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

[Kallison]

Our middle school has a Pepsi vending machine in the cafeteria. Pepsi paid our school a big fat contract fee to be able to seel sodas in the middle and high schools.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

I work in an elementary school cafeteria and there are some kids who pack soda with their lunches...we have NO say in what they bring from home! We don't get subsidies from the government for kids who pack, we get money for the kids who are free and reduced. We have certain guidelines in what we can serve...we can't offer soda to the kids, but if they bring it from home, we (and the school) can't tell them they can't have it. There was a student, last year, who would pack all junk foods for lunch, then buy two, three, four ice creams or two, three or four bags of snacks...everyday! Our cashier called her mother one day to let her know that she was only eating junk...the mother, more or less, told the cashier that she was well aware of what her daughter bought everyday, and to, more or less, mind her own business!

 

[kylara]

The schools may use the subsidy as an excuse but that only covers what the school SERVES not what is brought from home. I think that the school might be using it as an excuse so those students receiving the subsidy don't feel that they are missing out. Personally, I think that no school should have the right to tell a parent what their kid can and can not eat with their lunch.

I would have had a real problem with this if it was like this when I was in HS. From the age of 16, I have been required to have a certain amount of caffeine each day to help offset getting a migraine. Since I do not like coffee or tea, one or two diet cokes a day is the best solution. Guess if they did this years ago, I would have had to get a doctors note for diet coke.

 

[AirForceRocks]

Personally, I think that no school should have the right to tell a parent what their kid can and can not eat with their lunch.

I absolutely agree for public schools, but not for private schools.

 

[BrerMom]

At my school, the Coke machines are on and available at all times. Students are not to drink them in the classrooms, but the hallways are fine. I wouldn't be allowed to sell Pepsi products, but if I choose to bring a Pepsi to drink, that's MY choice.

Our elementary teachers tend to monitor the kids' lunches and are very specific about what they want/don't want for snacks, but it's a teacher by teacher decision, not a school policy. I would be shocked if anyone said anything if my middle-schooler brought pop with her lunch. Our 3rd grader might be asked politely to "make a better choice" next time. Our preschooler would probably be asked not to bring it again. Maybe I'm becoming a rebel in my old age, but it makes me want to do it just to see what would really happen.

 

[gepetto]

Originally posted by kylara
The schools may use the subsidy as an excuse but that only covers what the school SERVES not what is brought from home. I think that the school might be using it as an excuse so those students receiving the subsidy don't feel that they are missing out.

That's not true. The government will tell the school what is not to be allowed into the cafeteria....(ie soda, fast food or whatever they decide). It includes what kids bring from home. If the school does not comply they can lose their funding.

 

[AirForceRocks]

I was told that same thing in relation to the daycare we used on base. Part of our weekly fee was for lunch and snacks, and fees were based on income, and there were subsidies from the USDA. We were also told not to send in snacks because the subsidies would be endangered if we did so.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

Originally posted by gepetto
That's not true. The government will tell the school what is not to be allowed into the cafeteria....(ie soda, fast food or whatever they decide). It includes what kids bring from home. If the school does not comply they can lose their funding.

I work in a school kitchen and what goes on in the cafeteria has nothing to do with us. We are subsidized by the state for the food we SERVE the kids...not what they are bringing, either from home or fast food places (and there are some parents, on occasion, who bring in fast food). We have to make sure they have enough on their tray to qualify for a "legal" lunch, but that's all we do. Once they go out that door into the cafeteria, doesn't concern us. They could throw it all in the trash, and most probably throw most of their lunch away. There is no way that we can monitor what the kids are bringing from home...only what we SERVE them. Like I said before, we have kids bringing in all junk for lunch...that's not our business.

 

[gepetto]

State law mandates that food or drink purchased at fast food establishments may not be brought into the school area where students receive meals before or during the breakfast or lunch service periods. Canned or bottled carbonated beverages may not be brought from home into the cafeteria during the breakfast or lunch service periods.

quoted from
http://www.ci.maryville.tn.us/she/handbookfood.htm

 

[shortbun]

There are NO rules in our schools about what can
and can't be brought to lunch. No drugs and no
weapons, no T-shirts with obscenity or slogans
trashing people of any type. Those are our only
rules. IMHO, you all are facing some Gestapo
tactics! Sub-sudising school lunches INDEED!
I can barely allow DS to eat his school lunch-it's
so unhealthy! They have 2 fruits and cookies with
something like hot dogs or horrible spaghetti. I
talk him into packing often. We send water, raw
unproccesed fruit, carrots or broccoli, a sandwich on
nice healthy bread and a fortified breakfast bar. Our
school district better NEVER pull anything like this
on me. BTW, I'm afraid of diet pop too. It's the
nutrasweet that scares me. There are a few recent
studies to support nutrasweet contributing to
memory loss and lots of folks are allergic to it.
Carbonation zaps nutrition too. Pop is a rare
occasion at our house and never diet. that's just
the way I do it and why-no flames just an
explanation.
mimi

 

[SeaSpray]

I want to thank everyone again for all of your thoughts on this subject!

Gepetto: thanks, I bet that is exactly what DSs school was referring to! Yesterday DH told me the same thing, that it's a national thing, not a local thing, and the school is simply trying to comply with the regulations.

I thought about this a lot yesterday and 1/4 of me wanted to make a big deal out of it and call the school, etc.

3/4 of me decided that this a small issue, DSs love spring water anyway as well as being healthy for them, so I've already called our home delivery company and added 2 cases of .5 liter bottles of spring water to be delivered each month (starting next week), so I have decided to not pursue this.

I do understand everyone who said it feels like "they" are trying to tell us parents what we can or can't give our children. I agree, and it doesn't make sense because like someone pointed out, I could give DSs juices or other beverages that would be OK according to them, but are probably more unhealthy than soda. Not to mention other junk food that gets packed into lunches each day.

As for diet soda, I am aware of the fact that they are all chemicals, I don't like soda personally at all, but I do allow DSs soda at lunch because I know they'll drink it, and the cans travel well in a lunch bag. After school and with dinner they drink either milk or spring water.

Thanks again, everyone! Yesterday I was so shocked by this, and all of your reactions made me feel better, like it wasn't just ME who thought it was ridiculous!

 

[AllyandJack]

I was under the impression that the ban on cans of soda and stuff was based on something that happened in one MA school recently. Apparently some kids had alcohol in their bottle of soda. In response to that, the schools said no more cans or bottles of soda and water bottles can only be brought in the cafeteria and nothing at all was allowed in the classroom. I, personally, would have a real problem with this since I have this insane thirst and would pass out if I couldn't have my bottle of Poland Spring with me at all times! Good thing I graduated from the MA school system in 1994! I don't know if the food has improved, but back then I wouldn't even go near the food, plus we barely had 20 minutes to get to out lockers, get our luch (if that's what you did), get to the lunchroom, stand in the line (if that's what you did), and sit down and eat. God forbid you have to go to the bathroom!!

I don't have kids, so I don't know what games the schools are playing with this nutrition crap, but I seem to remember that being the reason the schools passed this rule. I don't understand it, I mean, vodka is clear, so why not just say no food or drink at all at any time??!!! Where does it end???

 

[kylara]

I can't help but wonder why the state of TN mandate that fast food and soda not be allowed. I just look up the National School lunch act and all it dealt with was what the schools serve. The only thing I could think of is if the state is stating that ALL of its public school students are eligible for the lunch act. So even if all the students are not using their eligibility, the school might have to be more aware of what is being brought.

 

[goofyrn13]

At my DD's private school,they banned lunchables because the kids were taking the whole lunch period to "mix them" as sister put it.Plus the new ones have those blue tablets that get very messy.Well we are rebels and my DD took one yesterday and not a word said.If she says anything to me my reply will be" I pay 4800/year tuition and I pay for all my kids lunches,they are my kids,I 'll choose another private school that will gladly take my money" That always gets the Catholics.They like their money!!!

 

[mum4jenn]

This is all very interesting. The Middle School that I work at has three different serving lines so the kids may choose what they want to eat. One is the published hot lunch One is a salad line and the other is a sandwich line. They may also bring their lunch. We also sell as an addition ice cream,popscicles,bottled water,Gatorade,and other sodas like Country Time lemonade Hawaiian punch,Fruitopia etc. This is the first year I have worked at this schools lunch room and I was very surprised that we sold all this stuff. It actually is seperate from the kitchen activities but the cashiers sell it.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Ugh, what would I do without my diet coke? My HS has pop machines - Pepsi products. We cannot use them during school hours, but before and after school we can. They have them set on a timer to work only before and after school.

 

[HorizonsFan]

That's not true. The government will tell the school what is not to be allowed into the cafeteria....(ie soda, fast food or whatever they decide). It includes what kids bring from home. If the school does not comply they can lose their funding.

This is not accurate.
Your link deals with a TN law (which, if challenged would probably be struck down) and district guidelines/policy, not with federal law. Here's the relevant part:

State law mandates that food or drink purchased at fast food establishments may not be brought into the school area where students receive meals before or during the breakfast or lunch service periods. Canned or bottled carbonated beverages may not be brought from home into the cafeteria during the breakfast or lunch service periods. We ask for your total cooperation in following this policy to avoid any uncomfortable situations for all of us.

It looks like the "no beverages from home" part is not part of the state law, but a school district policy (which, again would probably be struck down if challenged).
Federal law deals only with what the schools provide, not what parents provide.
Parents: Schools often make policy to minimize the possibility of problems or lawsuits. They are either trying to keep the kids calm or avoid a lawsuit (there is the possibility that your child could give a soda to a child who is allergic or on medication that would be contraindicative with caffeine). If you know your rights and make a stink, many times they'll back down.
FWIW, I'm a high school teacher. Kids are allowed to have soda any time during the day. We have no soda-related problems of which I am aware.
Personally, I wouldn't survive without a couple of diet Cokes during the day.

 

[gepetto]

I didn't say it was the FEDERAL government that prohibited fast food from school.

As for the TN law, how do you know it would "probably be struck down"? Why is that?

 

[Zurg]

I though the people of Mass had resolved stupid government regulation of beverages in the 1770s.

Something about a tea party.

It seems that the revolutionaries have become the tyrants.

 

[HorizonsFan]

I didn't say it was the FEDERAL government that prohibited fast food from school.

The federal government provides subsidies for school cafeterias. If they are "in danger of losing their subsidy" it would be due to a violation of federal law.

As for the TN law, how do you know it would "probably be struck down"? Why is that?

IMO, the government does not have the authority to tell parents what their children may or may not have for lunch. Courts usually side with parents unless the safety or well-being of the child is at stake. For example, many overly restrictive school dress codes have been struck down by the courts because parents have challenged them. There's just no compelling reason for a school to deny a child a soda at lunch, and I believe the courts would agree. JMO...