit, etc, that make it a healthier snack. I was rather surprised at this as this is about the junkiest snack I let her have!

 

[DirtDiva]

When my daughter was in middle school, they were rewarded with CANDY if they made the grade! After finding that tidbit out, I email this rather scathing note to the principal suggesting a different reward system, and he has the nerve to send me back..."they're only kids and it works for us"...!

 

[kathryn]

When my daughter was in middle school, they were rewarded with CANDY if they made the grade! After finding that tidbit out, I email this rather scathing note to the principal suggesting a different reward system, and he has the nerve to send me back..."they're only kids and it works for us"...!

Yeah, but it might not work for their parents.

"They're only kids?" Meaning what? That it won't hurt them? That they won't understand other forms of reward? That rewarding them with XYZ would be inappropriate?

I've been to workshops on teaching methods where the presenter suggests rewarding students with candy. No one else seemed to object.
I think it's a shame that schools reinforce 'food as reward' in this way.

 

[sparrow13]

Nan, my 10yo daughter came home with a similar letter! I make her a balanced, healthy lunch to take but did let her take goldfish crackers (1/2 whole grain, 1/2 extra cheddar) as a snack today and she was told that if she wants goldfish crackers for a snack that she needs to pair it up with things like nuts, cheerios, fruit, etc, that make it a healthier snack. I was rather surprised at this as this is about the junkiest snack I let her have!

Wow! How did you feel about that? I'm probably in the minority but I don't believe the schools should be in the business of telling parents what to feed their kids. If they want to make a difference they should focus on cleaning up the vending machines and school lunches. Just my 2 cents.

 

[spyrosmom]

When my daughter was in middle school, they were rewarded with CANDY if they made the grade! After finding that tidbit out, I email this rather scathing note to the principal suggesting a different reward system, and he has the nerve to send me back..."they're only kids and it works for us"...!

Yes!!!! We have that, too. And it seems it will be going by the wayside this year as well. Smarties were a big one last year, for getting something all right, cleaning the chalk board, passing out papers, etc. Might as well just give the kid a spoon full of sugar. I always thought just "good job" or "thank you" would suffice. When I was in school, if we did extra good, we'd get stickers or perhaps a cool pencil. But nowadays it seems the kids are rewarded for every little thing, and I don't agree with that. School is to prepare you for the real world. If I do my job a work, I don't get smarties and stickers and good job, I get a paycheck and they let me come back the next day!

Nan

 

[ldy_solana]

Wow! How did you feel about that? I'm probably in the minority but I don't believe the schools should be in the business of telling parents what to feed their kids. If they want to make a difference they should focus on cleaning up the vending machines and school lunches. Just my 2 cents.

i agree and as a "lunch lady" its disheartening at in service meetings when they talk about making money over getting healthier entrees. the sides have gotten MUCH better(i would opt to do away with canned fruit all together but more fresh is coming in and selling) but the only healthy entree we serve is a chef salad who wants to eat the SAME thing everyday. but for entree's its pizza,nuggets,breaded chicken sandwiches. yeah they sell but IMO its b/c its all that is offered. they already opt for fresh over canned in the veggies and fruit department lets take a step further into the entree department. sometimes we have to start thinking about what is right. USDA pays for most of our food anyway so why are they so worried about cost? USDA may help further if we did this.

but alas i am just a little atom in a big pond and you can't tell my bosses they are wrong.

kassia

 

[coloradomama]

Wow! How did you feel about that? I'm probably in the minority but I don't believe the schools should be in the business of telling parents what to feed their kids. If they want to make a difference they should focus on cleaning up the vending machines and school lunches. Just my 2 cents.

I was really surprised, actually. So many kids bring absolute crap to eat for their snacks and lunches. I have always taken great care to make sure my daughter gets a good, healthy lunch and even her snacks are pretty healthy. The junkiest thing I will send her with is the occasional goldfish crackers or a Kashi bar or Clif Z bar. After all the years of allowing the kids to eat whatever they want, I wonder why they finally decided to be the food police? I can understand if I had sent her with candy or something like a twinkie that they would recommend something else. But I see the menu for what they serve the kids and I think they should start there before complaining about goldfish crackers.

I'm glad they're working on getting the kids to eat healthier and that they didn't say she couldn't have them, but that she needs to pair it up with something healthier. But it still bothered me a bit.

 

[jacmar]

Totally agree!!

Wow! How did you feel about that? I'm probably in the minority but I don't believe the schools should be in the business of telling parents what to feed their kids. If they want to make a difference they should focus on cleaning up the vending machines and school lunches. Just my 2 cents.

It's MY decision what I feed my kids-no one else's.

 

[HaveFun]

Nan, my 10yo daughter came home with a similar letter! I make her a balanced, healthy lunch to take but did let her take goldfish crackers (1/2 whole grain, 1/2 extra cheddar) as a snack today and she was told that if she wants goldfish crackers for a snack that she needs to pair it up with things like nuts, cheerios, fruit, etc, that make it a healthier snack. I was rather surprised at this as this is about the junkiest snack I let her have!

WOW!! I think parents should be the ones who determine what to feed their child. I make DDs healthy lunches every day and if I want to give them a goldfish snack then so be it. Although I have heard of some of DD's friends whose lunches consist of Pop Tarts I still do not have the right to tell another parent what they can feed their child. Our schools also enforce a no food sharing policy due to food allergies, which is understandable. And while some may disagree with me (and that's ok ) I don't see depriving my child of birthday cake on her birthday as long as her daily meals are healthy.

 

[coloradomama]

WOW!! I think parents should be the ones who determine what to feed their child. I make DDs healthy lunches every day and if I want to give them a goldfish snack then so be it. Although I have heard of some of DD's friends whose lunches consist of Pop Tarts I still do not have the right to tell another parent what they can feed their child. Our schools also enforce a no food sharing policy due to food allergies, which is understandable. And while some may disagree with me (and that's ok ) I don't see depriving my child of birthday cake on her birthday as long as her daily meals are healthy.

My daughter has told me about the kinds of things her classmates bring to school as well and I'm shocked. It's not like my daughter isn't allowed to eat any junk food, but I think that during the daytime (breakfast, snack, lunch) it's incredibly important that she eats well so that she doesn't have behavior/energy problems at school. Most of the time I pack her lunch because she doesn't care for a lot of what they serve and the every day meal in addition to the main one is a pb&j on white bread...and she hates white bread and won't eat it. I'll send her pb&j on whole wheat and she happily eats that. Her sides are healthy - always a fruit or veggie included and maybe a strawberry newton cookie (not quite healthy, but I don't feel bad giving her one). And she gets milk from school. She's a picky eater, which makes it a bit more difficult, but I can at least control what she eats and give her better options.

 

[Boingo1]

WOW!! I think parents should be the ones who determine what to feed their child. I make DDs healthy lunches every day and if I want to give them a goldfish snack then so be it. Although I have heard of some of DD's friends whose lunches consist of Pop Tarts I still do not have the right to tell another parent what they can feed their child. Our schools also enforce a no food sharing policy due to food allergies, which is understandable. And while some may disagree with me (and that's ok ) I don't see depriving my child of birthday cake on her birthday as long as her daily meals are healthy.

I totally agree with you , Jennifer. Though I do think some parents are really just ignorant about healthy nutrition for their kids, I really do. I think if the school wants to get involved, they should provide education to the kids and families.

But yes, I do make sure my kids eat healthy 95% of the time. But i do not deprive them of sweet/cake/candy in small amounts at certain times (like birthdays).

 

[HaveFun]

Though I do think some parents are really just ignorant about healthy nutrition for their kids, I really do. I think if the school wants to get involved, they should provide education to the kids and families.

You are absolutely right. I like that DD's 1st grade teacher last year asked that parents bring in afternoon snacks for the classroom and she specified no junk food, but she also gave a list of suggested items, which made it a no brainer

 

[HaveFun]

I think that during the daytime (breakfast, snack, lunch) it's incredibly important that she eats well so that she doesn't have behavior/energy problems at school.

I agree. A lady who ran an in home daycare and watched both DDs when they were babies would review the children's diet whenever she talked to parents about a child's behavior problems. And I'm not saying that the diet is the only factor for behavior problems, but some people give their children a high sugar diet and wonder why the child's behavior is out of control

 

[DirtDiva]

Smarties were a big one last year, for getting something all right, cleaning the chalk board, passing out papers, etc. Might as well just give the kid a spoon full of sugar.

Nan

Off-topic sorry...but have you ever inhaled a Smartie?!! I did a couple years back when my daughter gave me her stash from those VERY same rewards driving her home from school. I plopped a handful in my mouth and then sneezed! Talk about an intense, weird sensation!

 

[kathryn]

A lady who ran an in home daycare and watched both DDs when they were babies would review the children's diet whenever she talked to parents about a child's behavior problems. And I'm not saying that the diet is the only factor for behavior problems, but some people give their children a high sugar diet and wonder why the child's behavior is out of control

At schools that deal with problem students and are feeding them healthy whole-foods lunches, many of the behavioral problems are reduced or disappear. Makes sense when you think about it, because different types of 'foods' (in quotes, because some stuff that is passed off as edible really isn't food, IMO) lead to different types of chemical reactions in the body and brain.

 

[mabdoo]

At the high school I teach at they used to serve french fries every day in addition to the normal menu. Some kids would get them everyday. Granted I would eat them once or twice a year but not every day. Now they serve only "healthy" lunches. Bread is only whole wheat and it really is real, whole wheat. They do use canned veggies but they also serve fresh salads, tuna plates, fresh fruits, carrot sticks and skim milk. Some days are questionable, fried chicken, pizza, chicken nuggets. But they have made improvements. The menu also has the calories and macro breakdowns. Our vending machines are closed during the day but opens after school. It does contain some sports drinks but at least half of the choices are water which is another step in the right direction. The other problem we face is the fact that we have an open campus and kids can leave for lunch. We have a few pizza places within walking distance. A lot of kids get pizza for lunch frequently. I doubt they are getting subs with whole wheat bread. We also have a lot of kids who bring lunch too. At this age, students are educated in health class as to what they should eat, our teacher is pretty good about that, but they are old enough to make up their own mind. They know that they should make good choices.