should schools ban junk food?

[Foxtrot]

what does everybody else think about this recent increase in the banning of junk food and vending machines taking place in schools throughout America?

I had to do a major report on this for an English course (it was practice for something else), but in doing all that research I discovered that quite a few schools were getting extra money from food companies and certain resteraunts when they made their food an option at school (Pizza Hut on Tuesdays, Coke in vending machines, that sort of thing).

it just seems that educators have no business in controlling the diet of my children.

[countmein]

The parents have control, they control the money. If they want to send $10 a day for the kids to eat junk on, so be it. If they want to purchase lunch tickets for the caffeteria, so be it. If they don't want their kids eating junk, they can send a lunch. Educators and government have no business controlling what children eat, that is the parent's job.

[page017]

The school can certainly control what is purchased in the school. To say, we are no longer going to have a vending machine that sells soda and chips isn't exactly the same thing as banning soda and chips. Generally, eating and drinking anything other than water isn't allowed in the classrooms anyway, so there was a bit of a mixed message when food wasn't allowed in classrooms, yet a vending machine is on all day.

The cafeteria is a bit different. Cafeteria's are supposed to make money, or at the very least, not lose money. But they are still in the school, and have a duty to have the best interests of the student in mind. Even at lunch, we don't sell soda, but students can buy chips or ice cream, or even coffee. And I haven't ever heard of a school regulating what a kid can bring from home for lunch or a snack. Though I know especially at the younger grades kids are taught healthy eating and the students, and even the parents are educated as to what a healthy lunch is.

I will say that the single best decision my hs principal has made, in the past 7 years, was getting rid of the junk food vending machines. We still have a beverage machine, that is turned off during school hours. And it still contains some high sugar drinks, like Hawaiian punch, but generally is stocked with healthier choices that kids can buy before school, and after school. The snack machine is still there, but it is turned off during the day. It is available during the after school period. The snacks in it are generally healthier than they were before as well. It has baked lays and other chips of that variety, not bad offerings.

Anyway, when they made the switch, it was the single biggest changer of behavior I have ever noticed. First of all, I don't have the problems of a kid asking me to go to the bathroom when they really just want to hit the vending machines. Then I don't have the kids actually asking me to go to the bathroom because they hit the vending machines earlier in the day. It keeps the kids more on an even level than you get when they are going on sugar lows and highs. I don't have the kids as distracted trying to sneak food into their mouths during class. I don't have the problems with the noises that go along with this, or the trash being left behind in the room. And of course the every once and a while issue where someone would knock a bottle of soda over, and having to deal with that. So the number of distractions and disruptions I had to deal with noticably dropped overnight when these changes were made.

[wasscullywabbit]

When I went to school, we didn't have vending machines. I kind of wish they had. Sometimes I would have liked to have a quick something in between classes instead of having to skip a class to walk all the way to the nearest deli. I'm all for vending machines staying if they have them.

[archangelo]

If they ban junk food:

a. what will they teach?
b. there will be nothing to distract activists from the low-nutrition curriculum.
c. they will have found another way to reduce class "size" without throwing money at the problem, and that would be bad.

[Foxtrot]

If they ban junk food:

a. what will they teach?
b. there will be nothing to distract activists from the low-nutrition curriculum.
c. they will have found another way to reduce class "size" without throwing money at the problem, and that would be bad.

"would be bad"? they've already done it! teachers aren't even allowed to give their students candy and students aren't allowed to sell it, even though that used to be a major fundraiser.

[BryanC]

Ban the vending machines; there are too many little porkers in our public schools! Or perhaps the parentals or said fatties should monitor diets and teach nutrition at home?

[Foxtrot]

Ban the vending machines; there are too many little porkers in our public schools! Or perhaps the parentals or said fatties should monitor diets and teach nutrition at home?

yes the parents should be teaching nutrition at home and expect them to make responsible decisions on their own when they're at school. teaching health and responsibility is part of the child-rearing process.

[BryanC]

yes the parents should be teaching nutrition at home and expect them to make responsible decisions on their own when they're at school. teaching health and responsibility is part of the child-rearing process.

Judging by the waistlines of my fellow restaurant patrons, a lot of parents need help in the nutrition/diet department as well...

[Foxtrot]

Judging by the waistlines of my fellow restaurant patrons, a lot of parents need help in the nutrition/diet department as well...

haha, I see your point. maybe we do need yo start anew...and starting in schools might be the answer. but how about we just do that for young students in elementary & middle school? and by the time they reach high school we expect them to make responsible choices, because in their earlier years we taugh them about healthy eating habits?

[angelicmadrigal]

The parents have control, they control the money. If they want to send $10 a day for the kids to eat junk on, so be it. If they want to purchase lunch tickets for the caffeteria, so be it. If they don't want their kids eating junk, they can send a lunch. Educators and government have no business controlling what children eat, that is the parent's job.

Actually if the school has a policy IN WRITING that specifically states that junk food (and spells out exactly what is considered junk food) will be sent home, the school has EVERY right to send the child's junk food home. When parents sign a form saying they have read and will adhere to the policies in the student handbook they have to 1) either follow the rules they agreed to OR 2) can send their child elsewhere. So in that respect the only decision the parent can make about thier child's lunch is 1) adhere to the guidlines they agreed to or 2) disregard the rules agreed upon and have the junk sent home.

[Talk2Bill]

the school has the right to sell or not sell a given food item.

they do not have the right to ban a child from bringing a given food item as a part of their lunch or snack. I have heard anecdotal tails of schools that ban soda and went so far as to punish a child for bringing one in his lunch box as part of his lunch.

they say the ban is to make the kids eat better... but that is by no means with in the authority of ANY government or agent there of.

then they get really dumb and say 'well it the soda has caffeine in it then it is a DRUG!"

[Talk2Bill]

Actually if the school has a policy IN WRITING that specifically states that junk food (and spells out exactly what is considered junk food) will be sent home, the school has EVERY right to send the child's junk food home. When parents sign a form saying they have read and will adhere to the policies in the student handbook they have to 1) either follow the rules they agreed to OR 2) can send their child elsewhere. So in that respect the only decision the parent can make about thier child's lunch is 1) adhere to the guidlines they agreed to or 2) disregard the rules agreed upon and have the junk sent home.

no contract can be used to limit another person's rights. with few exceptions, minors can not be held to contracts (and as far as i know the ones they can be held to go backwards and not forwards). The school has no authority to take a child's food items that the parent sent unless said food item is specifically banned under some other legitimate rule. So you could ban red bull but not coke-a-cola.

[countmein]

Actually if the school has a policy IN WRITING that specifically states that junk food (and spells out exactly what is considered junk food) will be sent home, the school has EVERY right to send the child's junk food home. When parents sign a form saying they have read and will adhere to the policies in the student handbook they have to 1) either follow the rules they agreed to OR 2) can send their child elsewhere. So in that respect the only decision the parent can make about thier child's lunch is 1) adhere to the guidlines they agreed to or 2) disregard the rules agreed upon and have the junk sent home.

Angel, I know that the schools have the power to make policy. What I was saying that the schools should not be dictating the children's diets. The parents are the one who should have the final say in what the child eats. In schools with vending machines, the parent does have the final say in what the child eats, with control of the money.

[countmein]

no contract can be used to limit another person's rights. with few exceptions, minors can not be held to contracts (and as far as i know the ones they can be held to go backwards and not forwards). The school has no authority to take a child's food items that the parent sent unless said food item is specifically banned under some other legitimate rule. So you could ban red bull but not coke-a-cola.

The school COULD ban any food item they want, but SHOULD it is my question.

[CaptPops]

This is a pro choice question. If a 13 year old girl can make a choice concerning abortion, why can she not make a choice about a bag of chips???

[Foxtrot]

This is a pro choice question. If a 13 year old girl can make a choice concerning abortion, why can she not make a choice about a bag of chips???

for you, check out my thread entitled "Abortion = American Genocide!"

[angelicmadrigal]

no contract can be used to limit another person's rights. with few exceptions, minors can not be held to contracts (and as far as i know the ones they can be held to go backwards and not forwards). The school has no authority to take a child's food items that the parent sent unless said food item is specifically banned under some other legitimate rule. So you could ban red bull but not coke-a-cola.

Actually I do and have done it, the parents KNOW I will send it home. There is no discussion, if they don't like it they are free to take thier bussiness elsewhere.

[angelicmadrigal]

What I was saying that the schools should not be dictating the children's diets. .

I get paid to educate children, I do not get paid to deal with behaviors that stem from poor diet. If a parent wants to send candywith thier child so that they can be sugared up and hyper active, it isn't flying with me. They can deal with that on their OWN time. If having candy is so important to thier child's daily living THEY can deal with it at home.

[Foxtrot]

I get paid to educate children, I do not get paid to deal with behaviors that stem from poor diet. If a parent wants to send candywith thier child so that they can be sugared up and hyper active, it isn't flying with me. They can deal with that on their OWN time. If having candy is so important to thier child's daily living THEY can deal with it at home.

I was mostly talking about fast food in cafeterias and soda vending machines. how old are your students?

[CaughtInTheMiddle]

my question has always been, what the heck is junk food in schools for anyway. i mean, come on. they're gonna eat 7 twinkies when they get home anyway.

[Foxtrot]

my question has always been, what the heck is junk food in schools for anyway. i mean, come on. they're gonna eat 7 twinkies when they get home anyway.

well it would make the school money because kids are more willing to buy it. if you ban in school they'll just stock up at home and bring it from the outside; might as well make some cash.

[jimjames418]

Schools are like any other organization and will react to offers of money the same way you or I would react.

In my district of 1,000 students we had an offer of $10,000 year to the Athletic Fund, a new score board for the football field, and one of those digital signs for the elementary school. All they had to do was sign a contract with Pepsi to allow them to install their vending machines in the school buildings, and agree to not serve any other soda product in the lunch room.

I know one district that has McDonald run their lunch room, and another district that has Pizza Hut run their lunch room. All legal and above board. The companies bid on the right to run the programs.

They still have to comply with the requirements of the USDA in regards to what they can and cannot serve to the kids.

[theant]

There is great disparity in the needs of students. A competitive swimming student would absolutely crater if limited to what some schools make available... for that matter what the US Government of the free, of liberty, etc., would impose.

My son warmed up... yes, WARMED up with a 300yd swim. During a meet he would have to go and do smaller warmups as time approached for his next race. He wasn't even a distance swimmer. A nasty greasy hamburger and a sugar (or high fructose corn syrup) meal at the right time is good for some athletes. The carbs of the hamburger bread/bun provide complex carbs that breakdown slower than the sugars in the sodas. Meat from the, um, meat provides protien, much needed to help with cell repair and growth (a nutritionist can help me here). Grease? Well, that and mayo (also has grease/fat ) provides a longer term, rich source of energy that will be used after simple and complex carbs have run out. Tomato, onion, lettuce, (ok so pickles don't do much) and even the salt providing much needed electroloytes are benefits. The soda typically includes the antioxidant vitamin C which I think also helps with cell strength and formation not to mention helping the liver deal with whatever waste and inevitable toxins it finds in the food.

Kids need to drink water more than they do. Sodas are better than nothing for the athletes as long as they are in an active season. We used to have to search for something for my softball playing daughter to eat because she was not a great fan of sweets not breads. Rice Krispy squares helped, donuts were good. These kids played back to back to back hoour plus games in 100+ degree heat in the Texas Gulf Coast, Houston and southward humidity.

That said... there are many who do not do sports. In my day I had baseball and would run all over the place hunting and fishing. We burned calories.

I believe that denying the kids will only have them getting their junk foods after school. I have literally heard of them bootlegging it onto campus. Many go to school without eating anything for breakfast by choice. Some of them would benefit from a couple of dounts spread before class and maybe in between.

Many kids do nothing but thry to be emo, walking around in inappropriate (for the weather and common sense) black dusters or what some would call overcoats. They define themselves by sloth and depression/dissatisfaction. These aren't the ones you see doing full contact football, basketball, or whatever after school. Some of these seem to be able to remain thin... wonder why?

I bellieve that kids and their parents need to seek out and use common sense rather than have our government continually dismantle our liberties in favor of doing what is good for the ignorant masses.

Sad thing is so many seem to want to be guided by micro-managing laws that force desireable behavior regardless of size, activity, etc.,. "The Matrix" seems to have it right on some levels.

We voted (ok a majority) for Chinese made only light bulbs which require impractical disposal, a mandated health system, mandated health insurance, basically paying them to control us.

what does everybody else think about this recent increase in the banning of junk food and vending machines taking place in schools throughout America?

I had to do a major report on this for an English course (it was practice for something else), but in doing all that research I discovered that quite a few schools were getting extra money from food companies and certain resteraunts when they made their food an option at school (Pizza Hut on Tuesdays, Coke in vending machines, that sort of thing).

it just seems that educators have no business in controlling the diet of my children.

[CaughtInTheMiddle]

well it would make the school money because kids are more willing to buy it. if you ban in school they'll just stock up at home and bring it from the outside; might as well make some cash.

Hey, it's gonna come out of your wallet in the long run. More health problems, more health care expenses.

[Foxtrot]

Hey, it's gonna come out of your wallet in the long run. More health problems, more health care expenses.

only if you wish for socialized medicine.

[theant]

eschew one size fits all imposition of behavior

[CaughtInTheMiddle]

only if you wish for socialized medicine.

i do not. but even in the system we currently have, groups get penalized for health problems of others in the group. more health problems, more expense for the group members. it's just math.

and even if you're not in a group, the more health problems a person has, the more chance they will bankrupt their family.

[theant]

i do not. but even in the system we currently have, groups get penalized for health problems of others in the group. more health problems, more expense for the group members. it's just math.

and even if you're not in a group, the more health problems a person has, the more chance they will bankrupt their family.

This works well with the control the masses like sheep mentality but...

Some people live to be in their late 90s smoking and eating all the things we are told lead to this or that. I do not have the right to deny them their legal pleasure. I do not want them smoking next to me at a resturant but in the open field.. their business.

They say we should not eat saccarin, fat, fried foods, Mexican foods, yadda, yadda, yadda. Often they come back and say something like, "ummm, go ahead and eat butter, it is better than margarine" or "eggs have something in them that counteracts the cholesterol in them so nevermind", or if one looks cloer he may find that the great dangers of salt in your diet only affects I think 20-30% of folks who have high blood pressure. So the rest of us have to fall in line? Where does it end?

Riding a bicycle can be dangerous, running can kill you in so many ways, where and better WHO draws the line? IMO NOT THE US OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT!

[CaughtInTheMiddle]

This works well with the control the masses like sheep mentality but...

Some people live to be in their late 90s smoking and eating all the things we are told lead to this or that. I do not have the right to deny them their legal pleasure. I do not want them smoking next to me at a resturant but in the open field.. their business.

They say we should not eat saccarin, fat, fried foods, Mexican foods, yadda, yadda, yadda. Often they come back and say something like, "ummm, go ahead and eat butter, it is better than margarine" or "eggs have something in them that counteracts the cholesterol in them so nevermind", or if one looks cloer he may find that the great dangers of salt in your diet only affects I think 20-30% of folks who have high blood pressure. So the rest of us have to fall in line? Where does it end?

Riding a bicycle can be dangerous, running can kill you in so many ways, where and better WHO draws the line? IMO NOT THE US OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT!

Yes, some people beat the odds. That's really all you saying.

And I believe that most people are going to die when their body tells them it's time. But I believe you "can" cut your life short by doing dangerous things (like eating crap or jumping off bridges).

But it's your right. Although I feel I should have a say-so in food at my local schools if my tax dollars are involved. I just don't get it. Just feed the kids some good food. What's the big deal. It's a common sense issue that people have turned political.

[theant]

Indeed the odds isn't a reason to limit liberties. We would have ceased driving long ago.

I feel like one can control the food provided for no charge to the children. Othewise it is up to us to giuide our own. I do not want you deciding what my kid can eat. Granted I sent my kids with a lunch or money to get lunch. I have no problem with them getting a soda and don't appreciate their taking it away as an option (freedom).

Funny, schools have eliminated them in some cases but guess what is in the teachers' lounge? So they're adults, right?

Again, I don't want freedoms limited by another person's whim of what's right. Anytime the brainstorming shows in the media and the do gooders show up they may as well expect tofu only. It is micro management, and megalomania exemplified.

FREEDOM to do as I choose as long as it doen't hurt others.


Yes, some people beat the odds. That's really all you saying.

And I believe that most people are going to die when their body tells them it's time. But I believe you "can" cut your life short by doing dangerous things (like eating crap or jumping off bridges).

But it's your right. Although I feel I should have a say-so in food at my local schools if my tax dollars are involved. I just don't get it. Just feed the kids some good food. What's the big deal. It's a common sense issue that people have turned political.

[CaughtInTheMiddle]

Indeed the odds isn't a reason to limit liberties. We would have ceased driving long ago.

I feel like one can control the food provided for no charge to the children. Othewise it is up to us to giuide our own. I do not want you deciding what my kid can eat. Granted I sent my kids with a lunch or money to get lunch. I have no problem with them getting a soda and don't appreciate their taking it away as an option (freedom).

Funny, schools have eliminated them in some cases but guess what is in the teachers' lounge? So they're adults, right?

Again, I don't want freedoms limited by another person's whim of what's right. Anytime the brainstorming shows in the media and the do gooders show up they may as well expect tofu only. It is micro management, and megalomania exemplified.

FREEDOM to do as I choose as long as it doen't hurt others.

Like I said, it's a common sense issue that you guys have turned political. Prepare yourself for generations of health problems. This will make Obama's health plan look cheap by comparison.

[Apatriot]

what does everybody else think about this recent increase in the banning of junk food and vending machines taking place in schools throughout America?

I had to do a major report on this for an English course (it was practice for something else), but in doing all that research I discovered that quite a few schools were getting extra money from food companies and certain resteraunts when they made their food an option at school (Pizza Hut on Tuesdays, Coke in vending machines, that sort of thing).

it just seems that educators have no business in controlling the diet of my children.

I'm all for the cafeteria and vending machines sticking to healthy food. I think it's wrong that we are outsourcing high/middle school cafeteria food to fast food vendors. IMHO, it's exploiting a captive audience.

However, I don't believe it's the school's business what parent's pack their kids in their own lunchbags. If I want to pack pure candy in their lunchbags, so be it.

[Impenitent]

junk food, junk curriculum...

we don't need no education...

[angelicmadrigal]

I was mostly talking about fast food in cafeterias and soda vending machines. how old are your students?

2 and half-6. So we aren't talking about teenagers or even middle schoolers.

[angelicmadrigal]

I do not want you deciding what my kid can eat. Granted I sent my kids with a lunch or money to get lunch.

First off you are free to choose another school that fits your ideas better.

Second, what you do with your kids at your home on YOUR time is YOUR bussiness. What you want to deal with is your concern, there are certain things I do not want to deal with. When a child is in my care, they go by my rules, period. If you care so much about what those rules are, again you are free to take your child elsewhere.

I do not confiscate the food from the child, it goes back into thier lunchbox to be sent home.

Also, the rules that apply to the children ALSO apply to me. I do not bring candy, soda, etc... with me either.

I teach at a private school so if the parents don't like it they are free to take thier kids elsewhere. They know the policy BEFORE school even starts.

As a note I have NEVER had a child argue with me about it. Mostly because I don't tell the child "you can't have that, it's against the rules". Normally what I do is put to them the idea that they will probably be hungry after school and they might want to save that special treat for afterschool. I have never had a child decline that line of thinking, and then it makes it the parents problem to deal with. Also, our scheduale goes: recess, lunch, nap/quiet time. Let me tell you a high sugar snack (like a candy bar) is NOT a good idea right before nap, that's just common sense.

[angelicmadrigal]

However, I don't believe it's the school's business what parent's pack their kids in their own lunchbags. If I want to pack pure candy in their lunchbags, so be it.

That doesn't fly in PreK. The state requires a certain % of the lunch contain certain things. If it does not WE are required (at cost to us) to provide it. The parents are notified what the state requires be in their child's lunch, and we tell them if we have to add anything there is a charge.

[Lima India Bravo]

only if you wish for socialized medicine.

Not necessarily. If you have any kind of medical insurance, you as a healthy person pay a higher premium because of unhealthy people. The more unhealthy people there are in your risk pool, the higher your premium to help cover the cost of their medical care.

[johnTD]

They should ban junk food as well as change the nutritional guidelines for school lunches. (Its based on calories alone) The problem is that for federal assistance in school lunch food you have to have a minimum number of calories to get assistance, so basically the schools have to get as many calories as possible for as little money as possible. So junk food fries/tater tots/pizza have the most calories per dollar then a healthy alternative. Its a shame that healthy food is expensive.

[Apatriot]

That doesn't fly in PreK. The state requires a certain % of the lunch contain certain things. If it does not WE are required (at cost to us) to provide it. The parents are notified what the state requires be in their child's lunch, and we tell them if we have to add anything there is a charge.

While I understand that there is a law governing such things, I don't believe there should be.

[Always Erroreous]

Provivding healthy alternatives seems like it would be best. I know at my high school is was very hard to find healthy food. The healthiest foods I could get on my open campus was cafeteria food.

[angelicmadrigal]

While I understand that there is a law governing such things, I don't believe there should be.

My point is while the laws are in place you have to follow them, or risk a big fine, and honestly my work isn't willing to risk that.

[angelicmadrigal]

They should ban junk food as well as change the nutritional guidelines for school lunches. (Its based on calories alone).

Not the one for Pre-K. The one for pre-K has that certain food groups in certain poritions have to be served. Juice ONLY counts if it is 100% juice.

Also, snacks have to come from two food groups. At our school it's usually one of these combos.

1. Fruit (dried or fresh) and grain

2. Vegetable (fresh) and grain

3. Protien (soy bars, peanut butter, etc..) and grain

4. Dairy and fruit (dried or fresh)

In general we serve water at snack time, though in the past on special occasions we haved served juice or soymilk (vanilla or chocolate). We serve 2% milk at lunch time.

We do allow special treats for birthdays such as: cookies or doughnuts
Around the holidays we also do some food prep which involves a special treat of some kind. And on fridays the parents have the option of packing a lunch or chipping in $2 for pizza and fresh veggies.

It's not about teaching children to deprive themselves of sweet treats, chips, etc....because I think they have a place in a healthy diet.


Food in each category that from my experience children love:

FRUIT
-fresh fruits: apple slices, watermelon/other melon cubes or balls, strawberries, bananas,grapes, oranges, pineapple
-dried fruits: papaya, raisins, dates, cranberries
-juice: orange juice, apple juice, grape juice, whole juice cocktails (tangerine mango)

** I prefer serving fresh fruit in lieu of juice because of the added fiber in a fresh piece of fruit, and less risk of added sugar. Also sugar in juice form metabolizes faster. PLus juice is sticky if spilled, and some juices stain. I also prefer serving fresh in leiu of dried fruit, as dried fruit can stick to the teeth and can promote cavities. We also occasionally serve applesauce.

VEGETABLES
carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers

** I also try introducing other vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, peppers (yellow and red bell), radishes in raw form. I've found allowing a small side of ranch dressing for dipping entices most children to at least TRY the veggies.

PROTIEN:
turkey slices, soy based foods (such as soy bars or soy milk), peanut butter

** We also occasionally serve nuts : peanuts, almonds, walnuts, cashews. However, you have to be VERY diligent in observing the children, as nuts can be a hazard for 2 reasons potential for choking and allergies (that you or the parents do not know about). However, in my experience most 2 and half to 3 year olds can SAFELY eat nuts and peanut butter.

DAIRY
yogurt, cheese (string, mozzerella, mild cheddar, colby jack), cottage cheese

** With yogurt I've found it helps to vary the the flavors so the kids don't get bored with it. With cheese I've found allowing children a chance to taste a variety of cheeses helps keep interest.

GRAIN
whole wheat bread, zucchini or pumplkin bread, crackers (oyster, goldfish, etc...), animal crackers, grahm crackers, pretzels, cereal (Life, Kashi cereals, Cheerios)

OTHER
popcorn (popcorn you also have to be very careful with because of the risk of choking, but again, I've had no problems with it myself)

[Foxtrot]

Provivding healthy alternatives seems like it would be best. I know at my high school is was very hard to find healthy food. The healthiest foods I could get on my open campus was cafeteria food.

if you require such healthy foods then bring them from home or something.

[theant]

if you require such healthy foods then bring them from home or something.

Agreed! And I will police my kids on what I believe is good for them. Hell what science says changes every month or so anyway.

[Apatriot]

That doesn't fly in PreK. The state requires a certain % of the lunch contain certain things. If it does not WE are required (at cost to us) to provide it. The parents are notified what the state requires be in their child's lunch, and we tell them if we have to add anything there is a charge.

IMHO, that is unnecessary government interference.

[Apatriot]

Not the one for Pre-K. The one for pre-K has that certain food groups in certain poritions have to be served. Juice ONLY counts if it is 100% juice.

Also, snacks have to come from two food groups. At our school it's usually one of these combos.

1. Fruit (dried or fresh) and grain

2. Vegetable (fresh) and grain

3. Protien (soy bars, peanut butter, etc..) and grain

4. Dairy and fruit (dried or fresh)

In general we serve water at snack time, though in the past on special occasions we haved served juice or soymilk (vanilla or chocolate). We serve 2% milk at lunch time.

We do allow special treats for birthdays such as: cookies or doughnuts
Around the holidays we also do some food prep which involves a special treat of some kind. And on fridays the parents have the option of packing a lunch or chipping in $2 for pizza and fresh veggies.

It's not about teaching children to deprive themselves of sweet treats, chips, etc....because I think they have a place in a healthy diet.


Food in each category that from my experience children love:

FRUIT
-fresh fruits: apple slices, watermelon/other melon cubes or balls, strawberries, bananas,grapes, oranges, pineapple
-dried fruits: papaya, raisins, dates, cranberries
-juice: orange juice, apple juice, grape juice, whole juice cocktails (tangerine mango)

** I prefer serving fresh fruit in lieu of juice because of the added fiber in a fresh piece of fruit, and less risk of added sugar. Also sugar in juice form metabolizes faster. PLus juice is sticky if spilled, and some juices stain. I also prefer serving fresh in leiu of dried fruit, as dried fruit can stick to the teeth and can promote cavities. We also occasionally serve applesauce.

VEGETABLES
carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers

** I also try introducing other vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, peppers (yellow and red bell), radishes in raw form. I've found allowing a small side of ranch dressing for dipping entices most children to at least TRY the veggies.

PROTIEN:
turkey slices, soy based foods (such as soy bars or soy milk), peanut butter

** We also occasionally serve nuts : peanuts, almonds, walnuts, cashews. However, you have to be VERY diligent in observing the children, as nuts can be a hazard for 2 reasons potential for choking and allergies (that you or the parents do not know about). However, in my experience most 2 and half to 3 year olds can SAFELY eat nuts and peanut butter.

DAIRY
yogurt, cheese (string, mozzerella, mild cheddar, colby jack), cottage cheese

** With yogurt I've found it helps to vary the the flavors so the kids don't get bored with it. With cheese I've found allowing children a chance to taste a variety of cheeses helps keep interest.

GRAIN
whole wheat bread, zucchini or pumplkin bread, crackers (oyster, goldfish, etc...), animal crackers, grahm crackers, pretzels, cereal (Life, Kashi cereals, Cheerios)

OTHER
popcorn (popcorn you also have to be very careful with because of the risk of choking, but again, I've had no problems with it myself)
I have no problem with those general rules. They encompass what I feed the kids myselves. I just dislike the idea of a government bureacracy telling me what I have to feed my kids. It's like seatbelt laws. I've been wearing a seatbelt religiously since September of 1983 (before seatbelt laws). I'm against mandatory seatbelt laws, though.

[janer]

How about this. Get rid of the cafeterias. No paid and pensioned employees, no ovens and refrigerators and additional trash disposal. No microwaves and vending machines. No cafeterias. One single lunch "hour" when kids take out their little sack lunches, eat at their desks and clean up after themselves and then get on with the business of education. When did schools turn into restaurants?

[MrShotShot]

I don't have a problem with schools removing junk food machines from their premises - they shouldn't have been put there in the first place IMO.

What it typically boils down to (at least in high schools) is that the kids can hang out during lunch time and and eat chips and drink soda rather than being with the nerd kids in the lunchroom.

School is about education and part of that should be educating kids on what healthy eating is all about - it should be obvious from our obesity levels that many of us don't know these things ourselves.

[johnrocks]

When I was a kid,there were more days than not, I would have gone from breakfast at home until supper without vending machines, school food was horrible!

[Apatriot]

How about this. Get rid of the cafeterias. No paid and pensioned employees, no ovens and refrigerators and additional trash disposal. No microwaves and vending machines. No cafeterias. One single lunch "hour" when kids take out their little sack lunches, eat at their desks and clean up after themselves and then get on with the business of education. When did schools turn into restaurants?

It started in the late 1940s with the National School lunch program.

[jimjames418]

It started in the late 1940s with the National School lunch program.
The Children’s Aid Society of New York initiated a program in 1853, serving meals to students
attending the vocational school.

It was actually 1934. Free milk and surplus food disposal. The Nations School Lunch Program Act was signed into law in 1946.

National School Lunch Program (http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/aboutlunch/programhistory_1.htm)
In 1934 appropriations to the Milk Marketing Board provided milk to school children free of ... The School Lunch Program and Agricultural Surplus Disposal, ...

[desertbobcat103]

I do not believe schools should ban junk food. Hey if a kid wants to eat fatty foods and become obese, that is their CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT. We can blame all these liberals for all our liberties being stripped. First it was the seat belt laws, hey if I want to go flying through my windshield, thats my right, then there are gun restrictions, you mean to tell me that if I want to kill a trespasser with an AK-47 I can't? Now kids can't eat fatty foods in school? I say let them eat whatever they want and kill this issue, but oh no, the hippie liberals in Washington just have to but in where they are not needed nor are they welcome.

[FromAKtoAZ]

In most cases I am COMPLETELY against the government butting in like this. And in fact, I still do not like the idea of the government trying to limit what people can do...

However in this case I am not mad. I am a caseworker for the foster care system and I am also seeking my Masters degree in Acupuncture, studying biochemistry, nutrition and health in general and I have drawn several conclusions:

ADHD is pretty much a made up disease, from what I can see. I know people suffer from it, but I don't think it is a disease as much as an imbalance. A lot of the time, from what I have observed, children with behavioral problems are dealing with emotional and nutritional issues.

I work in the city and many of the children dine mostly on McDonalds and junk food like that. "Food" like this causes their blood sugar to spike and drop and they go through a range of emotions as a result, including withdrawl when they want more of that horrible "food."

The saddest part for me is to see these children prescribed medications from ritalin to seroquel for issues that could easily be resolved with effective counselig and a healthier diet.

So long story short....I do not fully agree with the government intervening in such a way...but I do like the fact that they are banning this junk from the schools.

Any parent with an obese child should be doing backflips because their children are probably going to die very early...

and I hate to sound bleek but it's true

Your 'conclusion' that ADD or ADHD is a made up disease is not only damaging to society as a whole but are extremely insulting. As a parent and as an adult who suffers from ADHD and ADD, I cannot tell you HOW REAL this is. It is over-diagnosed and passed off as an excuse most of the time, but it is real. I do not medicate myself or my children, there are coping skills that can be learned and those are most beneficial to persons such as myself. But I do know extreme cases where without medication the behavior is uncontrollable by any means... and those children I refer to are properly fed, slightly underweight and eat a very balanced diet, have pro-pares and speech therapy and special classes everyday. Keeping these children on medication allows them to learn and then be taught coping skills down the road. Without medication, even the best couselor or therapist could NOT TEACH these children.

As far as the govt telling my what my child can and can't eat at school, it is abhorrent, my children have all been underweight to on the thin side, I have given them whole milk and full-fat foods to keep them at their normal weight. It is MY decision as a parent to chose what my child can eat.

This is parental responsibility... and most often times when you look at an obese child one or both of the parents are obese... what good does it do to suspend cookies or pizza from school if the child goes home and eats like their parents do?

I also understand that some genetic conditions can account for obesity, but if that it the case limiting junk food at school still won't solve the problem.

This is a no-brainer... the govt should not interfere...

[Fitz]

Schools should have every right to refuse to sell junk food, but if children bring it in themselves so be it.

[Apatriot]

Your 'conclusion' that ADD or ADHD is a made up disease is not only damaging to society as a whole but are extremely insulting. As a parent and as an adult who suffers from ADHD and ADD, I cannot tell you HOW REAL this is. It is over-diagnosed and passed off as an excuse most of the time, but it is real. I do not medicate myself or my children, there are coping skills that can be learned and those are most beneficial to persons such as myself. But I do know extreme cases where without medication the behavior is uncontrollable by any means... and those children I refer to are properly fed, slightly underweight and eat a very balanced diet, have pro-pares and speech therapy and special classes everyday. Keeping these children on medication allows them to learn and then be taught coping skills down the road. Without medication, even the best couselor or therapist could NOT TEACH these children.

I agree.

As far as the govt telling my what my child can and can't eat at school, it is abhorrent, my children have all been underweight to on the thin side, I have given them whole milk and full-fat foods to keep them at their normal weight. It is MY decision as a parent to chose what my child can eat.

This is parental responsibility... and most often times when you look at an obese child one or both of the parents are obese... what good does it do to suspend cookies or pizza from school if the child goes home and eats like their parents do?

I also understand that some genetic conditions can account for obesity, but if that it the case limiting junk food at school still won't solve the problem.

This is a no-brainer... the govt should not interfere...

Define "interfere." Is "interfering" choosing to sell or provide junk food on campus, or is it not choosing to sell or provide junk food on campus? (note the school selling or providing, not the parent). I think schools should sell healthy food to their captive audience, and leave lunchboxes alone.

[FromAKtoAZ]

Define "interfere." Is "interfering" choosing to sell or provide junk food on campus, or is it not choosing to sell or provide junk food on campus? (note the school selling or providing, not the parent). I think schools should sell healthy food to their captive audience, and leave lunchboxes alone.

I agree that junk food should not be accessible to children k-6th, but 7-12th a child should be allowed to choose for themselves (they are learning to be adults right? and by this time they should have at least had a health, nutrition or PE class). I also believe that if your child should be allowed to bring their own snacks and soda to school. My sons school does not allow him to bring a pack of say Famous Amos mini chocolate chip cookies, BUT... he can bring a bag of ANY 110 calorie snack pack... They cannot have a regular soda...BUT CAN have a diet soda? HUH??? Now explain that logic to me!

Have you seen what the school board or nutrition board (a govt run program) sells for LUNCH and they have the audacity to call it food??

Here is a sample lunch menu at my child's 1-6th grade school: http://www.tusd.k12.az.us/contents/depart/food/documents/esmenu_sept.pdf

Mind you ALLLLLL food is canned, pre-made and frozen. THIS IS NOT healthy food!

Once again this is another great example of government failure under the guise of "doing it for our own good"

BTW- My children pack lunches, real food, real healthy food, fresh fruit vegatables... and yes occasionally a soda or a bag of cookies! I just tell my son to call me if they harass him!