School Vent...

[JoiseyMom]

Our schools, state wide, got strict on snacks last year or the year before. No birthday cupcakes, no sweets at parties, for Halloween etc. I thought it was overboard...I felt a middle of the road approach would be better, lets cut down..but what was wrong with munchkins or such on a b-day?? But ok...fine..

I get a notice home today that they are now going to selling slushies in the cafeteria . Hmmm..hypocrite much?? Now, they sell them in the middle school, which drove me nuts..but now they are in the elementary school. I just told DS8, you are never ever ever to buy a slushie or to allow someone to buy you one or give you one!!

Hmm..on second thought, maybe I should let him have 3 or 4 for lunch and see if the school policy changes after that .

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

What kind of sense does that make??

Our system hasn't gone to that extreme yet. I'm very glad that our new principal has discouraged teachers from rewarding with candy...that never made sense to me.

Our school with let you put a block on your child's cafeteria account for "extras" ....they would allow you to get ice cream every day if the child had enough money. My kids can only get something extra on Friday is they have cash...much easier to control.

 

[Tink888]

Yeah......sounds a little hypocritical. Funny how that happens when there's money to be made.

Was the ban on snacks more of a promotion of healthier eating or was it put in affect because of all the kids with allergies?

You could always bring it up at the next school board meeting. It's amazing how much "school sanctioned" junk is available at schools now.

 

[JoiseyMom]

Yeah......sounds a little hypocritical. Funny how that happens when there's money to be made.
Oh please..they were selling soda at the middle school friday nite fun nite... I guess the PTA can sell bad stuff adn that is ok..but we as parents can't send it to school!!

Was the ban on snacks more of a promotion of healthier eating or was it put in affect because of all the kids with allergies?

You could always bring it up at the next school board meeting. It's amazing how much "school sanctioned" junk is available at schools now.

It was statewide (NJ) from what I understand, and for health reasons. And granted I hated how much carp was at school parties adn it was over kill..I feel they went overboard. There is nothing wrong with a little treat, cup cakes on bdays or munchkins aren't going to hurt anyone!! They went from one extreme to the other...but its NJ!! Can't say much more without getting the thread closed..LOL.

I did talk to someone back when treats were banned and DD13 told me they had slushies in her cafe..I was told it was fruit juice..hmm..I guess they have blueberry juice without sugart!!

 

[damren]

Our schools do that too. I thought It was weird at first, but then I thought who cares, I really don't feel like making 50 cookies anyways

I do think it has alot to do with allergies, kids these days are allergic to everything!

 

[Acklander]

Maybe it's my age, I went thru elementary school in the 60's, and I don't remember anyone ever bringing in treats for birthdays or celebrations except for maybe Christmas. Maybe it's the town I was in or the times, but I never thought it a big deal when the schools started cracking down on treats.
So for the older posters out there, do you remember getting treats in school? And when did it start???

 

[puffkin]

The schools are making MONEY off the slushie machines. They wouldn't have them otherwise.

 

[dawson5]

We have this in place also and ours is if you offer cupcakes you have to offer something healthy. Most kids take both, it's great to see. My issue with it came to a head last year when Lunch Bunch could no longer offer pizza, fast food, etc. Lunch Bunch is offered to children who read 600 minutes the first month, 650 the next and so on. For a few dollars they are allowed to eat lunch in the classroom and there are activities with it, movies, games, etc. A parent complained that we were going to get burgers or chicken nuggets from McDonald's. No fries. There would be fresh veggies and other healthy things to balance the "bad" of the McD's. We ended up not offering Lunch Bunch anymore. What is the difference in the school offering pizza or it being offered as a reward (along with other things that were not food related) for achieving that goal? I always had an issue with it being alright if the school cafeteria offering it, so it was okay but if I brought it in, it's not. We are no longer allowed to bring in Subway either, school's still offer sub sandwiches though.

(You could also participate in Lunch Bunch without the food, just bring your own lunch. No one had to buy these things.)

 

[JVL1018]

It was statewide (NJ) from what I understand, and for health reasons. And granted I hated how much carp was at school parties adn it was over kill..I feel they went overboard. There is nothing wrong with a little treat, cup cakes on bdays or munchkins aren't going to hurt anyone!! They went from one extreme to the other...but its NJ!! Can't say much more without getting the thread closed..LOL.

I did talk to someone back when treats were banned and DD13 told me they had slushies in her cafe..I was told it was fruit juice..hmm..I guess they have blueberry juice without sugart!!

My friend who lives in Fair Lawn, NJ told me she heard the same thing (statewide) and her school has those new rules. That was last year.

I live a few miles away, also in Bergen County and our school still has cupcakes and brownies (homemade even) and munchkins for birthdays or class parties. Ice cream sales every Friday as a Parents Association fundraiser.
We have no lunchroom, kids eat in classrooms and school lunch is sent over from our HS and there is no snacky junk food included with it at all. We can send whatever we want for lunch for the kids.

ETA: I started Kindergarten in 1976 and we always brought in cupcakes for our birthdays. Maybe not middle school, but all through elementary for sure.

 

[mjkacmom]

It was statewide (NJ) from what I understand, and for health reasons. And granted I hated how much carp was at school parties adn it was over kill..I feel they went overboard. There is nothing wrong with a little treat, cup cakes on bdays or munchkins aren't going to hurt anyone!! They went from one extreme to the other...but its NJ!! Can't say much more without getting the thread closed..LOL.

I did talk to someone back when treats were banned and DD13 told me they had slushies in her cafe..I was told it was fruit juice..hmm..I guess they have blueberry juice without sugart!!

I don't think it's state wide - we can bring in all the cr@p we want!

 

[JoiseyMom]

I don't think it's state wide - we can bring in all the cr@p we want!

Ok..I heard it was the state doing it and that was why they cracked down.

I heard on the news a few weeks ago that they want to ban chocolate milk from schoolsm. It is nuts. DS brings in a box of organic chocolate milk for his snack (usually pretzels, aunt annies bunnie snacks..things like that), what is wrong with a few ounces of chocolate milk a day???

They are raelly going to far!!

I know we have to eat healthy and lots of Americans are Obese!! It isn't the foods fault!! LOL!! I am obese..McDonald's doesnt put a gun to my head to have me eat there!! I know what I am doing adn what I should or shouldn't eat. I also take car with what my kids eat, and my kids (well the younger 2) are healthy and thin!! The older 2 are adults and on their own!! But I always watch what they eat. I have eliminated HFS from items in my house, I am spending mroe money on organic food. I also don't buy anything with trans fats. And my kids know why they now have to eat Jo'Jo's instead of Oreo's!! And they are good about it. It is all moderation, and I explain to them, I don't want them to have the weight problem I have!

They can have a coke (bottled mexican no HFCS)..but not everyday. They can have snack when they get home, they have dessert after dinner. They can eat all the carrots and celery they want...chips and other things are all in moderation.

I don't need a school or the gov't telling me how to feed my kids!! Yes they eat fast food! YUMMY!! Not everyday!! Not even every week. If we are out and about they can have it.

I bet if the gov't could make money off of obesity they wouldn't becoming the food police!!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I don't think it's state wide - we can bring in all the cr@p we want!

Us too! We're Catholic school but we still need to abide by state standards to maintain our certification.

Only rule is that treats are supposed to be store bought. Not everyone abides by it but I love it! Much easier to buy a dozen cupcakes than have to make them.

 

[Docwoods]

Nut allergies are huge-the private preschool I'm at has a very strict list of what treats are allowed-munchkins can't be brought in because of the proximity to nuts-no Jewel items (same thing),etc.We've got some kids who would really have severe reactions if they were to come in contact with such items.

 

[okeydokey]

Maybe it's my age, I went thru elementary school in the 60's, and I don't remember anyone ever bringing in treats for birthdays or celebrations except for maybe Christmas. Maybe it's the town I was in or the times, but I never thought it a big deal when the schools started cracking down on treats.
So for the older posters out there, do you remember getting treats in school? And when did it start???

You are right, we didn't usually have birthday parties at school. There was one exception in our small elementary school. One of the girls in my grade had a dad who worked for Hood Ice Cream and on her birthday he would bring in ice cream cups for the class. Every year we hoped that we would be placed in the same classroom at that girl! We had a 50/50 chance.

 

[MM27]

I teach in NJ and we have no such policy in my distrit. Or maybe they just aren't following it. Kids are still allowed to bring cupcakes for their birthday. Our cafeteria did get rid of the Snapple machine they used to have. They still sell Snapple, but only the ones that have less sugar.

And yes, I have a candy jar in my classroom. I also have a box with pencils, erasers and sharpeners for kids that don't want candy. Every now and then kids will pick from that box instead of taking candy.

 

[nmmom95]

Us too! We're Catholic school but we still need to abide by state standards to maintain our certification.

Only rule is that treats are supposed to be store bought. Not everyone abides by it but I love it! Much easier to buy a dozen cupcakes than have to make them.

My kids are in Catholic school and we just started the "healthy snack" policy this year. You can't send in anything that has sugar as the first ingredient for birthdays. You can, however, buy ice cream through the cafeteria at $1 per dixie cup. They call it the "birthday package."

 

[Tink888]

Ok..I heard it was the state doing it and that was why they cracked down.

I heard on the news a few weeks ago that they want to ban chocolate milk from schoolsm. It is nuts. DS brings in a box of organic chocolate milk for his snack (usually pretzels, aunt annies bunnie snacks..things like that), what is wrong with a few ounces of chocolate milk a day???

They are raelly going to far!!

I know we have to eat healthy and lots of Americans are Obese!! It isn't the foods fault!! LOL!! I am obese..McDonald's doesnt put a gun to my head to have me eat there!! I know what I am doing adn what I should or shouldn't eat. I also take car with what my kids eat, and my kids (well the younger 2) are healthy and thin!! The older 2 are adults and on their own!! But I always watch what they eat. I have eliminated HFS from items in my house, I am spending mroe money on organic food. I also don't buy anything with trans fats. And my kids know why they now have to eat Jo'Jo's instead of Oreo's!! And they are good about it. It is all moderation, and I explain to them, I don't want them to have the weight problem I have!

They can have a coke (bottled mexican no HFCS)..but not everyday. They can have snack when they get home, they have dessert after dinner. They can eat all the carrots and celery they want...chips and other things are all in moderation.

I don't need a school or the gov't telling me how to feed my kids!! Yes they eat fast food! YUMMY!! Not everyday!! Not even every week. If we are out and about they can have it.

I bet if the gov't could make money off of obesity they wouldn't becoming the food police!!

Slightly off topic but how's this for crazy.....in our district milk comes with the price of lunch, chocolate or white, your choice. Well, DS12 doesn't like milk so he'll bring water. They sell water at school but you can't substitute it for the milk so if you want it, you have to pay extra. Why???? It's the healthiest choice of all, but if you want it, you have to pay extra for it.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

i'd assume that there's just as much sugar in the slushies than there was in a cupcake, geez!

that's crazy that they won't let you bring in any of that stuff! i understand they're trying to get the obese thing under control in this country, but if it's in moderation there's nothing wrong with a sweet snack!

 

[jme829]

It was statewide (NJ) from what I understand, and for health reasons. And granted I hated how much carp was at school parties adn it was over kill..I feel they went overboard. There is nothing wrong with a little treat, cup cakes on bdays or munchkins aren't going to hurt anyone!! They went from one extreme to the other...but its NJ!! Can't say much more without getting the thread closed..LOL.

I did talk to someone back when treats were banned and DD13 told me they had slushies in her cafe..I was told it was fruit juice..hmm..I guess they have blueberry juice without sugart!!

I work in a HS cafeteria and we sell slushie and they ARE fruit juice...now there is some sugar in them, but its no where near a slush puppie pure sugar slush..and its one of our big sellers...the kids love them! We had a back to school fair for the cafe workers and we got samples...they are really good. So yeah, they are out there, fruit juice slushie, lower sugar made for school programs. Just wanted to throw that out there.

 

[bballmom56]

Maybe it's my age, I went thru elementary school in the 60's, and I don't remember anyone ever bringing in treats for birthdays or celebrations except for maybe Christmas. Maybe it's the town I was in or the times, but I never thought it a big deal when the schools started cracking down on treats.
So for the older posters out there, do you remember getting treats in school? And when did it start???

I think you're right. I was in elementary school in the 60's and really don't remember birthday parties in the classrooms. But then we didn't have kindergarten graduations or Jr. high school (8th grade) graduations either. Wow, how did we survive with no one recognizing all those accomplishments?

I know we have to eat healthy and lots of Americans are Obese!! It isn't the foods fault!! LOL!! I am obese..McDonald's doesnt put a gun to my head to have me eat there!! I know what I am doing adn what I should or shouldn't eat. I also take car with what my kids eat, and my kids (well the younger 2) are healthy and thin!! The older 2 are adults and on their own!! But I always watch what they eat. I explain to them, I don't want them to have the weight problem I have!

They can have a coke (bottled mexican no HFCS)..but not everyday. They can have snack when they get home, they have dessert after dinner. They can eat all the carrots and celery they want...chips and other things are all in moderation.

I don't need a school or the gov't telling me how to feed my kids!! Yes they eat fast food! YUMMY!! Not everyday!! Not even every week. If we are out and about they can have it.

I bet if the gov't could make money off of obesity they wouldn't becoming the food police!!

Well said!!