School Parties

[lizann]

Oh my, it has been soooo long since I opened this website, can't believe it! And now I'm back. Oh it feels so good.

Anyway.....get to my point!

I finally have my chance! My son has just started 1st grade in public school. Very nice school, but very ordinary.

So, at open house, I signed up to the room parent for the Halloween Party, but not the Christmas party. Then I saw the Valentine's Day party, and I said "sure, let's go for it, get rid of the red dye!" hahaha! alterial motives here.

Last year, when my son started kindergarten there, I had printed out the information for the principal, teacher and school nurse of Feingold's studies on food related issues with kids.
This year I gave the teacher the website. But at the first PTA meeting, I'm bringing the articles again. (I might downsize it a bit, it was rather long that I handed out last year)

So, my question out there is....I want to plan parties that are fun and great, but not the sugary crappy foods that are normally served. Anyone out there experienced here? I figure Halloween should be pretty easy. I can go the caramel apple or something of the kind...and maybe get a bit healthier that way...and search for a bakery or something that offers some good bakery goods. (no home food can be brought to school)

I want to make a change in this school. even if it's a little subtle to start. Valentine's day will be discussed later.

Anyone thought about this for their kids' classes?

Thanks and I'm so glad to be back. Not that I have more time or anything to spend on the computer and chatting, but I love this website.

Peace to all,
Liz
mom to 3 children, oldest in 1st grade
wife to the most wonderful man on earth!

[4evermom]

If you have a Whole Foods near you, I would try them for bakery items so you can be sure that they don't have partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats).

[UUMom]

M
muffins, cereal, bagels, juice, popcorn, and the like. The room parents put this together. Maybe the other classes had room parents who did candy--i don't know. I was called to donate a 1/2 gallon of milk for the cereal and I brought in ogranic milk from whole foods. I also brought in a box of natural cereal as an alternative to any froot loops, but as i recall the parent in charge of cereal brought in Cheerios.

[menudo]

I have to laugh. DS goes to Headstart and they are the closest to health minded I have ever met..and by that I mean I was told "No sugary cupcakes, the yhave to have the whipped cream type icing!" :LOL OR "I only get real stuff, apple juice or CAPRI SUN!" And these people go to state mandated nutrition classes.

Good luck. I once questioned hot dogs at DD school and all parents/teachers could not fathom WHY I would ever do that!

[UUMom]

Originally Posted by bebesho2

I have to laugh. DS goes to Headstart and they are the closest to health minded I have ever met..and by that I mean I was told "No sugary cupcakes, the yhave to have the whipped cream type icing!" :LOL OR "I only get real stuff, apple juice or CAPRI SUN!" And these people go to state mandated nutrition classes.

Good luck. I once questioned hot dogs at DD school and all parents/teachers could not fathom WHY I would ever do that!

room mothers organize parties--so they can ask parents to bring whatever they need. If they rganize a breakfast, as is the halloween tradition, they can call families to doante specific items-1/2 gallon of milk, dozen bagels, pound of grapes etc. It works out well to coordinate it this way. I'd also say your school is ahead of the curve with the capri sun, as I recently watched a preschool group on a fiield trip to a zoo sit the kids down and pass out paper cups of soda. I tried not to stare in horror. But there the teachers were, with these big old double liters of coke and sprite going around filling cups.

[lizann]

wow, soda to preschoolers? what are they thinking? craziness....people just don't care and not educated or they just don't care. it's not their kids, so why worry....unreal.

thanks for the tips. we really only have an hour for the party, so I should be able to keep it relatively healthy!

Liz

[lorijds]

Fruit and popcorn always goes over really well. So do nuts (if no one has a food allergy). I find that the kids in my dds' classes like the less usual fruits -- kiwis, strawberries, blueberries, grapes. Anything other than the usual apples, bananas, and oranges (though they like those, too, they just like the other stuff better).

You could also make yogurt frozen fruit pops -- for valentines day you could do strawberry ones. If you use brown cow whole milk vanilla yogurt, they come out pretty sweet and creamy, and no one is the wiser!