[Nera]

So I'm going through my son's backpack and find a note asking me to donate $$ to some cause and the class with the highest donations will recieve a pizza, popcorn, and ice-cream party. While this may sound normal to most, here lately it has been aggravating me. It seems like almost everyday my kids are sent home with a "special treat" for being good or for a good grade, etc. This special treat is always either candy or junk food of some sort.

Now, I'm not saying my kids are dessert or "sweets" free. I like a good apple pie or chocolate chip cookie as much as any person. Most of the time though, when I prepare "sweets" I prepare them at home. I substitute certain ingredients to make the entire treat much healthier.

It seems that everywhere I turn somebody is trying to give my kids crap! They are bombarded with candy!

And it annoys me that schools are giving out candy as rewards. Shouldn't the children be given extra recess or a choice of a small toy in the treasure chest? Should food really be seen as a reward? We wouldn't use food as a punishment so why use it as a reward?

If I sent a toothbrush to the school and asked the teacher to please brush my children's teeth after each piece of candy they are given the school would think I was nuts. If I sent them a dentist bill for cavitites they would also think I was nuts. And then if I ask that my son is excluded from the candy then I am seen as the "mean extreme mom." Then it turns into a big deal and that makes candy just that much more fascinating for my kids. Lose-Lose. *sigh*

Okay, rant off.

 

[peters_muppet]

Wow! This is shocking! As a 21 year old from the UK, I know that our schools have gone through a major change in recent years. When I entered secondary school, aged 11, we could buy muffins, cookies, donuts and all sorts of rubbish from the school canteen. This along with the availability of chips/french fries each day led to a very unhealthy menu. I remember a time where I would eat almost exclusively pizza at school! Disgusting! Not a veggie in sight!

However, with rising obesity rates and even the trend of healthy eating hitting the media (example: Jamie Oliver's School Dinners), the education board started to make changes. By the age of 14/15, one could not buy junk in the canteen. Chips/French fries were served once per week. Cookies were removed and fruit was put out in its place. I found myself eating dishes with rice and vegetables instead of pizzas and chips.

This improved diets across the board and educated young people on how to choose healthier options, even in their own homes. It meant that the parents who gave enough of a crap to feed their children good, healthy foods were not being undermined by the school system. It was good.

There was only one problem. The cookies, cakes and sweets were gone but the basket of fruit they were replaced with were very poor quality. I guess this was something to do with budget - it was a real shame. But it was better than nothing!

Schools are places of education and as such they should be working harder towards educating our children in one of the most basic daily activities - eating! And, as you said - food should NOT be a reward or a punishment - this could be so detrimental to a child's attitude towards food and eating.

Wow... I joined your rant...

 

[unovegan]

You are right. there are much better rewards than candy. like eating lunch with a favorite teacher, more recess, etc. etc.

 

[stasher]

I don't feel like there is anything wrong with candy as a treat for my son. I just make it vegan.

 

[Pixie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by peters_muppet

However, with rising obesity rates and even the trend of healthy eating hitting the media (example: Jamie Oliver's School Dinners), the education board started to make changes. By the age of 14/15, one could not buy junk in the canteen. Chips/French fries were served once per week. Cookies were removed and fruit was put out in its place. I found myself eating dishes with rice and vegetables instead of pizzas and chips.

I read that a lot of parents in my local area complained about having healthier food in their kid's schools.

Before these changes I worked in a school handing the children their meals and I was disgusted by the low quality food being served.

 

[peters_muppet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pixie

I read that a lot of parents in my local area complained about having healthier food in their kid's schools.

Before these changes I worked in a school handing the children their meals and I was disgusted by the low quality food being served.

Wow! lol!! That is insane! Such ignorance and apathy in the world :s

 

[Forster]

Yeah... personally while frustrating classroom treats aren't a battle I'd choose to fight. They just don't happen enough for me to worry about even if I don't like the message it sends.

As far as the hot lunch programs, ugggg, high fat, high sodium processed garbage which is why we always packed a lunch for our kids. Cheaper too.

 

[peters_muppet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forster

Yeah... personally while frustrating classroom treats aren't a battle I'd choose to fight. They just don't happen enough for me to worry about even if I don't like the message it sends.

As far as the hot lunch programs, ugggg, high fat, high sodium processed garbage which is why we always packed a lunch for our kids. Cheaper too.

Yes, that is absolutely the best way in my opinion! Good job!

 

[jessickah]

Yeah I graduated in 10' and my highschool's food was disgusting.
everyday:
bagels
pizza
ribbq
frenchfries
chips
cookies
ice cream
snack machines
honeybuns
burgers
candy bars
AND THE LIST GOES ON.

We had wraps which are KINDA healthy I guess even thought the shell was atleast 200 calories by itself....
and the salads had egg/fish/ or chicken in them.

blech.

 

[YellowRose]

I'm sorry

It really is a conundrum. There's no way to get around what society views as normal, and unfortunately, garbage food is exactly that right now. The food at my office is UNBELIEVABLY bad. I bring my own food every day, as do some others, but almost everyone else...

French fries. Onion rings. Fried chicken. Pizza. Chips. I'd go on but the list would be a lot like Jessikah's in the post above me. Also, every time it's someone's birthday (which is often, because it's a big office), there's a cake. Donuts in the mornings (thankfully, some fruit too). Cookies in the afternoons.

And shocker...a LOT of heavy people work in my office...a LOT.

I think your kids are lucky to have you as a mom. You're not an extremist - you actually have a healthy view of food, and as they mature I think it's very likely you'll pass that on to them.

 

[Nera]

Quote:

Originally Posted by peters_muppet

Wow! This is shocking! As a 21 year old from the UK, I know that our schools have gone through a major change in recent years. When I entered secondary school, aged 11, we could buy muffins, cookies, donuts and all sorts of rubbish from the school canteen. This along with the availability of chips/french fries each day led to a very unhealthy menu. I remember a time where I would eat almost exclusively pizza at school! Disgusting! Not a veggie in sight!

However, with rising obesity rates and even the trend of healthy eating hitting the media (example: Jamie Oliver's School Dinners), the education board started to make changes. By the age of 14/15, one could not buy junk in the canteen. Chips/French fries were served once per week. Cookies were removed and fruit was put out in its place. I found myself eating dishes with rice and vegetables instead of pizzas and chips.

This improved diets across the board and educated young people on how to choose healthier options, even in their own homes. It meant that the parents who gave enough of a crap to feed their children good, healthy foods were not being undermined by the school system. It was good.

There was only one problem. The cookies, cakes and sweets were gone but the basket of fruit they were replaced with were very poor quality. I guess this was something to do with budget - it was a real shame. But it was better than nothing!

Schools are places of education and as such they should be working harder towards educating our children in one of the most basic daily activities - eating! And, as you said - food should NOT be a reward or a punishment - this could be so detrimental to a child's attitude towards food and eating.

Wow... I joined your rant...

Lol you are free to join as much as you like! I agree with everything you said. I remember beginning in 5th grade, we had a choice between the tradional lunch line and the "super cool" snack bar. Of course most kids would choose the snack bar. I seriously used to eat like 3 Nutty Buddy's for lunch everyday.

I wish we would have the same kind of revolution here in America, (and I think some people are really trying to make it happen), but I just seriously see so much of a lack of support. I'm the ONLY person I know who tries to feed their kids healthy.

 

[rags.]

That's not being a mean mummy, that's being a great mummy.

 

[Nera]

Quote:

Originally Posted by unovegan

You are right. there are much better rewards than candy. like eating lunch with a favorite teacher, more recess, etc. etc.

Yes! Totally! Much healthier and more mentally stimulating as well!

 

[Nera]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stasher

I don't feel like there is anything wrong with candy as a treat for my son. I just make it vegan.

Now, I don't have an issue with candy if rarely given. But as an everyday thing, no way.

 

[Nera]

Quote:

Originally Posted by YellowRose

I'm sorry

It really is a conundrum. There's no way to get around what society views as normal, and unfortunately, garbage food is exactly that right now. The food at my office is UNBELIEVABLY bad. I bring my own food every day, as do some others, but almost everyone else...

French fries. Onion rings. Fried chicken. Pizza. Chips. I'd go on but the list would be a lot like Jessikah's in the post above me. Also, every time it's someone's birthday (which is often, because it's a big office), there's a cake. Donuts in the mornings (thankfully, some fruit too). Cookies in the afternoons.

And shocker...a LOT of heavy people work in my office...a LOT.

I think your kids are lucky to have you as a mom. You're not an extremist - you actually have a healthy view of food, and as they mature I think it's very likely you'll pass that on to them.

Thank you, I hope it does pass on to them, and to their kids, etc. I know about the office deal. I work in an office where people drink DP for breakfast with a honey bun...and then they go get candy out of the candy machine to top it off.... *sigh* And there are donuts almost every morning, cakes once a week, etc. For the people I care about, I put sad face sticky notes on top of their sodas.....

 

[Nera]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forster

Yeah... personally while frustrating classroom treats aren't a battle I'd choose to fight. They just don't happen enough for me to worry about even if I don't like the message it sends.

As far as the hot lunch programs, ugggg, high fat, high sodium processed garbage which is why we always packed a lunch for our kids. Cheaper too.

I tried to think that way as well, but now it just seems to be an everyday thing. I can't have that! And I pack lunches for my babies now too.

 

[TailFin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jessickah

Yeah I graduated in 10' and my highschool's food was disgusting.
everyday:
bagels
pizza
ribbq
frenchfries
chips
cookies
ice cream
snack machines
honeybuns
burgers
candy bars
AND THE LIST GOES ON.

We had wraps which are KINDA healthy I guess even thought the shell was atleast 200 calories by itself....
and the salads had egg/fish/ or chicken in them.

blech.

Whoa... My high school had a single dish: meat of some sort.

I packed everyday.

 

[paisleyjane]

Oh my!!

As a teacher, I find this heart breaking. Unfortunately it is a common thing in some parts of the world!

I never ever offer candy or food as rewards. We have a bucket of prizes/toys like skipping ropes, bouncy balls, bubbles, bookmarks, funny erasers, stickers, etc... things that make schoolwork more fun, or that they can do outside with their friends. Candy? No way!

The only time I ever served candy to my students was when we finished a novel study for The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. We "celebrated" our unit completion by presenting our projects and then watching the movie. The students were allowed 1 piece of Authentic Turkish Delight (vegan), and some decaf tea. (That is because tea and turkish delight are themed from the novel, if you haven't read it

)

At the schools I have worked at there are strict no candy policies. At halloween children are allowed 3 pieces of candy in their lunch THE FOLLOWING DAY ONLY. Any candy found (above that amount, or after that day) will be taken away and sent back home with a note asking not to send any more junk in their lunches.

There is a food program, and although it is by no means vegan (bummer), it is at least somewhat healthful... it's not pizza or fried chicken or anything gross like that.

SO, Here is what I suggest... (coming from a teacher!)
Make an appointment to speak with the teacher before or after school one day. Ask him/her (in a friendly, non confrontational way) what the school policy on healthy eating is, and what his/her personal classroom policy is. Mention that you have noticed a lot of treats coming home or being served and that you prefer a bit healthier of a menu. Just have the conversation, expressing concern, even if you aren't asking to have your child left out or requesting that he/she change their style, but just find out what is going on. Maybe the teacher hasn't even realized the problem. Sometimes treats come from every direction... The school as a whole gives students treats, the teacher does a treat, a parent brings in a treat, and a special event has a treat. BAM! Four treats! It is hard to regulate when it comes from all angles, so just give the teacher the heads up that it seems to be a bit heavy lately. He or she should hopefully understand and hopefully agree!! (I don't know any teachers who ACTUALLY think candy and treats are good for classroom management or kid's learning... jeebus! They are just fun and should be OCCASIONALLY not REGULAR)

Phew... Sigh... I hope this helped a little, if nothing else I joined your rant too

 

[Kumo]

Personally, I think the "meanest" moms are the ones who care more about what's easy and cheap than what is good for their child's health. I think you must be an A+ mom.

What worries me about practices like this is not only is the "treat" very unhealthy, using junk food as a reward is just awful. It really sets the stage for eating problems later in life - you think "Well, I did this and this, so I deserve pizza/chips/candy/soda" etc. and before you know it you're "rewarding" yourself everyday with junk. You feel bad, you need some comfort food. You feel good, well, you deserve a treat. It can easily get to the point where every situation calls for a junk food treat/comfort.

Something tells me my future child is going to somehow be home schooled or private schooled...somehow. :/ Public schools don't seem to be making progress. (Pizza is a vegetable, after all.

)

 

[svzee]

I have a first grader and a kindergartener. We do not participate in any of the school fund raisers, so my kids don't ever qualify for the 'rewards'. Instead, with each fund raiser packet/note that gets sent home I send back to school the next day with a $5 bill and a note that says we will not be participating in whatever the fund raiser is, but here's $5 to help support whatever group the fund raiser is for (PTA, new gym equipment etc). This has worked really well for us-no stressing out about selling, no bugging friends and family to buy junk they don't want, and no disappointment from my kids when they don't sell the ridiculous amounts needed to get the prizes.

For classroom events like parties, rewards for hitting goals etc I just don't let it bother me, but try and bring in a healthy option when the teacher asks for food donations. Our school does emphasize healthy eating which is nice. Each of my daughters have to bring a snack every day and it must be a fruit or veggie, dairy (like string cheese or yogurt), or crackers. Any cake type item, candy etc will be returned home with the student.