Why We Should NEVER Give Up on Teaching Kids to Love Healthy Food
June 27, 2014 | Posted by Stacy under Food education, Healthy eating at home, Improving school food, School lunch |
I’ve been pretty open and honest about my feeding struggles with my older son (now age 8). Over the years, his will-not-eat list has been longer than a line at Disneyland. Oh, how I’ve tried and tried to introduce healthy new foods, only to have him reject them, often without even taking a bite. Despite all the creations that I’ve placed before him, he’s […] more
Should We Just “Let Kids Be Kids” When It Comes to Junk Food?!?
May 22, 2014 | Posted by Stacy under Classroom parties, Classroom treats, Cupcakes, Healthy parties, Junk food in school, Obesity, School parties, Sugar |
A class party without cookies, donuts or cupcakes topped with two inches of frosting? Shocking, I know. But this year, thanks to their nutrition-conscious teacher, my twins and their Kindergarten classmates have feasted on fresh fruit and wholesome treats like whole grain carrot muffins at most school celebrations, including birthdays. And guess what? They are […] more
Is Michelle Obama Really to Blame for Bad School Lunches?
May 8, 2014 | Posted by Stacy under Improving school food, Making change, School food, School lunch |
There’s a not-so-silent war being waged against Michelle Obama in response to new nutrition standards for school lunch programs. On social media, kids have been broadcasting pictures of small, unappetizing looking meals with comments like: “All we get for lunch today. Thanks, Michelle Obama.” But is First Lady Obama really to blame for these dreadful […] more
Why Food Rewards are Bad for Kids (& Ideas for Healthy Classroom Alternatives)
May 1, 2014 | Posted by Stacy under Food rewards, Junk food in school |
The other day, my second grader held up a foil-wrapped chocolate and announced, “Mom!! Last week, Mrs. Z (his teacher) gave me this for being a good listener.” Then he added, “And the week before, I got a Hershey’s Kiss for finishing my work on time!” While I love that he’s being recognized for good behavior, it irked me […] more
In Honor of Earth Day: 8 Simple Ideas for a Greener (and Healthier!) School
April 22, 2014 | Posted by Stacy under Eco friendly lunch gear, Making change, School wellness programs, USDA policy |
Hey, everybody–it’s Earth Day! Last year, it was my goal to eat only local foods for one full day at home. This year, I’m focusing on ways to minimize waste and be more eco-conscious at school. Because as we know, there’s more to school wellness than just healthy eating and physical activity. So with no further ado…8 […] more
Does Banning Chocolate Milk in School Really Backfire?!?
April 18, 2014 | Posted by Stacy under Cafeteria food, Chocolate milk, Healthy lunch, School lunch |
Eliminating chocolate milk in school cafeterias is a subject of great debate, and one that I have yet to tackle on this blog. But the results of a new study have prompted me to break my silence. Normally I’m a big fan of the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab’s work, but its latest research […] more
Why Diet Soda Has No Place In Our Schools
April 16, 2014 | Posted by Stacy under Junk food in school, USDA policy |
If your school still has vending machines filled with soda and other sugary drinks, good news: New proposed United States Department of Agriculture’s Smart Snacks in School rules due to kick in this summer should put an end to the sale of full-calorie Coke and Pepsi during school hours. Now, the bad news: The new […] more
Calling All Moms: Here’s How YOU Can Make a Difference in the Fight for Healthier School Food
March 19, 2014 | Posted by Stacy under Junk food in school, Let's Move, Making change, School lunch, USDA policy, Wellness policy |
I’m what you might call an accidental activist. I certainly didn’t set out to be a vocal proponent of healthy school food. I am not a person who likes making waves or drawing attention to myself. But since no one at our school seemed to be addressing the junk food problem–and I couldn’t stand to […] more
5 Secrets to Throwing a Healthy Class Party
March 12, 2014 | Posted by Stacy under Classroom parties, Classroom treats, Healthy classroom treats, School parties |
Earlier this school year, I signed up to be Room Mom for my kids’ classrooms, thinking it would be a good way to lead the charge for healthy class parties. Since our school has no policy on food served in the classroom, celebrations tend to involve junky stuff like cupcakes and donuts. And as we […] more
Creating a Healthy School: 3 School Wellness Ideas that Work!
March 6, 2014 | Posted by Stacy under Classroom parties, Junk food in school, Making change, School wellness programs |
As much as as I wish my school district was more on board with school wellness–or that someone would step in and require it (see Michelle Obama, Can You Hear Us? We Need Help Getting Junk Food Out of Our Schools!)–for now, my best option is to continue working on the ground to make change. […] more
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