Tired of junk food in schools rant

amother

Firebrick

Fri, Jun 07 2024, 9:36 am

Bh our school does not do nash like that. Snacks are fresh fruit/veg for mornings and plain crackers in the afternoon. No sweets. Rosh chodesh they are allowed pretzels or popcorn
Birthdays they bring in a plain cake, no icing to share in class.
Moms are really sensible- even on Purim they exchange fruit leather or a couple of sweets and a fruit juice. No cans, no shlushies.

We are not crazy health conscious or restrictive, we just have a selection of treats which is further away from sugar and additive loaded trash. And I think we are all healthier for it. The kids don't complain - I explain that those foods are really unhealthy and why and they have tried them but they haven't learned to develop that supr sweet taste and so they actually spit it all out and tell me it is gross. After a long time eating fruit as a sweet, sugary sweets taste a bit bitter and make your mouth feel gross.

I live in a MO community, fwiw. Throw those rotten tomatoes at us.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Fri, Jun 07 2024, 9:37 am

amother Tanzanite wrote:

Imamother tends to skew a certain way when it comes to natural health related topics. You will find a lot more sympathy and understanding on platforms with more like-minded people.

Can you direct me on them I can use support in this area too

amother

↑ OP ↓

Fri, Jun 07 2024, 9:39 am

amother Firebrick wrote:

That sounds dreamy! Please tell me more. Where do you live? What does MO mean

amother

↑ Tanzanite ↓

Fri, Jun 07 2024, 9:48 am

amother OP wrote:

Can you direct me on them I can use support in this area too

There are some whatsapp groups but I don't have specifics. Loads of Facebook groups too but not necessarily frum.

It's a pretty lonely place to be if you're mainstream frum.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Fri, Jun 07 2024, 10:00 am

amother Tanzanite wrote:

There are some whatsapp groups but I don't have specifics. Loads of Facebook groups too but not necessarily frum.

It's a pretty lonely place to be if you're mainstream frum.

It's really sad that mainstream frum isn't a place that this is a big deal because realistically they have so many issues with the children in schools- pandas adhd and just children that are struggling staying med free. Food has so much to do with it. It's clear as day! It should be a huge issue and change should be made. I'm happy to see the kosher snack companies making more snacks that are higher quality and not full of harmful ingredients. So we know that the Jewish community is demanding it. Like lollipops without food coloring and fruit leather made out of fruits

amother

↑ Tanzanite ↓

Fri, Jun 07 2024, 10:04 am

amother OP wrote:

Yes there are so many "better" options out there these days, the toxic stuff is completely unnecessary. And you're right it's a huge issue, and we need systemic change, and so many kids would be helped if they had a cleaner diet.

My kids are older than yours and I've just about given up the fight. And no, they're not "just fine". It's a sad reality.

↑ kneidelmeidel ↓

Fri, Jun 07 2024, 10:17 am

sara1232 wrote:

People who grow up deprived are probably more likely to develop sugar addictions later on.

Thanks for your concern, but my children are not remotely deprived of sugar, they’re just educated, and not addicted, so they’re able to have a bit and then stop, they don’t crave it and beg for it and make a scene, every time we go grocery shopping.

amother

Cognac ↓

Fri, Jun 07 2024, 10:18 am

I am a principal of a small school. I have so much respect for one of our parents, a mother, who is a registered dietitian. Unlike heath "coaches" or "nutritionists", she went to school and got a masters in the field and truly knows what she's doing.

She has never uttered a peep about what her daughter's teachers give out and the opposite, she has participated as a sponsor for rosh chodesh treats many times, always bringing the typical treats that the kids love.

I've asked her about it and her response is so healthy in my opinion. She wants her daughter to have the typical school experience and develop a healthy relationship with food. Nothing is toxic or poison. She allows her daughter to eat whatever she wants in school and accounts for it as she menu plans for the rest of the week. Her daughter has her gushers or ice pop or donut but she, unlike the kids who clearly are forbidden to eat it, stops at one. You can always tell who has a mother who restricts the kids to an obsessive level (NOT saying OP does), because those are the kids who beg for more and even grab when they think no one is looking.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Fri, Jun 07 2024, 10:20 am

kneidelmeidel wrote:

I SO agree on teaching children so they can make their own choices. There's also candy with food coloring and candy without. It's not about no candy at all. People are missing the point

amother

↑ Tanzanite ↓

Fri, Jun 07 2024, 10:23 am

amother Cognac wrote:

Why does a typical school experience have to include gushers, donuts and ice cream?

amother

↑ OP ↓

Fri, Jun 07 2024, 10:25 am

amother Cognac wrote:

As the principal of a school can you tell me why the nosh situation is so out of hand? Many children really cant handle even 1 gusher are you aware of that? This isn't about restriction but about better choices and sometimes you work against the parents trying to keep their child med free

↑ kneidelmeidel

Fri, Jun 07 2024, 10:26 am

amother OP wrote:

I SO agree on teaching children so they can make their own choices. There's also candy with food coloring and candy without. It's not about no candy at all. People are missing the point

Exactly. It’s also about how we’re wiring those little brains. If we always use sugar as a reward, this hardwires their brains to see sugar as the ultimate, this can take a lifetime to undo. It’s simply unfair to them.

amother

↑ Cognac ↓

Fri, Jun 07 2024, 10:28 am

amother Tanzanite wrote:

Why does a typical school experience have to include gushers, donuts and ice cream?

One pack of gushers on rosh chodesh, because the parent who sponsored it decided that's what they wanted to buy. It comes with maybe 6 in a pack. A donut, same reason. A scoop of ice cream. What's wrong with one serving of the above? One serving at school, once a month. 10 times a year. If you are of the "everything in moderation" camp, this is all a healthy approach.

A typical 2nd grade class will have 10 rosh chodesh treats a year, maybe 9. two siyums (popcorn, corn chips, a dumdum). The chanukah chagiga, the parents come so they can decide what they want their kid to eat. Purim masiba is a hamentashen or two. End of year is pizza.

Moderation. Not obsession.

amother

↑ Cognac ↓

Fri, Jun 07 2024, 10:30 am

amother OP wrote:

If a child can literally not have one gusher, it's usually because they have DT1. So they don't get their gusher - or more likely, the parents account for the gusher and give the insulin they need. Why? Because even their doctor agrees it's good to have sometimes.

If a kid can not have ONE gusher, please take them to see the dr.

amother

↑ Tanzanite ↓

Fri, Jun 07 2024, 10:31 am

amother OP wrote:

And another thing to keep in mind as a principal is that if mothers have to work their menu around what their kids are getting in school, kids can end up resenting that too because it doesn't leave a lot of opportunity for parents to treat their children. I would love to take my kids for ice cream or *gasp* slurpees once in a real LONG while, but if every week in school is another opportunity for another party, I just can't bring myself to do it. And then in their eyes I'm the healthy mother who "only" buys them healthy treats.

amother

↑ Cognac ↓

Fri, Jun 07 2024, 10:32 am

amother OP wrote:

I described our "nosh situation" which I do not believe is at all out of hand. What amounts to maybe one treat a month - a small serving - is a moderate approach.

Again, I really refer to the RD who I spoke with at our school and if I'm going to be honest, I saw an RD personally for myself. If the RD community agrees that a moderate approach is appropriate, I'm not going to argue or defend.

amother

↑ Cognac ↓

Fri, Jun 07 2024, 10:33 am

amother Tanzanite wrote:

You are being super black and white.

The RD mom WANTS this for her kid. She wants the children to have the fun snacks with their friends. And if she wants to take her kid for a slurpee, she does that too! Because she otherwise makes healthy choices and sees a slurpee as part of that.

amother

↑ Tanzanite ↓

Fri, Jun 07 2024, 10:48 am

Op these threads always end up the same. You're extreme, you're messing them up emotionally, they'll be picking jelly beans up off the floor and sneaking when nobody's looking and it'll all be your fault for depriving them.

You need moderation, balance, healthy relationship with food, some candy is good, it's not the end of the world, it's fun, it's part of normal childhood, let them enjoy. Dieticians agree!! //sarcasm

Seriously though, as someone who's part of your tribe, go find us elsewhere.