OT - Vent - Teacher's Version of School Wellness Policy

[eeyoremommy]

This debate reminds me of when I showed up for one of my son's parties (Valentine's Day, I think) last year. There were no cupcakes or chips. Instead, there were cheese, grapes, chocolate dipped strawberries, and other "healthy" food. My son, who likes fruit but not dipped fruit, was hardly eating. Later, I asked him why they didn't have cake and things. He couldn't tell me. He said that was how all their parties were. I assured him that when we did the spring party (Easter party) we would have good food. How do you have a kindergarten party at the end of the day without cupcakes or cookies? It is just not right.

 

[sk!mom]

I'm a teacher and a parent -I would throw the note away. The teacher over stepped her bounds. For what it's worth, I'm a huge fan of healthy eating and have always refused to buy school lunches for myself and my DD because thay are extremely unhealthy.

 

[jodifla]

Yep, I'd throw the note away.

 

[luvthemouse71]

These educators and school districts are getting big for their britches. I wouldn't sign the contract and I would make an effort to give the boy the most sugar laden cereal I could find. Maybe with a cola chaser..then send him off to school and let Miss Priss deal with the fallout. Then again, I can be evil.

 

[richmond282]

I went to eat lunch with my DD one day last year. I picked up a sub at Subway on the way. When I got to her school, I was told I couldn't take it into the lunch room because it was "outside food." Seriously?? My sandwhich was probably healthier than a lot of food in the cafeteria including whatever they were serving for lunch. I, of course, took it in and ate it anyway.

 

[C.Ann]

The so-called "contract" is far too open-ended for me (who decides what is healthy and what isn't?) and therefore I would not sign it.. I would however attach a note explaining "why" I refused to sign it..

Good luck!

 

[torinsmom]

I think that contract was a little much, and how are they going to enforce it? It is almost as crazy as making all the school lunch food "healthy"(read tastes like cardboard) and making them drink skim milk, which they sip and then leave 3/4 full. Kids were not nearly as fat when we were growing up, and we were able to eat food that actually tasted good. It's what kids eat at home that are making them fat, not what they eat in the school lunchroom, IMHO. Maybe they think them not eating at lunch(because it's nasty) is healthier?

I taught at a school once that had a lunch policy. All students had to have a starch, a protein and two fruits/veggies. They also were not allowed to bring juice that was not 100%. Hard as I tried, it was hard to enforce. My poor child took the same carrots to school every day until they turned moldy, because he would not eat raw veggies, but he needed something to meet the requirements.

Marsha

 

[NMW]

This debate reminds me of when I showed up for one of my son's parties (Valentine's Day, I think) last year. There were no cupcakes or chips. Instead, there were cheese, grapes, chocolate dipped strawberries, and other "healthy" food. My son, who likes fruit but not dipped fruit, was hardly eating. Later, I asked him why they didn't have cake and things. He couldn't tell me. He said that was how all their parties were. I assured him that when we did the spring party (Easter party) we would have good food. How do you have a kindergarten party at the end of the day without cupcakes or cookies? It is just not right.

OMG, you are lucky you are not in our district. New this year-NO food of any kind can come in for birthdays, not even fruit. Also, only cards can be exchanged for Valentine's day-no food, no party. God forbid someone buys those vValentine cards that come with candy! Also, no sugar or high fat foods are allowed for the parties we are allowed to have (Halloween and Christmas) so no cookies, cupcakes, cheese, muffins, etc. Only water or 100% fruit juice can be served.

The sign up sheets at the open house had 2 people for fruit, 2 people for veggies, and 2 people for little water bottles for each party. My DD 8 is so dissapointed. Especially about the birthday treat thing. That was always so special for my older boys when they were in elementary school. Plus, they had cupcakes and cookies at their holiday parties along with a healthy option like fruit and veggies. My DD was in second grade last year with a hard core wellness policy. The "updated" policy this year is just insane! The principal is suggesting that parents donate a book to the classroom for birthdays...yea, that will be just as much fun as passing out cupcakes. I hate this whole nanny state thing.

 

[NaLisa]

I agree that a contract is too much, but it sounds to me like the teacher is well intentioned. I'd discuss it with her privately before going any higher up the chain. This is probably her response to a family that last year sent chips, Kool-Aid and fruit roll-ups for lunch every day. I know there were a couple of families like that in oldest DD7's kindergarten class, and those were usually the same children who had discipline and/or learning problems (and often tooth decay).

My youngest DD is 5 and started kindergarten this year. School begins at 7:30and lunch is at 10:20, with the day ending at 2:30. So the class has an afternoon snack together, and I imagine it's much needed with "brunch" being so early. The teacher asked each parent to sign up for a week in the fall and a week in the spring to bring snacks, and she made some suggestions for appropriate snacks. We can take granola bars and Goldfish, but she asked that we avoid candy, cookies and "messy" foods, such as Gogurt, since they snack in the classroom. Pretty reasonable, I thought. Another mom told me her child's kindergarten teacher did not make suggestions, and the snacks in that classroom the first week were Rice Krispy treats, gummy "fruit snacks," potato chips, etc.

I also lead a scout troop and at the beginning of last year I asked parents to sign up to bring snacks for the meetings. They showed up with fried, greasy chicken wings, heavily frosted cupcakes and Hi-C. So this year, I asked every family to contribute $10 to our snack fund for the year, and I bring the snacks each week. Since we meet during the traditional dinner hour, I try to make it a healthier menu (this ends up being dinner for my kids on scout nights). A typical snack includes cheese cubes, grapes, carrots and celery with ranch, and a loaf of fresh bakery bread torn into pieces (for some reason they really love this!) Everything gets eaten, and I think the parents appreciate not having to worry about picking something up between work, school and scouts. Plus, I don't feel so guilty when we have special occasions and serve ice cream sundaes or S'mores.

In another group we're involved in, the snack provider is vegan. When we have pizza, it's no-cheese pizza, and she usually brings a salad, cut-up vegetables and hummus. That's fine, but we usually end up with a bunch of uneaten food and some very hungry kids.

I think I have a common-sense approach to kids' snacks, but I'm sure some people think I'm too lax and others think I'm too strict.

 

[mjkacmom]

I think that contract was a little much, and how are they going to enforce it? It is almost as crazy as making all the school lunch food "healthy"(read tastes like cardboard) and making them drink skim milk, which they sip and then leave 3/4 full.

My kids have been drinking skim milk since they were 2, and I grew up on it. I would gag on whole milk, and even 2% is like drinking bacon (and they prefer turkey bacon, and light sausage, because that's what they know). I agree that a "healthy" school lunch probably tastes gross - I know my kids only order the chicken nuggets or the pizza (which comes from a good local NJ pizzaria).

 

[Tiger926]

This whole discussion is so interesting from a food perspective. Here are some more thoughts:

1. What constitutes a healthy snack? Fruit by its nature, is sugar laden, so tons of fruit, is also not good. Nuts can be salty, juice is full of sugar, etc...

2. Kids are picky because parents have made them picky (excepting special needs children). If kids have been fed chicken nuggets and pop, then that is what they are most likely going to want to eat. All of the new research is showing that this generation of hugely picky kids has been made picky by: chemicals in foods (only crave salts/sugars/fats) and parents who don't model or provide good eating for their kids. Kids can only eat what is in the cupboard, as last time I checked, 4 year olds can't go grocery shopping on their own. LOL! So, once again, we have the home world, crashing into the school world. What's the best way to deal with this? Classroom contracts perhaps are not the best way.

3. School lunches are horribly fattening - my parents are restauranteurs who used to run several highschool cafeterias, plus, I'm a highschool teacher, so I can assure you that school lunches are horribly full of chemicals and fats. Yuck! We joke that you can set a foundation on your house with that nasty gravy! Teens love this kind of food, it's cheap, and commercial food products are made this way, as most of it is packaged/processed in some form. My family actually made homemade food, but after awhile, it got too expensive, and our board couldn't afford it any longer.

4. Kids don't need birthday treats at school - we never had this when I was growing up, and it was just fine. There are lots of other fun ways to celebrate birthdays without always having to involve food. Donating a book to school is a fabulous idea - I've been doing it for years. A book is going to serve much more good than cupcakes and pop. Your child can eat the cupcakes and pop at his/her birthday party at home.

Such an interesting discussion, Tiger

 

[Mickeypooh99]

As a second grade teacher I ask my parents to send in "healthy" snacks. I provide a suggested list including yogurt, sugar free pudding, crackers, fruit, veggies, cheese, pretzels,etc. I ask that sugar not be listed as one of the first 3 ingredients. I also request beverages be 100% juice, water or milk. Last year I had a child whose mother went to great lengths to allow her son to bring Hi-C. She called the nurse and principal before discussing it with me. This year I've decided to not allow beverages. We have a water fountain in our room. The juice boxes are full of sugar and create a sticky mess when the kids squeeze them.
In addition, I believe if you tell your child it's ok to disregard a teacher's request you are kind of saying your child doesn't have to follow the rules. In second grade, unless a rule is dangerous or harmful, all rules should be followed. This attitude helps explain the entitles attitude many kids grow up with.

I would be really mad if the teacher didn't allow beverages. I discourage my kids from using a germ infested drinking fountain. Yuck! Besides one drinking fountain for 20 or more kids would = long lines and wasted time. I wouldn't mind a water only policy since that is all I send my kids anyway. A no drink policy would have me going above the teacher to get around it.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I would be really mad if the teacher didn't allow beverages. I discourage my kids from using a germ infested drinking fountain. Yuck! Besides one drinking fountain for 20 or more kids would = long lines and wasted time. I wouldn't mind a water only policy since that is all I send my kids anyway. A no drink policy would have me going above the teacher to get around it.

I completely agree.

 

[tlbwriter]

I also request beverages be 100% juice, water or milk. Last year I had a child whose mother went to great lengths to allow her son to bring Hi-C.

Unsweetened apple juice and Hi-C are very similar in calorie and sugar content. The only difference is if you're trying to avoid HFCS.

 

[NaLisa]

I would be really mad if the teacher didn't allow beverages. I discourage my kids from using a germ infested drinking fountain. Yuck! Besides one drinking fountain for 20 or more kids would = long lines and wasted time. I wouldn't mind a water only policy since that is all I send my kids anyway. A no drink policy would have me going above the teacher to get around it.

Hmmm, I have to agree with this. Sounds like all the children are punished for the actions of one parent (who sent Hi-C). When DD7 was in kindergarten, it was the beginning of the swine flu scare and the local health dept. recommended not using water fountains. I've been leery of them since.

If they're allowed to drink water in the classroom, they should be allowed to bring their own water into the classroom. Water's the only drink I send with my kids to school, so I wouldn't have a problem with a water-only policy, but I would protest a fountain-only policy.

 

[AlbertZeroK]

You know, my 8th grader was handed something to sign, I asked her, did you read it? You should have seen the teacher, it reminds me of the visa check card commercial where everything grinds to a halt.

I agree, the contracts are non-sense, but for us, we have a child with an IEP, so we choose our battles VERY CAREFULLY!!!!

 

[eeyoremommy]

OMG, you are lucky you are not in our district. New this year-NO food of any kind can come in for birthdays, not even fruit. Also, only cards can be exchanged for Valentine's day-no food, no party. God forbid someone buys those vValentine cards that come with candy! Also, no sugar or high fat foods are allowed for the parties we are allowed to have (Halloween and Christmas) so no cookies, cupcakes, cheese, muffins, etc. Only water or 100% fruit juice can be served.

The sign up sheets at the open house had 2 people for fruit, 2 people for veggies, and 2 people for little water bottles for each party. My DD 8 is so dissapointed. Especially about the birthday treat thing. That was always so special for my older boys when they were in elementary school. Plus, they had cupcakes and cookies at their holiday parties along with a healthy option like fruit and veggies. My DD was in second grade last year with a hard core wellness policy. The "updated" policy this year is just insane! The principal is suggesting that parents donate a book to the classroom for birthdays...yea, that will be just as much fun as passing out cupcakes. I hate this whole nanny state thing.

Now, he is in a new school this year. We moved. Ironically, I was just thinking today about how they handle birthdays and Halloween, Valentine's Day, etc. The last couple of years, I have sent (and other parents have too) goody bags for each student in the class from my child. Last year, I stocked up after the Valentine and Easter candy, pencils, etc. went on sale. I wonder if this year, I will even be able to to these bags again. I can't imagine celebrating a child's birthday at school without something fun. I would donate a book, but let the kids have fun. They are only kids once. When I taught high school, I would at least give my students suckers or candy canes or something depending on the holiday. If I had a diabetic student, I made sure I had something appropriate for him or her. What is this world coming to? Of course, we did all of these "fun" things in school and we turned out well.

 

[thebeesknees]

We had our teacher meet & greet yesterday. Due to early and late lunch periods, both my 1st and 3rd grader need to bring a snack. Both teachers asked for a "healthy" snack, but did not specify anything other than no chips or candy. I asked if goldfish crackers were OK, and they said yes. We also got a paper stating that there will only be 2 class parties a year - one right before winter break and one for Valentine's Day. The kids are not allowed to bring treats of any kind (not even pencils) to celebrate birthdays. That is to be done outside of school. Seems a little sad, actually. I remember what fun it was as a kid when we all got cupcakes for someone's birthday. But I guess with a class of 25 kids, they can't be doing that every week.

 

[Pigeon]

But I guess with a class of 25 kids, they can't be doing that every week.

Ah, with a class of 25, they wouldn't be doing it every week, would they?

Heaven forbid a little fun might creep in there.

 

[teacup princess]

If it were me I would roll my eyes and then file this under the category of "good intention, bad execution" and conveniently "forget" to sign it. If the teacher calls you on it, then you can explain to her your definition of healthy food and what you're willing to send.