kool-aid and donuts at 8:45am?! - Page 4

[Emmeline II]

Yeah!

I can "teach" my child not to eat it all I like, but he would not turn down koolaid and donuts; it would be nice if the school was not providing them when I am not in a position to intervene.

School should be setting the example of healthy food choices in the school when they are providing the food.

[NellieKatz]

We homeschool but sometimes I come over here to read anyway. And oh my gosh I was so surprised to see that your letter was not immediately met with pure cheers and encouragement. You go ,girl!!! I hope you DO send it. AND get involved. It's not often someone takes it upon themselves to "fight city hall" as the old saying goes. Every single parent should do the same, and then something would change. This issue is HUGE.

[blessedwithboys]

omg! i just found out i am being given 5-7 mins at the PTO meeting tomorrow night to try to drum up interest and support! i am so unprepared to make a presentation! i dont hav ea problem with fear of public speaking, i just dont know what to say to convince the other parents this is a good idea. its going to be the the most-attended meeting all year bc they are serving free take out from a local burger joint, so instead of the usual 50 or 100 parents there might be two or three times that.

help me make a quick outline of points i want to cover. i should say something about how we already have a WP, its just time to adhere to it (that way i sound less like someone out to ruin everyones fun! LOL) maybe a quick stat about childhood obesity, etc.? i need ideas mamas, pretty please.

[VroomieMama]

I found this website useful when I researched on childhood obesity 2 years ago during my sociology senior seminar class.

http://www.obesity.org/information/c...overweight.asp


http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/index.html

More links that I googled:

http://www.google.com/search?q=child...ient=firefox-a

I had read all of comments on this thread and wanted to applaud you for your courageous acts.

Good luck on your presentation and tell us how it went.

P.s. I hope there will be no rude people in the audience making assumptions about you because you commented that you're overweight due to health problems. Be ready to defend yourself. I know you'll just be fine.

HUGS!!!

[blessedwithboys]

vroomiemama, you read my mind! i was just sitting here making an outline, thinking, "who is gonna listen to a fat person talk about health?" oh well, maybe if some jerk decides to speak up, i'll talk about being fed formula mixed with rice cereal and my early initiation into the clean plate club. LOL and yes, fibromyalgia make it extremely difficult to get adequate exercise, but i am still active on a daily basis. i'm not grotesquely obese, but i think i'll make sure to pick out a slimming business casual outfit to wear to the meeting.

[blessedwithboys]

wanted to add that everyone there knows my kids and both of them are extremely fit, so there's all the cred i need! LOL

[VroomieMama]

I'm looking forward to hearing about your presentation!

May I PM you and ask you questions about fibromyalgia? I'm having pains and I have had several blood works and test results have not confirmed what I'm having.

[blessedwithboys]

sure, pm and ask away (((hugs)))

[mommy2maya]

The only way to get anything done as far as what the PTA does at my kids school, and any others that I am aware of, is to do it yourself. Really, that is it. If you aren't offering to spearhead it, you will be met with a nod and oh yes, it is not the healthiest, but, meh, what can we do................ So, do what many other previous posters have already offered up= do it yourself. Offer to chair the foods committee. Bring stuff in. Donate healthy snacks for the event. Go to a pta meeting and bring it up, with others in attendance with you that feel the same way.

[JessicaS]

I do agree that it is easier if you are working on the issue or are a part of it.

When my dd attended PS there was several children with allergies in her class so rather than bring any sweets for parties we always brought a bunch of fruit.

After a bit of this other parents in the class started going along bringing cheese or veggies. The kids loved the healthy snacks. Even though numerous notes were sent home regarding all the allergies some parents still sent baked goods or chocolate. Those things were sent back home to the parent that sent them. I don't know why but some people just don't seem to understand the allergy issue, they don't read any notes sent home or they don't care.

I do think it is entirely possible for one to give children a healthier snack without breaking the budget but it would require some effort on the PTAs part to prepare it.

I would not like my child being fed koolaid and donuts. I do allow junk now and then but not just junk with junk but why couldn't they do donuts and milk or koolaid and something healthier?

That is just ridiculous. What kids can concentrate after being fed so much sugar? My kid would have completely flipped out on that and been impossible to deal with all day. She can't just eat sugar she has to have protein with it. I get irritated if my dh feeds my dd pancakes without protein with them for breakfast, I can't imagine trying to teach 25 little kids filled to the brim on it and how much did the kids learn that day? I am sure they learned how fast they can get on orange or red and how to lose recess when they are already hyper.

It sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.

Also, the kids with nut allergies probably wouldn't have been able to eat them.

[blessedwithboys]

well, i got my 5-7 mins of fame, not sure how it went though...the meeting was really sort of out of order, i mean everyone was talking amongst themselves, and by the time i got to the front and took the mic i just really felt the vibe of the room was all wrong. anyway, i asked for a show of hands of any who knew we has a wellness policy posted on our website and only 2 ppl out of about 100 raised their hands. i asked how many ppl knew the requirement to have one was an act of congress and one of the two put her hand down. LOL

anyway, i didnt say much, but i did make apoint to say that the changes werent about taking anything away from the kids, we just intended to make more nutritious substitutions. then i said we would need parental support and asked for any who were on board to see me after the meeting. 2 parents and 2 teachers approached me to say they wanted to do whatever they could to help, so i am not alone as i feared! LOL

and the principal is behind us, he just has too much else to do to take charge, which is okey dokey with me, bc i am a control freak and want to chair the committe anyway. LOL he did a short powerpoint presentation of all the accomplishments our school had this year and the last frame was a list of "good things to come" and on the list was "food service alternatives" and when he read it he mentioned my name, so i know he's for real.

tomorrow an email blast goes out to all the faculty and we go from there. next week is the end of the year, so we probably wont do anything til after the summer.

oh, and to keep involved in the PTO and to add some credibility to myself, i allowed myself to be nominated for an executive position on the PTO totally unrelated to the WC, so now am really in for it! haha

thanks all for the support.

[naismama]

Hi Blessed~

I've been lurking this thread...just wanted to give you a

--naismama

[Toolip]

awesome!
I hate talking at meetings where no one is listening and everyone is really just there for the free food A classroom of kids acting like that would never be tolerated!
Sounds like it went pretty great! You know, a political advocacy teacher at my school once told me that the ideal number of people to organize an action to make change is 5-7, no matter how large the cause. You need several people to network and get resources but too many is not an advantage so it sounds like you are in a good situation!

[blessedwithboys]

any opinions on my suggestion that we add a "no smoking anywhere on campus" amendment to the wellness policy? an executive member of the PTO was smoking a ciggy while throwing a football with some kids right outside the back door of the school last night. we had to go in that door to get to the meeting, thus, we had to walk through his cancer cloud.

i know i sound like such a discontented person. LOL i guess i am, i just want the healthiest environment possible for the kids.

[mommy2maya]

I'm surprised that there isn't one already. Everywhere I know of has no smoking on school grounds at all, and has since *I* was in high school!

[blessedwithboys]

the state doesnt prohibit smoking in designated areas on campus. the district doesnt, either. it seems like its a school issue, but i hate to be the one to complain about everything, so i need to get someone else to bring it up at the WC meeting.

[JessicaS]

Good for you!!

I really admire you for putting your money where your mouth is.


I think smoking policies like that tend to be state laws don't they?