Candy For Ice Skating? WHAT?!? How I’m Fighting Back Against Junk Food in Kids’ Sports
| April 19, 2013 | Posted by Stacy under Food rewards, Healthy snacks, Sports snacks |
I’m just your basic mom trying to raise healthy kids in a junk-food world. Some moms don’t care about all the junk. Some choose to ignore it. Still others are bothered but don’t say anything. I am not one of them. I’m tired of having my children shoveled full of crap. I can’t stay silent anymore. I’m fighting back.
Last week on my Facebook page, I explained how my 5-year-old twins were offered Red Vines candy as a snack at the first of six group ice skating classes. At the time, I asked the woman in charge whether she intended to give out candy every week. She said that they usually provide either Red Vines or cookies for the skaters. She explained that they purposely chose Red Vines because they’re not too high in calories. Plus, some kids arrive hungry after school and look forward to getting a treat.
I politely explained that Red Vines contain a food dye with known health risks and asked if they would consider serving bananas or another fruit instead. The kids get sugary treats everywhere they go, from the gas station to school, I pointed out. It would be great if they could offer a healthy snack that would truly satisfy their hunger and teach them the right way to fuel up for exercise.
She seemed to see my point but then mentioned that no other mom has ever taken issue with the candy, which surprised me–I guess. Back at home, I decided to follow up with an email to hammer my point home. It went like this:
Dear SUPER-AWESOME ICE SKATING LADY,
Lately, sugary treats seem to have replaced fresh fruits as the go-to choice on the sidelines of most sports, from hockey to soccer. I would love to see the ice skating club take a leadership role and help turn the tide by offering only nutritious nibbles.
While Red Vines may be low in calories and fat, they contain mostly sugar and a food dye (Red 40) that has been linked to hyperactivity and allergic reactions and is required to carry a warning label in Europe.
Major medical organizations also discourage the use of candy and sugary treats as a reward.
Bananas, popcorn and clementines are perfect examples of inexpensive foods that would help satisfy kids’ hunger, fuel them for ice skating, and benefit their bodies. I may be the only mom to have spoken up, but I can guarantee you that plenty of other parents are equally as concerned about junk food in their kids’ diets–and would be happy to know that the figure skating club is helping by providing healthy snacks.
I know that the club cares about our kids and wants the best for them. I would be happy to contribute a healthy snack if you are interested in giving it a test run. Returning skaters might miss the candy and cookies at first, but I think they would forget about them quickly and grow to love and appreciate the healthy offerings just as much.
Thanks for your consideration.
Sincerely,
J&R’s MOM
I never got a response to my email, so I was really curious about what would happen at today’s lesson. Would Red Vines or cookies be served? At last week’s session, I told my kids that they could have a Red Vine this one time–next time, however, we would say, “No, thank you.” But they just turned five, and it is hard to ask them to refuse candy or cookies that their friends are devouring. So I packed bananas and a couple Yummi Earth organic lollipops just in case.
As it turns out, I didn’t need them. We arrived to find a glass bowl filled with clementines and small boxes of organic raisins (see photo above). Which, by the way, the wee skaters ate enthusiastically. I can still hear one little four-year-old saying (over and over), “I love raisins!! I love raisins!!” Yessssss! I am one happy mama.
Believe me when I say that I hate being a squeaky wheel. I really do. But I’m unwilling to sit back and pretend that I’m OK with the junk food pushing anymore. I’ve come to realize that change is unlikely to happen if parents don’t demand it. Real Mom Nutrition’s Soccer Snacktivism Handbook has some great tips if you want to talk to your child’s coach or sports league about healthier snacks. It can’t hurt and can only help. And right now, I’m sure glad that I did.
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.
I always hate running interference on my child’s behalf, but after 6 seasons of baseball, he is in the routine of coming to me first with his drink/snack to see if I approve. Most of the time, he can have one or the other (if it’s 100% juice or perhaps an Annie’s organic snack). However, most of the time, sadly, it’s crap like low-cal oreos or cool waters “fruit” drink with 10% juice and 90% food coloring, water, and “flavors.” I’m so saddened by the number of moms who could care less. At my son’s school one day I brought organic apples and let the other moms know just so they would feel better if they cared. One said, “I don’t care.” Right. In other words, let them eat pesticides. Who cares?! 🙁 THANK YOU for giving the rest of us courage to press on! I keep reminding myself and my children that when I was in 5th grade, we had FRUIT break, not a “snack.” We each brought our own, and whether it was a lemon, a pickle, etc., it was healthier than fruit loops.
Ruthie, thanks so much for your kind words. Sadly, yes, many parents don’t care less about what their kids are eating. I think they just must not realize the potential impact on kids’ health, learning and eating habits. I love that you are out there bringing organic apples to your son’s class and hope that you keep pressing on!
What a great story Stacy! Kudos to you for speaking up, writing such an effective letter, and making a change that will have a BIG effect on so many kids. Wonderful activism at work!
Thanks, Sally! You are my inspiration! I also sent an email to the guy running the t-ball league and he said that he would ask coaches to push for healthy snacks. Fingers crossed!
Kudos to super-awesome skating lady for swapping in the healthy snacks instead of getting defensive, and kudos to you for being courageous. You are setting a great example for your kids to stand up for what’s right. Hurray for peaceful, positive resolutions!
Thank you, Jennifer! I really appreciate the positive feedback and agree that super-awesome ice skating lady deserves major credit for being open to my suggestion. I will be writing her a thank-you note. 🙂
What a great story! A reminder that it’s always worth speaking up. Congrats on making a difference.
Thanks, Suzanne! Never easy to speak up, so I’m happy that it paid off. I hope we don’t start getting blacklisted from sports. Ha ha!
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Just because you obviously could not control yourself with candy and soda doesn’t mean that everyone, including your kids, can’t either. Sounds like a bunch of bitter moms who will always find ways to take the small joys out of others’ lives — sad.
Becky — You’re certainly welcome to your opinion, but I’m welcome to mine as well. And I think it’s safe to say that much of the country has a hard time to controlling their intake of candy, soda and other empty calorie foods. I wouldn’t call myself bitter but rather interested in seeing my kids, and others, grow up to be healthy and happy. Is it possible to have “small joys” that don’t involve unhealthy foods and beverages? Can kids not enjoy ice skating without candy? What message is sent when they are constantly rewarded with sugary treats every time they step onto a soccer or baseball field? I don’t know about you, but I don’t think they need junk food to be happy.
Shouldn’t it be the parents’ job to supply the snack?
I think so! And if sports organizations want to do it, then they should be providing healthy snacks, not candy. By giving out candy, they are really just trying to build excitement for their skating program–in other words, bribing the kids. That is what I would call sad!
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As a mom of three active kids, I am extremely ecstatic that there are moms out there who are as passionate about their kids’ health as I am. It’s one thing to give your child a particular snack just because you know he/she would “love” the taste. It’s another to give him/her a snack that you know will taste just as good AND benefit their health. Thank you for being an advocate…or should I say, a “Snacktivist!?!” 🙂
Thank you, Jessie!!! Always great to hear from a fellow Snacktivist! 🙂 It really is comforting to know that others feel the same way, though I sure wish we could join forces and work together to make change. I can’t tell you how many of my kids’ athletic pursuits involve candy, soda and other junk food. I don’t know many adults who grab a Mountain Dew or Red Vines after a workout. It is so counterintuitive! Anyway, thanks so much for writing and I’m happy to know you are out there! 🙂
I have been trying to do the same thing at my daughters’ school for over 5 years but encountered so much defensiveness & unwillingness to change anything. One woman who has been “in charge” of field day food every year was very rude to me on several occasions so I have avoided her like the plague. A week ago our school was going to have Gatorade at a health event for the 5th year in a row, even after I tried every avenue I could think of to change it, including providing scientific info. from the Academy of Pediatrics to the office & thought it had been resolved, was told that the principal agreed, a PE teacher sent an email requesting parents donate Gatorade. UGH. I decided it was way past time I reached out to other parents on a larger scale. I was given a major “smackdown” over the phone by a faculty member who was very angered by my mention of wanting to see if other parents were in agreement with me. She informed me that I was the only one that had a problem with it & was unbelievably rude & nasty to me. I was stunned, in tears & angry. The very next day my daughter was physically sick when I picked her up from school from all the candy she had eaten at another event at school. I am sick & tired of others making these choices for my child. I sent an email to just my daughter’s class asking if anyone else was in agreement. I received several responses of support but then as expected I got one that was defensive, asking me why I hadn’t gone through proper channels like the PTA, etc. So I made the mistake of explaining why, including names of 3 that had been very defensive & rude to me over the years. I was just so upset over being talked to that way by faculty (who needs to know I am not the only one!) that I really said too much. My mistake but I felt bullied & was just tired of it. So now we are leaving this school because the whole thing turned into a huge nasty battle. What should people like me do when you are met with such extreme reactions? Other than leave. Sometimes you can’t fight city hall I guess & it becomes clear you will only be beating your head against the wall. BTW, in NC which is less progressive every day it seems.
Kelley — I am so sorry to hear about what you’re going through. It’s horrifying. It is hard to believe that you’ve been put in this position. Being a parent advocate can be really challenging, and I, too, have gotten negative reactions. Just the other night, at an adults-only school fundraiser, I and other healthy food advocating mom were called “agro” by an inebriated teacher who happens to be the principal-appointed head of our school wellness committee. I’m being honest when I say that we have been nothing but professional and polite. Please know that you are NOT alone, there are many of us out here who feel the same way as you, and if there’s anything that I can do to assist, please email me at stacy@school-bites.com.
Thank you!! My oldest is 3 years old, and I am just starting to deal with this issue in preschool and at his soccer league. I have struggled to know how to voice my concerns without making other parents/coaches/teachers feel like I’m pushing my values onto them. But I am honestly inspired by your courage and proactive efforts (having an alternative snack for the kids). Thank you!!!!