What are "we" doing to our children in America?

[paigevz]

I know what you mean, Sha Lyn. I have always eaten wrong. However, I was not overweight until I damaged my knee. I had to be sedentary for 18 months. After that, I had gained weight, which made it harder to exercise, and I had lost the impetus of exercising daily, and the motivation........it wasn't my interest anymore, but I did begin being a bit more active.

Less than 6 months after regaining full use of that leg, I had an emergency appendectomy. Return to sedentarianism.

Just two of the things that "helped" me along to my current unhealthy weight.............

 

[chobie]

I have mixed feelings about completely not offering junk food. I suppose that it makes sense since these kids are so young and love sweets way too much but what about at the higher levels? Eating "right" is all about making choices and how do kids learn to make wise choices if the bad foods are nowhere in sight? Don't they become even more appealing if they're treated like forbidden fruit?

I wish that the schools could address all of this in a classroom setting and do so from early ages. I know that it does come up but more education might help I suppose. I don't know what the answer is ....

Just the lowers levels. When we switched from one school district to an other, I had no idea that they sold candy, ice cream, chips and soda in addition to the regular lunch until my second grader went through his lunch money (that I prepaid the school for) in record time. He just thought those extras were part of the lunch and piled up his tray. I don't think elementary school is the place to teach kids how to say no to snacks. By middle school they should be able to make healthy choices, and they are usually more consicious of their appearance by then anyway. But a 1st grader has enough to deal with and shoul not have to be excersing will power everyday in the lunch line. JMO.

 

[Becky2005]

I haven't read this whole thread but I just wish they would promote it as "Eating right" not "We are having an epidemic of overweight kids in our school therefore we have to change the food". The message my 12 year old is getting is "all kids are fat". She flat out told me that when we were talking about the menus that were changing at her school -- she said "they are doing this because we are all fat" -- this coming from a child that I could NOT get gym uniform for last year because the smallest size they carried was a Youth Large and they were falling off of her. I was also told they couldn't do a special order, that was the smallest size they carried. Thankfully last year it was not mandated we had to wear those uniforms, so I went and got her a specific short/shirt uniform to wear (oh the child's large shirts were way too big on her too). Thankfully she did grow and is now in a Child's Large, since they are now mandating gym uniforms -- I'm just hoping it's drawstrings or we may still have the waist issue of too big. We have gym daily in our schools.

It took a lot of convincing on my part for her that no, not all kids are fat even though that is the headline around here whenever they change the menus or debate if something should/shouldn't be in the school.

 

[chobie]

I agree that we should promote eating right in the schools. Since our tax dollars are going to the school lunches, why shouldn't we demand that only healthy food is offered to the kids? If parents choose to send their kid with chips or candy they should be allowed, but the school should only offer good food to the kids. I'm okay with the various student groups selling candy to kids for fundraisers, but I don't think the school should be raising money by selling junk food directly to the children (mainly the younger ones).

 

[HappyLawyer]

I DID explain what I based my opinion on. Everybody who reads this thread can clearly see that. You asked "if that's the best I could do".

I don't know who crapped in your cornflakes, but I am pretty sure it wasn't me.

You are deliberately insulting and baiting me, and in the process,you are making yourself look very foolish.

I am discussing the issue at hand, if you are desperate for negative conversation, you will need to get it elsewhere

" crap on your cornflakes" grow up already i am done feeding your immature comments.

now have a disney day and back to the issue of the thread. I am sure everyone will agree, we are not in here to argue but discuss the topic, everyone but you that seems. So any future negative unrelated posts to me will be ignored.

Have a disney day.

 

[HappyLawyer]

When did it become the school's job to do this? Personally, I'm tired of opening the paper and finding out every ill in the world is the school's responsibility to correct. So far, I'm supposed to teach academics, financial sense, sex ed, and now, police their weights. Why don't we just take them for 18 years and relieve parents of any responsibility whatsoever?

Believe me i am more then familiar with the many hats teachers wear and all they do. I know for a fact people do not realize just what is expected of teachers, all i was saying is if you are in the lunch line with a student and you see him or her with let's say 10 candy bars, you would not feel drawn to say something to that student? I am not saying vie up your lunch to police but if you are right there wouldn't you feel compelled. This by no means -means that it is your responsibility because it is not, but remember and all teachers know this many kids do not have the support at home that they need. They have family but they could be neglected or no one has taken the time out to teach them. That is why i feel that when we teach if we see something like this well at least I would say something to the student.

I also agree that we are not their parents but who is going to look out for them if we don't?

 

[HappyLawyer]

Exactly! And schools don't confront kids about their girth, because it is none of the school's damn business!

I also think though, that schools can and should offer more healthy foods (and some districts are doing this) not sell junk food at the elementary levels and bring back PE and recess (but this would take some backing off the pressure on schools for standarized test results and I don't see that happening anytime soon).

yes, the schools in my district searve the required healthy lunch then they have ala carte, they order in piaaz hut every day, milkshakes and all kids of other stuff, come on now if you are a kids, hmm, veggies, healthy food or pizza , fries and a shake -hard decision, the schools should do more.

and to the posted that said schools are taking pe out, yes in high school here you have the option of taking ROTC, instead of gym. Some kids need to be "forced /pushed" into some type of activity, not forced in a bad way but it needs to be encouraged.

 

[Planogirl]

I have no problem with teachers or anyone in school questioning my son if he bought a tray of candy bars. I have a BIG problem if they start bothering him about having one candy bar or chips with his lunch. It's no one's business but ours but then he is in 8th grade.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Exactly! And schools don't confront kids about their girth, because it is none of the school's damn business!

I also think though, that schools can and should offer more healthy foods (and some districts are doing this) not sell junk food at the elementary levels and bring back PE and recess (but this would take some backing off the pressure on schools for standarized test results and I don't see that happening anytime soon).

ITA! It is none of the schools business!

But, I want to add that the schools are responsible for what they serve our children while they are at school every day.

My sons elementary school serves slushies EVERY DAY in the cafeteria, while the kids are supposed to be eating the healthy, gov't approved, meal planned by the Schools so-called 'nutrition' department, The school is soaking parents for $1.00 apiece to hawk slushies in the cafeteria line, and let the kids slurp up all the modified corn syrup and food dyes and preservatives they want... They just slap it on our accounts.

Then, an hour and ahalf later, the kids are marched up and paraded thru the concession stand at snack time, where they are offered AirHeads candy and Blue Big-K soda.

I actually went up to administration and tried to talk to the head of the Nutrition Department, and then the Superintendant, about this. They looked at me like I had just come from another planet.

They said, you should restrict your childs account, and "You should TALK TO YOUR CHILD about this'. The schools should never be putting me in that position with my child.

Well, the good news is that I just found out that all of this is GONE. Apparently I was not the only one complaining, and the Gov't stepped in and told the school they needed to get in line with the nutritional guidelines.

So, while my childs weight is none of their business, they are responsible for what they are hawking to our kids at school every day.

 

[HappyLawyer]

I have no problem with teachers or anyone in school questioning my son if he bought a tray of candy bars. I have a BIG problem if they start bothering him about having one candy bar or chips with his lunch. It's no one's business but ours but then he is in 8th grade.

Plano girl, yes, it is no ones business if a child has a bag of chips, heck even two, you know sometimes those bags are small, but like i said, this kids had an abundance of food on the tray. I did not mean harass the kids on what they eat, or even approach them in a way to upset them, but in this case with all these candy bars, i mean do you think a restriction of no more then 3 candy bars or a limit of 3 or some sign like that would be appropriate in this case

 

[teacherforhi]

If you don't like what your child is buying in the cafeteria, put a restriction on their account. It's that simple. I will not, EVER, attempt to restrict what a child purchases at lunch for the simple reason that if I do, that'll be the time that I'll have a parent screaming at me that their child can buy whatever they want.

 

[paigevz]

I don't say anything to the kids about the snacks. They are only allowed to get one. I do tell them to take a vegetable. They are supposed to take 3 out of the 5 choices offered, but 2 are put on the tray, usually the meat and starch, and then they choose fruits and veggies. Even though the menu clearly states the child MUST take 3 of the 5 choices, the cafeteria manager often lets them go without the other choice. I tell them they can take a fruit and a veg, but they must take a veg. I tell them they do NOT have to eat it, just take it. Eventually, I figure, they'll take a taste. Even if they don't, those veggies have to be thrown out anyway, so what harm is there in telling them to take it? The manager gets mad when she hears me tell them to take it and tells me I can't tell them that. I told her when a parent tells me not to tell their child to put veggies on their tray, I'll stop telling that child that. Meanwhile, the cafeteria manager constantly says to them, "Jimmy, you have money in your account, would you like a snack?" I have a problem with that. They didn't pick up a snack coming through the line, they didn't ask if they had money for a snack, they just had their lunch tray. But she asks, and 7 year old Jimmy of course reaches for a Little Debbie snack that is two oatmeal cookies stuck together with some sort of marshmallow/corn syrup mush. Then he eats it before his lunch. I don't like that, and I did say something about it, and she then tells me to let her run her cafeteria.

Also, when my child started there, I did restrict his account to no snacks. Even though I signed and sent in that paper, he ran out of his month's worth of money in less than 3 weeks. I found out he was buying a snack every day.........why? "Because she told me I had money and could get a snack, Mommy." He was 5.

We pulled the soda machine out. We pulled the snack machine out. Teachers can't give any sort of snack in class now, for any reason. But we can still keep Little Debbies and cakes and ice creams and sugared lemonade at 80 grams of sugar per 8 oz. in the cafeteria line (I read the bottle........seems impossible, doesn't it?).

And when parents want "the schools" to do something, they come to me, the teacher. I have no control over that, or PE, or how many minutes of recess they can have (20 from classroom door back to classroom door, including water breaks after, once a day).

Frankly, if you want your child to eat healthy food at school, pack him a healthy lunch so he doesn't even go through that line. And if you want him to have activities, put him in them after school and in the evenings. There are so many kids in PE anyway, that they don't all get to do the activities at once........there's a lot of standing around, and ours only get it twice a week.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Ummm, did anyone say anything about the teacher controlling what the kid eats????? We are talking about the Schools, the School Sytems.

And, yes, you can put a restriction on your kids account. But that does not make it RIGHT for the schools to be using five year olds as a marketing opportunity, so they can make money for pushing complete trash like slushies and airheads candy.

It also doesn't make it right to put the parents in that position. School should be safe, healthy, and beneficial. A parent shouldn't have to play the heavy and be in an adversarial position with their child, because, you can guarantee that this is what will happen... "insert whining or a very angry tone of voice here" "All the other kids get candy and slushies!!!!!!!!".

PS: apparantly the Gov't agrees, as our schools policies just removed these problems, "due to government regulations".

 

[paigevz]

Believe me i am more then familiar with the many hats teachers wear and all they do. I know for a fact people do not realize just what is expected of teachers, all i was saying is if you are in the lunch line with a student and you see him or her with let's say 10 candy bars, you would not feel drawn to say something to that student? I am not saying vie up your lunch to police but if you are right there wouldn't you feel compelled. This by no means -means that it is your responsibility because it is not, but remember and all teachers know this many kids do not have the support at home that they need. They have family but they could be neglected or no one has taken the time out to teach them. That is why i feel that when we teach if we see something like this well at least I would say something to the student.

I also agree that we are not their parents but who is going to look out for them if we don't?

Yes, Wishing, it's right here.

But I do agree about the "schools" and junk food, as I posted. It's just that I'm the "face" of "the schools" to most parents. They need to go to administration, the cafeteria office, or the government...........as some have. However, as I stated in my post, we only removed the vending machines..............there are still fat-laden and sugar-laden foods and drinks in the lunch line to be purchased within the law.

Just edited to say I don't, by the way, disagree with Happy Lawyer's point. Our kids can only get one snack, so I don't say anything to them. If they COULD get 10 candy bars, I would feel compelled to say something.......................

 

[teacherforhi]

Ummm, did anyone say anything about the teacher controlling what the kid eats????? We are talking about the Schools, the School Sytems.

And, yes, you can put a restriction on your kids account. But that does not make it RIGHT for the schools to be using five year olds as a marketing opportunity, so they can make money for pushing complete trash like slushies and airheads candy.

It also doesn't make it right to put the parents in that position. School should be safe, healthy, and beneficial. A parent shouldn't have to play the heavy and be in an adversarial position with their child, because, you can guarantee that this is what will happen... "insert whining or a very angry tone of voice here" "All the other kids get candy and slushies!!!!!!!!".

PS: apparantly the Gov't agrees, as our schools policies just removed these problems, "due to government regulations".

My school has never sold candy bars of slushies and we've never had a vending machine, so I can't speak to that. As far as saying no one talks about it being the teacher's responsibility, who do you think is in the school? Certainly not the superintendant.

By your same reasoning, junk food shouldn't be sold in grocery stores either because that puts you in the position of having to tell your child no when other parents are putting it in their buggy.

 

[Kendra17]

Your guess would be dead wrong. I've tried a variety of calorie restrictive diets, exercise plans etc over the years. Nothing worked until I tried Atkins. Then as I added allowed foods back in the weight loss stopped again. Turns out part of my problem is food allergies (night shades. tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant etc). I have a friend who couldn't drop the belly weight until she was tested for allergies and gave up wheat.

Yes portion control was/is a part of my problem as is physical injury. In the last 4 months I've gone from 2miles 2X a week to 5miles 3x a week on the stationary bike. I've gone from testing as extremely poor to now scoring average on the cardio test. I've doubled the reps and increase the weights by 50% on most exercises (still working on wrist strength so curls are a problem)

I wonder why so many want to refuse that genes, allergies etc are a factor. There are known genetic markers that contribute to obesity. there are several known medical conditions that are also factors (the cases of hypothiroidism have skyrocketed with the low salt craze and the fear of eating fish because of mercury).
However you just want to point the finger and say "that person is lazy and stuffs their face. It's that simple"
I'll believe the medical experts over the finger pointing naysayers.

I'll respond to the last point first. I am not "pointing a finger" and saying "that person is lazy and stuffs their face". But, people can lose weight and I do NOT believe that one should just GIVE UP and get as fat as they possibly can, do you?

But, again, I really do NOT judge people for their weight or lack thereof. I want to make it clear that, for me, this discussion was about raising healthy kids. Additionally, I thought that people were justifying obesity and pretty much stating that they were has healthy as those that ate right and exercised.

There may be a few exceptions that have more difficulty, but mostly it's about creating a calorie deficit-- burning more calories than you take in. Further, you are now doing better once you discovered you were allergic to certain foods, right? To me, that doesn't mean weight loss can't be done. It means someone might have health issues and they have to figure out what they are, but they still can lose weight-- if they so desire. Again, I don't really care if someone DOESN'T want to lose weight-- I'm not suggesting everyone has to. I'm just suggesting that if one wants to, they can. . . even if it's difficult and even if they have to figure out what their other health issues are. Hypothyroidism is easily an recognizable condition and is easily treated. I wasn't referring to weight gain due to hypothyroidism.

 

[jaycns]

Does that fact that a person overeats and doesn't work out enough make them unworthy of respect or even make them more "faulty" then you? For all of you who made remarks about overweight people, take a minute to think. When you look at an overweight person, you see their issues plain as day. But does that mean that their personal problems are any worse then yours? There are many ways to compromise your health. MANY conditions (but not all, I know that many people suffer without any "wrong doing", I am not judging anyone, just pointing something out) are at least in part caused by the actions or lifestyle choices of the afflicted person.

Would you say that someone suffering from AIDS should not use that scooter to make WDW accesible for them because they contracted the disease through unprotected sexual contact? Would you say that someone who suffers from late stage cancer that could have been cured if caught early (and would have been caught at a yearly exam) but skipped their physicals because they had "better things to do" should not use the scooter? How about the person who was a heavy drinker earlier in life and now suffers with liver problems that make it hard to sustain the pace at Disney. Maybe he/she should not be able to get a scooter either. Or what about the person who is now unable to move his legs after crashing into a tree one night because they drove even after they knew they were too tired to do so safely? The smoker who now has lung problems? The list could go on and on.

All of those people most surely regret in one form or another an unwise choice or series of them. It is a crazy to try and judge people. NOBODY is perfect. For those of you judging overweight people and thinking "If they would just get off the scooter and walk they wouldn't have the problem in the first place", I ask you to do this, take a look at your life. Is it perfect? If so, then congratulations. You are the only one in the world. But if not, if you can admit that you too have your faults (only people cannot see them by way of extra pounds hanging off of your body) then maybe you could take the time to rethink your stance and cut overweight people a little slack.

Just my feelings. I am not flaming anyone and most assuredly NOT judging anyone who has any ailment I mentioned. Also, to be clear, I don't mean tht anyone who is sick deserves it in one way or another...I just mean that nobody, able bodied or not is perfect so why is anyone casting stones just because the other person's faults may be easier to see with casual observation.

That said...the same thing applies to the OP's observations of others and their children...the day my children are perfect or I am the perfect parent then (and only then) will I start in on some other family. Period. Maybe if we all showed a little more tolerence and a lot more grace each of our families would be doing a lot better!!

 

[chobie]

My school has never sold candy bars of slushies and we've never had a vending machine, so I can't speak to that. As far as saying no one talks about it being the teacher's responsibility, who do you think is in the school? Certainly not the superintendant.

By your same reasoning, junk food shouldn't be sold in grocery stores either because that puts you in the position of having to tell your child no when other parents are putting it in their buggy.

The difference between the school and a store is that in the store the parents are THERE. While in school the school is legally "in loco parentis", therefore the school should be saying NO for the kids. The school should not be selling little kids crap at all, and should have some restrictions on what the older kids can buy.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Wow, I agree with the teachers here, and point out that it is the policies of the school systems that should bear some responsibility.... and, teachers still want to take issue with what I posted? Heck, do you actually WANT to be held responsible for what kids eat? Which way is it....

And, by the way, in that one post about the candy bars, the poster qualifies their comments by saying: QUOTE: "This by no means -means that it is your responsibility because it is not...."

So, this is NOT a good post to try to support your premise that there are a significant number of people who would want the teacher to be responsible. Quite the opposite.

An isolated well meaning comment in the students best interests does not equate 'responsibility'.

Again,
It is the school system that should have a reasonable policy of limiting the amount of this junk it offers/allows.

And, to the other poster who is so quick to refute my comments... What I buy at the grocery store on my weekly shopping trip is MY business, and MY decision. Very VERY different than the schools pushing this crap on five year old kids every single day, actually twice a day, when the parents are not there to decide whether the child can occasionally have these things.

Just because I might buy treats at the store does not mean that my child can graze on them every day... Just because I might not be buying a certain treat at the store does not mean that my child never gets treats.

Hhhhmmmmm, am I to assume that you are actually defending the schools policy of parading this stuff in front of 5 year olds every day????

 

[U2_rocks]

The difference between the school and a store is that in the store the parents are THERE. While in school the school is legally "in loco parentis", therefore the school should be saying NO for the kids. The school should not be selling little kids crap at all, and should have some restrictions on what the older kids can buy.

I sooooo agree with this! When my kids are at school I lose the ability to monitor them in any way. My 6 year old does not have the self discipline yet to pass up treats when he sees them - heck, I often don't! I control what my kids eat now for two reasons - their current health, and their future eating habits/tastes. If they have access to all sorts of things at school that aren't particularly good for them, that is undermining what I am trying to do at home. I happen to think that a child's current and future health are important enough that this shouldn't be taken lightly.