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About School Bites
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.
So glad I found your site & I couldn’t agree with you more about the out of control sugary snacks at school. In addition to birthday & holiday parties my child’s teacher gives out candy as rewards for good behaviour. I don’t like the message it sends my son about food — I don’t think food should be a reward or punishment, but rather something to enjoy as part of a healthy lifestyle. I’m excited to try some of your recipes & set a healthy example at home as well as I’m able.
Do you have any suggestions about how to bring this up at school without upsetting or offending anyone? My son also has a life threatening peanut allergy, so I already feel like the annoying mom constantly harping on the school about keeping him safe amidst the constant barrage of snacks. Fortunately my son is at a healthy weight, but I don’t want him learning bad habits that are so hard to break later in life & I have serious concern for some of his classmates that are already on the heavy side. I don’t want to offend anyone, nor do I want to take away the fun & excitement of special occasions at school, but it has gotten so bad that I feel like I can’t give my son an occasional treat at home because he gets so loaded up with junk at school. Any suggestions about dealing with the school officials & other parents would be very helpful. Thanks for your help & this site!!
Hi Nicole — Thanks so much for coming by my site! I would start by digging up a copy of your school district’s wellness policy to see if there is anything to support healthy classroom snacks and non-food rewards. If, in fact, there is a policy about these things, then you will have a strong argument for changing the status quo.
I can completely relate about not wanting to offend anyone–especially your son’s teacher. Are there any other parents who share your concerns? If so, I would try to team up to address the problem (so it’s not just you…definitely strength in numbers!). I don’t think there is one answer on how to go about it–you may just have to feel your way. If you decide to approach the teacher directly, perhaps ask whether she’d be open to trying other ways of reinforcing good behavior (and do some research to provide a list). Also, you may want to mention that major medical institutions, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, agree that food rewards aren’t a good idea. This blog post from KYHealthyKids has some good references: http://kyhealthykids.com/2013/02/13/food-as-reward-love-and-valentines-day/
Above all, I think it’s REALLY important to keep it positive and professional when talking to school officials. I always like the idea of coming in with a compliment about something that you love about the school, then perhaps segue into how you’d love to see more healthy snacks in the classroom, and how well nourished kids tend to be calmer, more focused and ready to learn. Giving an example of how the junk food adds up can help as well. When school officials and teachers don’t have young kids, they may not realize that kids are getting loaded up with junk food almost everywhere they go, from soccer practice to religious school.
Please feel free to write back with any specific questions. Or, send me an email via the contact page. I am happy to help and realize that this response may not have covered everything.
Thank you–and fingers crossed for you!!!
I am a type 1 diabetic. I respectfully ask that you change your statement which says bad diet and poor choices cause type 1 diabetes. They don’t. Type 1 is an autoimmune illness in the same family as lupus and multiple sclerosis. It is cruel to tell the many children with this severe, life threatening, unpreventable, and incurable illness that they asked for it. If you do not change your phrase, I will file a formal complaint with your school district. I appreciate your immediate attention to this matter. It is unacceptable to put untruths which adversely affect children and adults who are affected by this devastating disease. Your writing should state Type 2 only. This is the only type of diabetes whose epidemiology connects to eating habits and lifestyle. Show respect for those with this illness. You have three days to make the change before you face legal and administrative consequences for your actions. “Diabetes risk Due to our poor diets and sedentary lifestyles, rates of both remove this immediately. t1 is never caused by diet and lifestyle –>Type 1 (juvenile) and this is the only type associated with lifestyle and diet but even then not always–> Type 2 diabetes are on the rise among kids. Even scarier: A recent study shows that the disease progresses more rapidly and is harder to treat in children than it is in adults. Diabetes can have life-threatening complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and amputations—and is currently the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.”
I do apologize for any misstatement. I actually am aware that Type 1 diabetes has no relationship to poor lifestyle habits and will change the wording. However, I ask that you please refrain from making threats against me. Sometimes people make honest mistakes and I am always open to getting feedback. The purpose of this blog is to inspire healthy changes in schools. Let’s keep it polite and positive. Thank you.
Unfortunately your information regarding type 1 diabetes and diet/lifestyle is incorrect. Type 1 diabetes is an auto immune disease and one’s eating habits or exercise regime has absolutely no impact on the development of the condition. Those of us who are impacted by this incurable, difficult disease would respectfully request that you update your post and be more accurate I’m future. Many thanks.
Lea — Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I do know the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 and it was an honest mistake. Consider it corrected.