Speaking of school parties...

[journeymom]

And not just parties, I'm including those doughnuts or cupcakes that kids hand out on their birthdays.

Are you at all successful implementing some healthy treats at these events?

After preschool and Kindergarten at a private Montessori school where the teachers were more health conscious than the parents, dd's 1st grade at public school was a shock. Not only did the teacher use candy and cookies as rewards for good behavior (and good academic work!) but every party was this explosion of cake, candy, punch and potato chips. And fruit. At least there was fruit. And the teacher and some of the moms were always amazed when many of the kids ate more fruit than crap.

To my way of thinking, any treats my dd had had at school meant she couldn't have something at home. Which was sometimes very disappointing and frustrating for me, because I'd have made a batch of cookies or a pie for dessert, or maybe I was looking forward to sharing some pre -Halloween candy with her, but now I felt like I couldn't. (I had much more courage of my convictions back then... :LOL )

Add to that 20 birthdays celebrated throughout the year (and I really resented and resisted bringing cupcakes or whatever to school for my daughter to hand out.) and that's a lot of junk served in my child's classroom. I questioned her teacher about all the candy and treats and she said, "Oh it's just once in while, it's fun, it makes the kids feel good." But! It's NOT just once in a while! With all the holidays and birthdays (and don't forget the fricking 100th day of school celebration) it adds up to a lot of junk food!



People are lazy, afraid of hearing their kids complain when they don't get junk food, and don't give their kids enough credit for their capacity to enjoy healthy food.

[UUMom]

I try not make too much of an issue about school food. My kids are really healthy & active, and *rarely* ill. The food I give them is high quality. Two of my children have never had antibiotics. My teen has only had antobiotics once for strep when he was in 6th grade and that's it. The other child had them pre surgery, and then for strep 4 yrs later.

They don't have weight or behavior issues, so I feel OK about our level of particpation in the school stuff. If i saw lethargy, skin problems, allergies, weight or behavioral issues, I might try another tactic.

Although, really, my schooled kids are too old for me to monitor them that way. As it is, all my kids make pretty good choices, so I am loathe to mess with what anything.

[lorijds]

Sure, it's easy. First, you ned to accept that crap is going to be served. You can't control what other people think is okay for a party for school (this was a hard one for me to come to terms with, but Im' there now). Someone is always going to bring yucky food. YOU just always need to bring something good.

There are actually several of us in both my kids' classrooms who always bring yummy, healthy treats. I always try to bring fresh fruit and cheese to the parties; another mama brings this yummy popcorn that is spiced with Spike and nutritional yeast. Another dad, the parent of two vegans in the class, always brings some sort of vegan muffins. The kids take a little bit of everything, usually. Either they have lemonade or water to drink, sometimes in my older dd's room, they'll have soda. My kids don't drink soda, though (their choice) so they just drink water or what they have left over from lunch.

For a birthday snack I try to make something fancy, like a fruit torte, or I'll bring in hot chocolate with whipped cream and some chocolate dipped strawberries (always a vegan equivalent for the twins). Not the healthiest, but not the worst, either.

My kids eat healthily at home and during lunch. I don't fret too much about it. I've noticed they never eat a bunch of crap, even if they take it. They know they have to ride their bikes home after school--crap doesn't make you feel good onthe bike ride home (we live on a hill)!.

Lori

[journeymom]

Well! I was a rampage. I think I'm ramping up for my period.

Thanks for some perspective. Yes, my kids eat reasonably well. And no one has been as bad as dd's 1st grade teacher.

[lorijds]

Well, you know, it's the mama bear in us. And frankly, I think it is the loss of control when you send your kids to school. I still struggle with balancing being an attentive, involved mama and being an overbearing mama. I'm still not sure there is a difference between the two.... :LOL

[UUMom]

Yep. And it's not that any of us wishes our kids served lower quality food... just sometimes you have to pick your battles and hope your kids choose a wide variety of various foods...and have a taste for the cleaner, more whole foods.

I feel a little differently about very small kids- i do think we have to help preserve their developing taste buds. After a certain point, however, we have no control over many outside situations.

[3boysmom]

After a few years of teachers and parents complaining about the constant school parties using up vaulable teaching time and filling the kids with sugar, our school made it policy that any birthday treats could only be brought into the lunch room and served for dessert - no full-blown parties. Now, after a few years of that system they've decided to take it a step further and ban all birthday treats at school. The kids get their name announced during the morning announcements on their birthday and the principal visits them in their classroom on their birthday and delivers birthday wishes and a special birthday pencil. That's it - no more cupcakes or Krispy Kreme donuts doled out at lunch. A few parents complained but the vast majority are very positive about the change.

[UUMom]

My ds school doesn't do birthday parties-- the children all eat lunch together in their own classrooms with their teachers, and children are free to bring in snacks to share for b'days. Not all kids do and not all b'days are during the school yr.

I would not send my child to a school that banned all parties & gatherings. If that were my only choice, the schooled kid would be home, for sure. Such things, imo, are community- building. Some of my oldest child's fondest memories of elementary school, fi, were these lovley little rituals. Like the halloween breakfast and parade. I love watching those big hulking 8th graders holding the hands of little K's while they share their excitement of a little parade.

All i can say in that am glad we can choose this school for the child who does want school. I hate the over-abundance of 'rules' which seems to be the direction public schools are heading in. Rules for toileting, rules for clothing, rules for whether you can share familial stories (like Ramadan, Christmas and Sukkot etc etc-- all which at some point, offers the sharing of food with friends). And the lovely Zero Tolerance idea that has banned 5 yr olds from school for hugging, calling it 'sexual harrassment'. I would rather rely on trusting families to have common sense, with the school offerring guidleines on how best to share.

An all -out ban on everything personal is sterile and limiting.

Not that's what you are saying, but it got me to thinking about the rules rules rules tules rules!! schools put into place to keep students and families in their place. I hate that schools pull such power plays on the very people they work for! For our own good, of course.

[3boysmom]

Only birthday parties were stopped. We still have Halloween and Valentine's celebrations, Chinese New Year parade and party, summer reader's celebration, etc. The birthday thing really was out of hand - I'm glad they stopped it.

[UUMom]

[QUOTE=3boysmom]Only birthday parties were stopped. We still have Halloween and Valentine's celebrations, Chinese New Year parade and party, summer reader's celebration, etc. The birthday thing really was out of hand - I'm glad they stopped it.[/QUOTE

I would imagine that birthday parties every day could get unruly. Parents here don't do anything other than perhaps bring in a snack to share at lunch. My son likes to bring in microwavable popcorn on his b'day. Which is coming up. Better get some.

[UUMom]

Jourenymom--maybe you could go the PTO and ask if you could head up a parent group to come together and brainstorm some guidlelines on sharing food. Together come up with a list of food ideas to share with each other ? A list that could eventually be sent home in a th paretn packet or put in the school newslaetter? The list could be presented in a way that doesn't make some foods 'good' and some foods 'bad'--which could get ugly.

[momsgotmilk4two]

I would maybe bring the birthday issue to the PTA. In my son's class, they have an "unbirthday party" for everyone in the class, once during the year. Then you don't take anything to school on your child's birthday. They sing to him and make a birthday crown, but that's it. I wouldn't like it much if my child's teacher was giving out candy for rewards either. I'd rather it be stickers or small toys if they are going to give out rewards. I doubt I'd make a huge issue out of it, but it is contradictory to what they are supposed to be teaching. They are supposed to be teaching about proper nutrition and healthy eating and excersize, and then they turn around and give them candy all the time? Halloween I can understand, but not an every day or even once a week thing. Like you said, I'd rather be in charge (for the most part) of when and what my child gets for a treat.

[vamp127]

I've already had my tirade this year. 4yo DS came home from AM pre-K and told me he had a chocolate cupcake...at 11AM! So now he was loaded up with sugar and didn't want the lunch I had made. After talking to the teacher, I found out that the kids will get a snack at 11 everyday. Why right before they go home? Are they determined to mess up my meal schedule? At least the school provided snacks are better--pretzels, bananas, etc.

For my 7yo DD, I usually make something healthy. I've made low-fat, no sugar muffins; fruit pizza (fresh fruit on a whole oat crust); and individual bags of granola. The first response is always, "what, no cupcakes?" but then the kids try it and eat everything up.

[Sneezykids]

This is interesting. Dd's class allows for a short party (they had one today) they sign AND sing the Birthday song and have a snack. A popular one is rootbeer floats in small cups.
I agree with a lot of the other posters, my dd makes good choices with food otherwise. I volunteered last Christmas time w/ gingerbread houses, which involved alot of frosting and candy. Each child was allowed to eat them when completed or take them home, most kids chose to eat a few pieces and then tossed them out. I was really kind of shocked they didn't dig in to all that junk! A nice surprise to see kids throw out candy (not even take it home!) they had fun making them though.

[UUMom]

Originally Posted by Sneezykids

This is interesting. Dd's class allows for a short party (they had one today) they sign AND sing the Birthday song and have a snack. A popular one is rootbeer floats in small cups.
I agree with a lot of the other posters, my dd makes good choices with food otherwise. I volunteered last Christmas time w/ gingerbread houses, which involved alot of frosting and candy. Each child was allowed to eat them when completed or take them home, most kids chose to eat a few pieces and then tossed them out. I was really kind of shocked they didn't dig in to all that junk! A nice surprise to see kids throw out candy (not even take it home!) they had fun making them though.

I agree!! It *is* interesing! Today, my oldest dd (who has not been in school since 3rd grade and is now a teen) said that the thing she missies most about school is making gingerbread houses!! I was kinda stunned, really. I reminded her that we made these ourselves last yr and the year before. (They have an aunt who loves doing all that. It's not really my area. lol) My dd stood there-- silent--in the middle ACMoore--for several seconds. Suddenly her eyes brightened and she said 'Oh, yeah! You are right, we did!" Her little sister was somewhat beside herself, calling "Yes, we did!! We did! We did! Don't you remember?!"

She finally said she did remember, but that she loved doing it with her classmates. Which I though was rather interesting. I took away this: warm fuzzies are warm fuzzies and adults sometimes don't know what is important.

BTW- these children are the ones of mine who have never needed antibiotics. My teen dd is *esp* healthy. The last time she was sick--like vomiting etc., was when I was pregnant with her little brother---over a decade ago.

Some things matter more than we think, and some thing do not matter at all.

[Sneezykids]

UUmom, ITA and my mantra is 'everything' in moderation. Aside from my kids allergies (which is more genetically related) both have only had antibiotics maybe twice and I never was the kind of parent to 'finish' the meds. Yesterday my ds came home from preschool and grabbed an apple for me to wash