Does every kids event have to involve food?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For DC in K, I was so shocked on the snack duties as a parent. We show up for 8 weeks of baseball and get told which week we need to provide snack to the entire team! Then on soccer, it was the same thing. Also, for K (pre-Covid) we were responsible for providing the entire class with a snack once a month.
This was such things as: Pringles, Pirate Booty, cheddar bunnies, Vege Chips ( which are really just potato chips), etc. and for their birthday you were allowed to bring in something like Chips Ahoy. I was always scrounging around the grocery store looking for something to satisfy all these snack duties. I think it is over done. The kids do not even seem grateful after 50 minutes of baseball. Many times they are racing off to the next soccer game. They will complain that they don't like the snack that you brought or they've never had it. Also, they typically just grab it and leave. It's not like they're developing social skills with other children over eating.

This is a completely American thing. If their children don’t eat every 45 minutes, they will spontaneously combust.

[Anonymous]

As someone with a corn allergy, I would urge you to look more closely at corn. I can’t eat anything packaged or processed in this country due to corn contamination. Bags are dusted with corn starch, straws are made out of corn, it’s just a nightmare. Even something like chicken from an unknown source gives me hives because chickens are fed corn. I have to source all of my grass fed meat and poultry and eggs and dairy from a small farmer I can trust in Pennsylvania and make sure he hasn’t used white vinegar because it’s made out of corn in this country. I can’t eat tomatoes because they’re ripened with a corn derived gas and have to wash other fruits and vegetables carefully. For soap I use Dr. Bronners but have to check in with them periodically to make sure they haven’t switched to a corn source. I started out with being allergic to just eating corn but over the years my allergy had progressed, I believe it may be because I didn’t take it seriously and kept indulging. There is a Facebook group and a website, Corn Allergy Girl, that is very helpful. But it’s truly the worst allergy because it makes you feel like you’re allergic to everything in this country. I am planning on moving to Europe in the future because I don’t have the same reactions there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For DC in K, I was so shocked on the snack duties as a parent. We show up for 8 weeks of baseball and get told which week we need to provide snack to the entire team! Then on soccer, it was the same thing. Also, for K (pre-Covid) we were responsible for providing the entire class with a snack once a month.
This was such things as: Pringles, Pirate Booty, cheddar bunnies, Vege Chips ( which are really just potato chips), etc. and for their birthday you were allowed to bring in something like Chips Ahoy. I was always scrounging around the grocery store looking for something to satisfy all these snack duties. I think it is over done. The kids do not even seem grateful after 50 minutes of baseball. Many times they are racing off to the next soccer game. They will complain that they don't like the snack that you brought or they've never had it. Also, they typically just grab it and leave. It's not like they're developing social skills with other children over eating.

Yes, I’ve found that the kids don’t want the fruits and veggies because other parents are bringing cookies and chips instead. I don’t blame them and I think the parents get them because they’re cheaper than buying something fresh.

[Anonymous]

+1 Also, the packaged goods have a longer life. I just don't think these short 1 hour sports need snacks every week. I can understand if there is an end of season celebration, but as others have stated we don't need snacks after every practice. Go home or bring something in your car for your own DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+1 Also, the packaged goods have a longer life. I just don't think these short 1 hour sports need snacks every week. I can understand if there is an end of season celebration, but as others have stated we don't need snacks after every practice. Go home or bring something in your car for your own DC.

+2. I don’t remember anyone ever bringing snacks to kids games or play dates when I was growing up. I remember one time when we had a pizza party in school. The only time there were tons of treats were birthday parties. You never used to see kids eating on the playground, they were too busy running around. My mom didn’t encourage snacking, she wanted us to eat proper sit down meals with the entire family. I’m a healthy weight, have no issues with food, never been on a diet, and don’t pack snacks for my kids. If they’re hungry, they can wait until we get home. I also don’t keep cookies and goldfish crackers or anything like that in my pantry because they have no nutritional value whatsoever. They can snack on berries, bananas with peanut butter, rice cakes with avocado slices if they want something savory or some carrot sticks and cucumber slices and bell peppers. If they don’t want that, then they’re not really hungry. We do pizza parties and cake and candy for birthdays or if we are on vacation.

[Anonymous]

To the PP with corn allergy, I'm so sorry. I had to carefully eliminate corn for a few weeks while breastfeeding and it was way way harder than soy or anything else. I basically threw my hands up. I kept being horrified to learn it was in absolutely everything. I don't know how you manage.

(PS, guess what all of the supposedly hypoallergenic powdered baby formulas have as their first ingredient in the US? corn starch!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My youngest has severe eczema. We have met with several specialists and over the course of a year have identified what flares him up- wheat, dairy, eggs, corn, tomatoes, chocolate, nuts, preservatives, annatto, sorbitol, and some others. Basically anything that comes in a box or can triggers hives and then skin that looks like third degree burns on his neck, torso, legs, arms, back and cheeks. It’s absolutely miserable and takes weeks to clear up a flare. I travel with our own snacks but it’s so damn hard when every single kids event involves food that he cannot eat. He’s 5 and he understands that he can’t have that sort of stuff and we are praying that he outgrows his allergies, and I honestly don’t want to take away the joy of food for anyone else but I just want one kids event that doesn’t involve food. Swim team celebrates every meet with boxes of donuts. The meets themselves involve snacks that are candy bars and chips. Piano gives away lollipops and other candy as prizes. Baseball does ice cream after every game. Soccer does cookies. School does pizza parties and ice cream. Every play date involves chips, gummies, etc. I know it’s just bad eczema and nowhere near the stresses of anaphylactic allergies that other parents have to deal with, but it’s just tiring. Give me one school event or sports practice where everyone eats fruits and veggies to celebrate. Anyway, I know this is a first world problem and I wouldn’t dare bring this up anywhere but an anonymous forum so this is just a rant.

OP, I also have a 5 year old son and we’ve also battled with eczema. But I’m going to skip over the eczema part for now.

My thoughts on reading your post: why the hell is your five year old in so many activities, and why are you choosing ones with food if food is an issue for you?

My kid has done art classes, gymnastics, & swim (+ child care since 8 mos.), and not a single one of those has involved treats.

This sounds like 1) you could probably stand to drop a few activities; and/or 2) you need to choose activities that align with your eating philosophy.

[Anonymous]

Can he take Allegra or Zyrtec? I’m all about the dietary changes but the antihistamines nowadays are freaking amazing.

[Anonymous]

I have a ton of food allergies. Those of us with allergies are taught to adjust and manage. Nothing irritates me more than someone trying to adjust around my allergies. It's embarrassing and everyone inevitably gets it wrong. I'm allergic to shellfish, someone will serve me shrimp because shrimp isn't shellfish. I appreciate it but it gets awkward.

Your kid will adjust to. He needs to know his allergies and to say no. Self control is a skill that ei benefit him more.

[Anonymous]

I keep hearing about this but haven’t experienced it yet. My daughter is 6 and she has done soccer, gymnastics, baseball, ballet and tennis in the past year.

No snacks at any of those activities…

[Anonymous]

Sorbitol? How on earth did they diagnose that?
OP, honestly, you need blood tests for allergies, not some sensitivities. You are denying your kid a normal childhood by accepting these quack diagnoses!
Dr. Stern in Rockville is a great gastro who treats food allergies. I would call his office for a referral for a pediatric specialist for food and allergy issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with what you’re saying. No, every event should not involve food!! Kids get enough calories and junk as it is. They do not need donuts at a swim meet.

[phone]

NP +1

Snacking is out of control in this country.

No wonder half the kids at school are on ritalin.

Np. Ok what s your degree in? There is no evidence that a donut gives you ADHD. That is a myth. Sugat does not make you hyper. It isnt good for you but isnt the cause.

Sorry op but please just focus on your family. You can vent but to expect others not to eat what they can is really unrealistic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For DC in K, I was so shocked on the snack duties as a parent. We show up for 8 weeks of baseball and get told which week we need to provide snack to the entire team! Then on soccer, it was the same thing. Also, for K (pre-Covid) we were responsible for providing the entire class with a snack once a month.
This was such things as: Pringles, Pirate Booty, cheddar bunnies, Vege Chips ( which are really just potato chips), etc. and for their birthday you were allowed to bring in something like Chips Ahoy. I was always scrounging around the grocery store looking for something to satisfy all these snack duties. I think it is over done. The kids do not even seem grateful after 50 minutes of baseball. Many times they are racing off to the next soccer game. They will complain that they don't like the snack that you brought or they've never had it. Also, they typically just grab it and leave. It's not like they're developing social skills with other children over eating.

This is a completely American thing. If their children don’t eat every 45 minutes, they will spontaneously combust.

You font like America? Please leave

[Anonymous]

We did food therapy for our son with Dr. Banks in Arnold, MD and he was no longer allergic to dairy or eggs. We did this from infancy-age 2. Highly recommend. Best to do it when really young but they work with all ages. Wasn't covered by insurance but so worth it and our son happily eats yogurt, ice cream, cow milk, boiled eggs etc. now.

https://www.annapollendocs.com/

[Anonymous]

I am with you, OP. And my kids don’t even have any food allergies. But the crap and most Americans are feeding their children is ridiculous. I don’t really care what people do at home. It’s their decision, not mine. But everywhere we go, my kids are exposed to sweets, chips, sugary drinks, and other processed food. I’d be much happier with events without food.