I can't send a can of diet Coke in with DS for his lunch! (VENT)

[SeaSpray]

Some of you may agree with this, but I think it's ridiculous!! On Tuesday, DS14 (who just started at a new high school, a vo-tech), and told us that he was told that day during lunch that he is not allowed to bring soda in with him for lunch anymore. When he tried to ask the person "Why not??" he said they got annoyed and yelled something about "subsidizing for school lunches" or something because soda is considered a junk food.

I called this morning to get to the bottom of this and sure enough, NO ONE is supposed to have soda of any kind at school for lunch! I have been giving my son a can of diet soda (he's got a weight issue) every day for the last couple of years. The rest of his lunch consists of a PLAIN turkey sandwich on light bread (fortunately, DS doesnt like mayo!), grapes, and sometimes a cereal bar for dessert.

This "nurse" then when on to tell me that it's unhealthy for persons under the age of 18 to drink diet soda. Ok, I've read articles about this, I'm not stupid, I'm usually up on things. But he is MY son and if I think it's OK for him to have ONE can of diet soda a day, then it's MY decision. We have a water cooler here at home, we get spring water delivery every month. NONE of us drink much soda at all. In fact, DSs come home from school and get out their large water bottles and fill them up and that's what they drink the rest of the day. (along with some milk and juice).

Also, I don't care about "subsidizing". Also, it's because they consider soda to be a "junk food"????? How ridiculous!!! What are they going to do, frisk every kid's lunch bag to see what else is in there?? Junk food. Give me a break. Grrrrrrrrrrrr.....

Do any of you have this issue to deal with???

P.S. This "nurse" told me on the phone that this is the "law" in Massachusetts and that soda should not have been allowed in whichever school DS was attending previously. I told her what town we live in and that NO ONE has EVER said a word about DSs bringing in ONE can of soda to have with their lunches!!!

 

[wovenwonder]

Would diet iced tea or bottles of crystal light be allowed?

 

[gepetto]

I think subsidizing excuse is probably legit. If I'm not mistaken he's probably not allowed to bring any fast food either (even subway). The school can lose a lot of funding if they don't comply.

 

[DopeyRN]

At our grammar school no canned drinks are allowed except for field trips. At our high school, I believe it is allowed. Both are Catholic schools and there are no lunch subsidies.

 

[Serena]

I understand what you are saying. But personally, I don't think it's a real big deal. Send a water bottle with him and let him have his pop when he gets home.
But, of course, that's just one opinion.

 

[pollyanna]

Both my sons ate a plain turkey sandwich all thru HS...and brought a can of coke also...and they went to a very strict Catholic HS-go figure. Maybe susitute one of those flavored waters,if it's the can they are objecting to.

 

[Kitty 34]

Pop is not allowed in our school's classrooms but in the lunch room it's OK because they have vending machines that sell pop.


Your story reminds me of the time a little boy (about 3rd grade) brough his lunch to school just jammed pack with desserts!!! Turns out he'd been packing his lunch for awhile to help his Mom out!!!!

 

[olena]

Public schools! UGH!!!!

This story is incredible though.....especially considering all the McDonald's I see going into high schools these days.

 

[pumba]

some of the juices.....can you believe that...28 in orange and apple juice

 

[SeaSpray]

Thanks for the comments, everyone!

wovenwonder: I wish I would've thought to ask that! Good question!!!!

gepetto: I'm not sure about fast food because it's never entered my mind! LOL As a rule, we don't eat much fast food at our house, but you're probably right that they won't allow it in school.

Serena: That's exactly what I am going to do. I am going to call our spring water delivery company and have them start delivering cases of the individual water bottles to our house each month.

pollyanna: I don't think it's the actual can that they object to, supposedly it's the fact that "soda is a junk food". Like wovenwonder said, I wonder if they'd have a problem with diet Iced tea (which I have sent in with DS14, in the past!), or Crystal Light.

Kitty34: DS tells me that there are soda vending machines in his school, and this morning the nurse told me that it's not allowed during school hours. How much do you want to bet that those soda machines DO get used during school hours?? lol

pumba: 28 what in orange and apple juice???

Again, thanks everyone for the comments.... Keep them coming, I still am in disbelief over this...!!

 

[Mskanga]

I got a similar problem but mine comes from the teacher, my dd is in fourth grade and I got a note saying that no "sugary snacks or sodas are allowed for snacks in the classroom" now I never send dd to school with soda , she always brings juice but every now and then she brings three or four cookies for snack , that's not allowed but cheetos , chips, cheesy crackers and stuff like that are allowed. I spoke to the teacher about that and he told me that he doesn't allow it because it's not healthy and when I showed him how many carbs are in a small pack of cheesy crackers and reminded him that carbs turn into sugar, he got real quiet.
I understand that some snacks are just too sugary but there are also sugar free cookies.
But they also sell snacks and soda in the cafeteria so imagine that, you can't bring it from home but you can get it in the cafeteria , does that make sense?

 

[dizneenut]

I don't see what the big deal is. My boys are allowed to take pop to school. Two are in elementary & two are in middle school. I haven't sent pop with them, yet, but they said lots of kids bring it. I would do like Serena suggested and send water with your DS and give him the pop for dinner.

 

[SeaSpray]

MsKanga: That IS ridiculous too. My husband is diabetic so I know all about how carbs get recognised as sugar in the body. I think the point here is that some people feel they can, unfoundedly, push their beliefs on us, as to what's best for our kids. I do realize that the subsidizing is an issue all together separate. But this woman I spoke to this morning tried to make me feel as if I was giving my DS poison by giving him a diet soda with his lunch.

dizneenut: You're right; in the grand scheme of things, this is not a big deal. But when someone tries to tell me what I can't or shouldn't give my DSs with their lunch, then I tend to get defensive.

Like I told that woman this morning, NO ONE said anything about soda (of any kind) not being allowed in the cafeteria. It's not mentioned in the school handbook either! Maybe if it would've been pointed out, it wouldn't have come as a surprise like this, 3 weeks into the school year.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Do you ever feel that you can make MANY skits ie "Monty Python style" over some of the schools RULES. I think there is enough absurdity to put together an entire play...
Sorry that is what goes thru my head when I read stuff like this.

I have to turn it into humor otherwise I could not survive.

 

[aprincessmom]

That's exactly what I am going to do. I am going to call our spring water delivery company and have them start delivering cases of the individual water bottles to our house each month.

Check with the school on that. I had DD bringing the mini Poland Spring waters to school -- one for snack and one for lunch. I got a nice note back after the first few days telling me that I couldn't send water because they have a bubbler in the classroom and it was school policy that it not be brought in.

So I called and asked if the bubbler went with the class to the cafeteria for lunch because, if it didn't, DD would have nothing to drink with lunch since they don't provide water in the cafeteria with lunch. I also asked if the bubbler was disinfected after each use to prevent the spread of germs (since we all know 1st graders don't necessarily drink from the bubbler without putting their mouths directly on them). The answers, of course, were no and no.

I had to meet with the PRINCIPALS (!!!) to get permission for DD to bring her little water bottles with her lunch. You'd think I was trying to bring in contraband the way they went over this.

 

[mamajoan]

WHOA! You mean to tell me that the Ma. state gov.t has time to pass a law to decide what you put in your child lunch?? WILD.. and AMAZING!!! Hec, out here in Ca. our legislature can't decide on how many kids should be allowed in a classroom.. dear Lord I hope they leave brown baggers alone..

 

[SeaSpray]

aprincessmom: I know what you mean! That woman tried to make me feel as if I was giving my son poison to drink.

They better NOT tell me that he can't bring in spring water because the "nurse" I spoke to today suggested that he bring that in to drink.

I am glad you followed through and spoke to the principals. I wouldn't have accepted their answer of telling your DD to drink from the bubbler, either!

 

[Dream]

LOL! A Monty Python movie about school rules!!! I would see it!!! Seaspray this is the silliest thing I have heard in a long time!!! Why would something your son brought from home affect a school subsidy? Seems like they would only be judged by what the school served to the kids. And he is in High School? At this age they should be WAY beyond someone micromanaging what they bring in there lunch! This falls under the category of "don't sweat the small stuff"! The longer I am involved in public schools (or private for that matter) the more I see people "enjoying" their "power" and abusing it to boost their own self esteems. I know its a small thing, but I might fight this one a little. I can certainly see why you are steamed!

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by Dream
LOL! A Monty Python movie about school rules!!! I would see it!!! Seaspray this is the silliest thing I have heard in a long time!!! Why would something your son brought from home affect a school subsidy? Seems like they would only be judged by what the school served to the kids. And he is in High School? At this age they should be WAY beyond someone micromanaging what they bring in there lunch! This falls under the category of "don't sweat the small stuff"! The longer I am involved in public schools (or private for that matter) the more I see people "enjoying" their "power" and abusing it to boost their own self esteems. I know its a small thing, but I might fight this one a little. I can certainly see why you are steamed!

I usually try to not sweat the small stuff! LOL But somehow, this just isn't sitting well with me. I agree with you, because I am wondering the same thing; HOW does what I SEND IN with my DS affect the subsidizing of cafeteria meals?!?!? I am this <-> close to calling the school back and really looking into this. I am more mellow today than I have been the last few days, otherwise I would've called back again. lol And yes, this is high school! 9th grade. His first year at the vo-tech, which, incidently has such a high demand that the kids have to pass tests, interviews, have to have high grades, good attendance and behavior, etc., to be admitted, so it's not as if this is a bunch of wild, out of control teen agers. Grr....it still annoys me. Maybe I will call back afterall.

 

[hercamore]

Hi,

No pop allowed here during lunch break either. There are vending machines in the cafeterai, but they are locked over the lunch periods.


My kids are very glad to be out of hs. Dd just graduated last year.She took bottled water every day and sometimes bought milk from the school.

Herc.