Category: School policy
Healthy Classrooms Initiative: Educating Teachers on Healthy School Celebrations, Non-Food Rewards & More
| July 30, 2014 | Posted by Stacy under Classroom parties, Food rewards, Healthy parties, Healthy snacks, Junk food in school, Making change, School food, School parties, School policy, School wellness programs, Teachers, Wellness policy |
I’m so excited to have teamed up with a local registered dietitian to create an education initiative targeting the people in our school community with the greatest power to influence our kids: our teachers. When a school district doesn’t have a firm policy when it comes to classroom food, teachers are the ones who decide how to handle […] more
The Ultimate School District Wellness Policy: From Classroom Parties to Junk Food Ads
| October 3, 2013 | Posted by Stacy under School policy, Wellness policy |
This year, my kids had barely been back at school for a week when I heard those dreaded words: “Mom, I had a cookie THIS BIG for [so-and-so’s] birthday,” my second grader announced, spreading his hands wide. He likes to torture me with detailed descriptions of the junk food that he gets at school (the same […] more
Kindergarten Teachers Cracking Down On Junky Classroom Snacks
| September 5, 2013 | Posted by Stacy under Healthy school snacks, Healthy snacks, Junk food in school, School policy, Wellness policy |
Two years ago, I was sending my first baby, now age 7, off to kindergarten. This week, it was my twins’ turn. Same school, same teacher. But NEW rules about junk food in the classroom. Included in my twins’ kindergarten “Welcome” packet was an entire page of guidelines on snacks brought from home: Ok, do you […] more
Why the USDA’s New Snack Rules Won’t Put an End to Junk Food in School
| July 12, 2013 | Posted by Stacy under Junk food in school, School policy, Smart snacks, USDA policy |
For the record, I LOVE the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for cracking down on unhealthy foods sold at school. I LOVE organizations like the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and MomsRising.org for doing so much to support it. I LOVE that the proposed nutritional standards for foods sold during the […] more
What to Do If Your School Wellness Policy Isn’t Being Enforced: A Guide for Parents
| April 5, 2013 | Posted by Stacy under Improving school food, Junk food in school, School policy, Wellness policy |
Fed up with all the junk food at your kid’s school? Yeah, me, too. Every time I pick up my kids from school only to discover that they’ve been chowing down on brownies or chocolate-covered Oreos or candy (which seems to happen at least twice a week), I can’t help but think: In the midst […] more
Taking a Stand Against Junk Food in School: Why It’s Hard–But We Need to Anyway!
| February 28, 2013 | Posted by Stacy under 100th Day of School, Classroom treats, Cupcakes, Food Nazis, Improving school food, Junk food in school, School parties, School policy, Sugar |
It’s February 28, and barring any unforeseen treats at school today, here’s a final tally of my first grader’s classroom junk food scores for the month: two frosted cupcakes; chocolate fudge; salt-water taffy; a bag of 100 Days of School trail mix consisting of candy corn, marshmallows, Cheez-Its, and yogurt-covered pretzels; and a big box filled with Valentine’s candy (mini […] more
Why Candy Valentines Don’t Belong in School (and What You Can Do About Them)
| February 21, 2013 | Posted by Stacy under Healthy treats, Junk food in school, School parties, School policy |
It’s been a week since Valentine’s Day, and the blogosphere is still abuzz with talk about the mountain of candy that was passed out at school. And this time, I’m not the only one ranting. Over at Real Mom Nutrition, Sally Kuzemchak, R.D., lamented about how the natural red foods party for her third grader’s […] more
Putting the Squeeze on Juice: Why Too Much is Bad for Kids and How Schools Can Encourage Water Instead
| November 8, 2012 | Posted by Stacy under School policy |
American kids drink too much juice. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a max of 4 to 6 ounces a day for children ages 1 to 6; 7– to 17-year-olds should have no more than 8 to 12 ounces. According to research, most kids (especially younger ones) are guzzling considerably more. While 100 percent […] more
Report: School Involvement Critical in the Obesity Fight
| May 11, 2012 | Posted by Stacy under School policy |
It was hard to miss this week’s staggering news on the battle of the bulge: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now predicts that 42 percent of the American population will be obese and 11 percent will be severely obese by the year 2030. Meanwhile, at a waistline-focused meeting of the minds in […] more
I created this blog to raise awareness and start a dialogue about the various issues involved in school food. By writing about it, I hope to provide parents and educators with ideas and inspiration for making healthy changes in their own schools. Since healthy eating habits start at home, I also address common feeding challenges faced by parents.
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