Your snowflake doesn't need a snack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher and my admin doesn't allow snacks at all, even for the grades who have lunch very early or vey late. We are a high FARMS school, and many students do not have enough food at home to bring in a snack so it would be a case of the haves and have nots. There is also an allergy concern since it's difficult to completely regulate what kids bring from home. Students at my school speak over 20 languages, and some of them are very difficult to find translation for information that goes home to parents.

It would cost a lot of money for the school to provide the snack, so that's out. So they don't have snack and so far everyone has survived. Maybe it's not ideal in all situations, but it's reality.

I do think the snacking culture has gotten out of control. We had a sports practice on Friday evening and a few families had coolers full of snacks for their kids (siblings of players) to graze on. Then the players saw their siblings eating so they would walk away from practice to come have a snack too. It happened during the game as well, and the game was at 1pm, so right after lunchtime. Even if they had an early lunch before 12pm they still should be able to wait a few hours before eating again. This was stuff like granola bars and crackers. These kids are being taught that they need to be eating constantly.

I was always growing very fast - 5'9" by 5th grade (girl) and skinny as a rail - and I needed a snack during the day.
I often didn't get one and I still remember being physically and mentally uncomfortable. Headaches and I could not think.

Adults aren't growing, kids are.

[Anonymous]

DS is in 3rd grade. His classroom eats at 11. They are allowed to have a small snack in the afternoon when they also get a bathroom break and individual reading time. I don't see a problem with this. He doesn't get home until almost 4pm. If a kid is hungry, its going to pretty hard to focus. I would rather my kid eat small frequent meals that burn steadily than bigger infrequent meals that will weigh him down and make him lethargic. The goal is a content belly, not a stuffed one.

[Anonymous]

My niece does -- she's diabetic. Dealt with that one with a "no snack" school/teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Why on earth should this be such a problem in the U.S.? Allow kids to eat when they are hungry and develop healthy eating habits. End of story.

It's rude and messy.

Do you want to sit next to someone who is eating and crunching while you are working?

FWIW, I was a teacher. Kids could bring a snack and eat it outside at recess. Problem solved.

Ahhh, recess! That would be really nice if we lived in a world where kids still got recess!

Kids still get recess.

Not everywhere

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My niece does -- she's diabetic. Dealt with that one with a "no snack" school/teacher.

Don't be dramatic. Of course a diabetic child would be allowed to have a snack.

[Anonymous]

Kids are different and their needs are different. My kid does not need to snack because he eats a hearty hot breakfast at home, and carries a substantial lunch. So, I do not particularly care one way or another.

But to expect that no kid is hungry during the school day, or won't benefit by having a healthy snack is silly. I see no harm in letting kids eat a small snack. I also see no harm in school providing a healthy snacks to all students - bananas or string cheese - and let them decide who wants to eat and who does not. Those who want to get a snack from home can do so. a break of 10 minutes is not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

At my kids school: child eats breakfast at 7:30, lunch is at 1:25 That is almost 6 hours between meals. The school is large and this is the latest eating time. Kids get 5 minutes for a at desk snack. I would be hungry 6 hours between meals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My best takeaway from "Bringing up Bebe" (an account of an American raising children in Paris) is that the only snack children have there is their "gouter." Served at about four, it's the only non-meal food French children expect. I am raising my daughter similarly and she's a healthy weight, growing well, and happy.

Are you sending your child to public school in America or planning to?

If so, teaching her to eat slowly at meals, savor her food, and avoid snacking may not be in her favor.

Yes, well, my son eats a snack a few times a day and has the most varied, healthiest diet of any kid I know. He is also at an incredibly healthy weight.

I, on the other hand, never snack because it is not my thing, but I didn't push my way son my kid because he has different needs.

Choosing to follow some random book instead of looking at the actual child and her needs is beyond stupid.

But hey, you sound so continental!

Can someone please tell me what an "incredibly healthy weight" is? Speaking of beyond stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My best takeaway from "Bringing up Bebe" (an account of an American raising children in Paris) is that the only snack children have there is their "gouter." Served at about four, it's the only non-meal food French children expect. I am raising my daughter similarly and she's a healthy weight, growing well, and happy.

Are you sending your child to public school in America or planning to?

If so, teaching her to eat slowly at meals, savor her food, and avoid snacking may not be in her favor.

Yes, well, my son eats a snack a few times a day and has the most varied, healthiest diet of any kid I know. He is also at an incredibly healthy weight.

I, on the other hand, never snack because it is not my thing, but I didn't push my way son my kid because he has different needs.

Choosing to follow some random book instead of looking at the actual child and her needs is beyond stupid.

But hey, you sound so continental!

It probably relates to astonishingly excellent health.
Can someone please tell me what an "incredibly healthy weight" is? Speaking of beyond stupid.