HEALTH FOOD NAZIS IN OUR CHILDREN'S SCHOOLS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three cupcakes a month (plus halloween, and all the other things...) may not make for a fat child, but at least for my kid, it would make for three afternoons lost to study, and probably a few tantrums....

So let me get this straight, your kid has one cupcake and then his/her entire day is blown? The child is useless and having tantrums after one measly cupcake? Seriously, what kind of cupcakes is this child eating? Where can I get some?

Lighten up, Francis.

What is causing so many defective children?

defective parenting

[Anonymous]

Children will change their behavior after certain foods if their parents have convinced them it will happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else shocked at how dogmatic and restrictive some schools have become about food lately? For example, cupcakes are banned on children's birthdays. Some entire schools ban anything with nuts from the school (no peanut butter and jelly sandwiches) on the grounds that someone might have a nut allergy. Or treating any candy as "contraband" to be confiscated. There's even a for-profit company, Revolution Foods, that has gotten into the act by selling high priced "organic" foods to schools at lunchtime. The infuriating thing about these "nazis" is that of course everyone wants healthy foods for their children. But rather than just leave it at that, these nazis want to eliminate all choice whatsoever. Rather than encouraging children to make responsible choices in foods, they want to simple eliminate all foods they don't like, including the comfort foods that have brought us joy for generations. And of course a parent who dares to even slightly question this health food/organic/no sweets dogma is ostracized.

Back when I was in school, we had cupcakes on kid's birthdays. We didn't get fat, because there was recess and we could run around all we wanted, none of this "structured activities" nonsense that takes the place of recess nowadays. It seems to me that SOME emphasis on health foods might be a good things, but now, especially at the schools with wealthy parents with way too much time on their hands, we get condescending, holier-than-thou attitudes, one-upmanship on rules and parents mindlessly following any drivel these food nazis put forward.

Is anyone else fed up by all this?

wow, I wish we could trade schools. I put a lot of effort into raising my kids on healthy food, and training their palates in such a way that they don't have huge sugar cravings. (ie, no sugary desserty stuff til 2 years of age, for starters) They were eating really well. After 2 years old, we had occasional sweet treats, like chocolate or an ice cream or popsicle or whatever. But not daily. Sugar is a habit, and not a very healthy one.

Then, they start preschool and the whole thing falls apart. They are given rivers of sweets. Lollipops and popsicles and cupcakes are handed out on a regular basis. Sweets are used as a reward by the teacher!!! This happened over and over again. In kindergarten and first grade too. How long ago did we learn that it's not good to associate food with reward? (esp. junk food) All this was happening despite the fact that I'd told the teachers that I don't want the kids to be given sugary treats.

If you ask me, in our society it's much harder to be a parent who wants their kids NOT to be given junk food than it is to be a parent who does want it. Kids are given lollipops at the bank, the post office, and even the doctor's office. I can't go anywhere without the kids being offered junk. I don't like the term "nazi" being bandied about the way the OP does, but really, it seems to me that "society" pushes junk food much more than pushing health food. Policies SHOULD be based on modern research and SHOULD push a public agenda that is good for the well being of all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else shocked at how dogmatic and restrictive some schools have become about food lately? For example, cupcakes are banned on children's birthdays. Some entire schools ban anything with nuts from the school (no peanut butter and jelly sandwiches) on the grounds that someone might have a nut allergy. Or treating any candy as "contraband" to be confiscated. There's even a for-profit company, Revolution Foods, that has gotten into the act by selling high priced "organic" foods to schools at lunchtime. The infuriating thing about these "nazis" is that of course everyone wants healthy foods for their children. But rather than just leave it at that, these nazis want to eliminate all choice whatsoever. Rather than encouraging children to make responsible choices in foods, they want to simple eliminate all foods they don't like, including the comfort foods that have brought us joy for generations. And of course a parent who dares to even slightly question this health food/organic/no sweets dogma is ostracized.

Back when I was in school, we had cupcakes on kid's birthdays. We didn't get fat, because there was recess and we could run around all we wanted, none of this "structured activities" nonsense that takes the place of recess nowadays. It seems to me that SOME emphasis on health foods might be a good things, but now, especially at the schools with wealthy parents with way too much time on their hands, we get condescending, holier-than-thou attitudes, one-upmanship on rules and parents mindlessly following any drivel these food nazis put forward.

Is anyone else fed up by all this?

wow, I wish we could trade schools. I put a lot of effort into raising my kids on healthy food, and training their palates in such a way that they don't have huge sugar cravings. (ie, no sugary desserty stuff til 2 years of age, for starters) They were eating really well. After 2 years old, we had occasional sweet treats, like chocolate or an ice cream or popsicle or whatever. But not daily. Sugar is a habit, and not a very healthy one.

Then, they start preschool and the whole thing falls apart. They are given rivers of sweets. Lollipops and popsicles and cupcakes are handed out on a regular basis. Sweets are used as a reward by the teacher!!! This happened over and over again. In kindergarten and first grade too. How long ago did we learn that it's not good to associate food with reward? (esp. junk food) All this was happening despite the fact that I'd told the teachers that I don't want the kids to be given sugary treats.

If you ask me, in our society it's much harder to be a parent who wants their kids NOT to be given junk food than it is to be a parent who does want it. Kids are given lollipops at the bank, the post office, and even the doctor's office. I can't go anywhere without the kids being offered junk. I don't like the term "nazi" being bandied about the way the OP does, but really, it seems to me that "society" pushes junk food much more than pushing health food. Policies SHOULD be based on modern research and SHOULD push a public agenda that is good for the well being of all.

Here, here. Couldn't of said it better myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher. My concern with the quality of the school lunch food isn't so much with nutrition -- although yes the meals are very carb-loaded. My concern is the quality. The kids (esp. the free lunch kids) a captive audience. What are they going to do... complain that the food doesn't meet their standards? But yes, the food served is blecky many days. And gets thrown out. if a cihld is actually eating school lunch every day, that's a very hungry child.

I have no problem with Tater Tots but at least make sure that they are cooked correctyl and are appetizing, not served as a gloppy mess.

And NO ONE wants to eat canned green beans, warmed up. Seriously. Just throw those straight into the garbage can.

I know a mom who gives her kids CANNED GREEN BEANS and CANNED OLIVES as side dishes at lunch. It is so gross. The sodium, the textures gah! But her kids actually eat it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher. My concern with the quality of the school lunch food isn't so much with nutrition -- although yes the meals are very carb-loaded. My concern is the quality. The kids (esp. the free lunch kids) a captive audience. What are they going to do... complain that the food doesn't meet their standards? But yes, the food served is blecky many days. And gets thrown out. if a cihld is actually eating school lunch every day, that's a very hungry child.

I have no problem with Tater Tots but at least make sure that they are cooked correctyl and are appetizing, not served as a gloppy mess.

And NO ONE wants to eat canned green beans, warmed up. Seriously. Just throw those straight into the garbage can.

I know a mom who gives her kids CANNED GREEN BEANS and CANNED OLIVES as side dishes at lunch. It is so gross. The sodium, the textures gah! But her kids actually eat it.

Canned green beans I can see as a problem, but why the hate on canned olives? In my family, they are special treats for when visitors come for dinner. the kids love them I have fond memories of loving them as a kid at holiday dinners. I didn't realize there are folks that actually don't like canned olives. What's not to love?

[Anonymous]

Canned green beans taste like vomit. Canned olives are delicious.

[Anonymous]

I havent read everyone's response but I am sooo glad people are jumping on this. Finally the schools are willing to take on their disgusting lunches. What does a tater tot do for you nutritionally? Nothing! Why feed them to my kids, getting them to like the greasy salty flavor when I have been raising them to not like the greasy salty flavor? Why contribute to the unhealthy habits in our country? It's gross! I was raised on mcd's and I have been trying to break myself of that gross habit.
On another note, are people aware that there are groups that exist just to lobby to congress to keep soda's in schools? Is this ridiculous to anyone else? Well at least now they only serve diet...great! Like I want my kids drinking that poison too? I love soda and it's another habit I can't seem to kick

[Anonymous]

Has anyone eaten a store bought cupcake lately? What is that sh!t on there? A half pound of colored crisco? Gross!

[Anonymous]

Why does my ped dentist reward kids with a popsicle? To get repeat business? This was so ridiculous I laughed when they handed it to my son

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does my ped dentist reward kids with a popsicle? To get repeat business? This was so ridiculous I laughed when they handed it to my son

To quote another PP, "Lighten up, Francis!"

[Anonymous]

why is it so hard for us to walk the walk when it comes to nutrition and our children? We go to all sorts of ridiculous extremes to keep them safe in other ways, but when it comes to food, we are unable to do with our children what we know is best and safest and healthiest.

[Anonymous]

Most people I know feed their dogs some high quality organic expensive specialty food, but then toss nuggets and hot dogs at their kids. And these are really well-educated professionals. Our time is so consumed with work and emails, etc that most people just don't have time for healthy food, it's really sad

[Anonymous]

OMG, I'd feed my kids Kiddie Kibble if it came in a bag and were shelf stable. That's be great -- I'd even spring for organic!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three cupcakes a month (plus halloween, and all the other things...) may not make for a fat child, but at least for my kid, it would make for three afternoons lost to study, and probably a few tantrums....

So let me get this straight, your kid has one cupcake and then his/her entire day is blown? The child is useless and having tantrums after one measly cupcake? Seriously, what kind of cupcakes is this child eating? Where can I get some?

Lighten up, Francis.

What is causing so many defective children?

defective parenting

Not sure who Francis is, but yes, the afternoon is blown. Peanut allergies aren't the only food issues children have, and the way some of us manage these issues is by teaching our kids good habits and to avoid foods that affect them adversely. Three cupcakes a month during school is a lot. Sorry if you don't think so. No one is asking you not to pack cupcakes in your child's lunch box, so I don't know why you care so much.