Wellness run amuck

[DCJenn]

Oh my God that's ridiculous.

Maybe the parents will have to rise up and take matters into their own hands.

What a bunch of tools.

Jenn

that's nutty! healthier lunches - yea! crazy, nut-job rules that will make everyone miserable? boo!

no cupcakes for birthdays??

[Vanquisher]

I think that is, in a word, UNHEALTHY! That's crazy! What about kids who are...gasp...underweight? Like my kids!!! If my son didn't get the calories at school, he would probably lose weight. Is that healthy? NO!!!

I would be livid. Moderation people!

That is so overboard. Healthier food can still taste good. And, IMO, some of the lowfat and esp non-fat stuff is so full of extra crap that it is worse than the real thing.

And they will still have the kid who brings skittles and a sprite to school for lunch.

Teachers can't chew gum? What the heck is wrong with gum? (Besides the fact that listening to some people chomp on it is annoying and it makes my jaw ache).

I think it is great that a parent said they won't turn down a request for seconds. Are they forgetting that school lunch is the best meal some kids get? My goodness!

Maybe they could offer smoking as an alternative to gum chewing. :>

[PrincessFiona]

Wow...that is just unbelievable! (I know I'm totally late chiming in here!)

Our school district has the opposite problem though, unfortunately. Treats (candy, chocolates, Pop) are readily given out as rewards. Andrew actually gained enough weight last school year that I consider him to be pudgy. The kids can get second helpings and many kids choose two lunches each day and only eat parts of each (but wait until they're older and can eat both! ) At the middle school, there are candy and pop machines in the cafeteria and the cafeteria is more like a restaurant...there is the standard line and then 'ala Carte' where kids can get french fries, pizza, hamburgers, etc...and the only limit is the cash coming in. We have had trouble with regulating it with Andrew. I understand....if I was given the choice every day between two large pieces of pizza, french fries and strawberry milk or salad, veggies, fruit and a lean cut of meat...well....ahem...actually, that's probably how I got this size.

I think it's 'letter to the editor' time. Were parents even involved in this decision making process at all? Low Fat, btw often means high sugar...that isn't necessarily more healthy AND low calorie often means sweetened with Aspartame.....bring them in some reports about the links between aspartame and leukemia and lymphoma and let them chew on that.

Kids should have reasonable choices. The problem with school lunches is not that there should be low fat salad dressings...it't that they shouldn't serve fried chicken nuggets, corn and mashed potatoes with gravy as the menu selection.....and the portion sizes...holy cow...they are enough for ME.

I am beginning to really despise the start of school each year because of all of this BS.

I think I'd be tempted to rebel, myself! :>

kris

[fluffhead]

Common Sense isn't something for which government-run systems are known. (edited to remove dangling modifier)
So either you end up with some crazed beauracrat enacting "no gum-chewing teacher" legislation, or you have candy rewards in the class. No middle ground.
that's nuts.
Makes you want to homeschool.
and the day I stop drinking coffee in class is the day they rip the mug out of my cold stiff claw.

[Stella]

Low Fat, btw often means high sugar...that isn't necessarily more healthy AND low calorie often means sweetened with Aspartame.....bring them in some reports about the links between aspartame and leukemia and lymphoma and let them chew on that.

I actually had Aspartame issues when I was in high school. I used to drink Diet Coke ALLLLLLL the time and I was getting these serious migraines that would last for days and I couldn't move, couldn't sleep, etc. It was awful, but my doc just said it was stress. I didn't believe it for a second. So, I did some of my own research via the internet and found a ton of links on aspartame. I hadn't even realized it was in Diet Coke. I went back to my doc (still drinking Diet Coke alllll the time) and asked if the aspartame could be causing my headaches and he completely blew me off. I decided to switch to regular Coke and see what happened. Lo and behold, the headaches completely vanished and I haven't had a migraine like that since (in 6 years!)

SO, I agree that all that processed crap is just as bad for you. In some instances - like low fat milk, reduced fat sour cream etc - it is good to REDUCE fat and calories but I hate it when they are removed entirely. I truly believe (even if I don't always follow my own advice) that fresh, natural foods are the best for you and you just have to control portions.

Anyway, good luck to you guys. It sounds way too extreme. No soda for teachers??? At all? I understand the gum chewing b/c that's not appropriate for any sort of public speaking, but come on, soda?? I could really rip into some people for all this crap... Try to get that culture food fest back!!!!

Mmm, mmmm....$7 for canned salmon in a school cafeteria? Sign me up! Too bad they wouldn't let me have seconds.

(If this all in the name of wellness, why charge extra for salad?)

[Sheherezade]

That's just crazy. We had some healthy types try to re-make the school lunch/treats in the classroom policies last year, but they were turned down by the powers that be. They were pretty upset -- and some even left the district over the issue. Maybe I should show them what your district has done.

We don't have an excess of treats, but the teachers do have "bribe jars" and will let a kid pick out a tootsie roll or a hershey's kiss after a week of turning in their homework on time. One a week honestly doesn't bother me. Nor do the single birthday cupcakes, in general. I'd like to be informed when the kids have had cupcakes at school so I can limit their sweets at home the same day. Sometimes, the teacher will try to get all the birthday celebrations out of the way on one day....but 3 cupcakes is excessive. I also wish they had healthier treats in the cafeteria --like fruit bars along with the ice cream. Here, we have our lunch payment online, so you can view what your child has purchased. You can also limit them to "lunch only" or one serving. I'd rather keep those choices with the parent. All kids are different.

Here, we have our lunch payment online, so you can view what your child has purchased. You can also limit them to "lunch only" or one serving. I'd rather keep those choices with the parent. All kids are different.

No way, that sounds too logical! Really, what a great solution. And I would love to pay for lunch on-line (we do it on Fridays as a treat). Our teacher last year did a breakfast "brunch" once a month for all the birthdays during the month. Brunch kept it more to muffin-y and less sweet sorts of things. I don't blame her -- I wouldn't want to deal with 23 sugar-addled kindergartners all day. We went all out on sugar for Halloween (no, not a Harvest party!) and Valentines day but since that is only two days, who cares?

A friend of mine is on the district committee to make "healthy changes" and so far what they have in mind sounds saner than Tara's school district. I agree that some of it is way too junky and that is why we limit the school lunches but some of this is over the top.

[Sheherezade]

I've avoided the issue because my anxiety-riddled offspring prefer to bring lunch from home. This year, my son did branch out to "snack money" which means he can buy ice cream or pop-tarts on occasion. That's how I've learned about the online purchase options. He straigtened out his new eating plan after I loaded up the page with his purchases for the week. Now, he tries to restrain himself for fear I'll cut off his goodies all together.

The birthday brunch is a fab idea. I'd do that if I was a teacher. It is nice to have a scheduled time set for the month anyway. It always seems like an interruption in the poor teacher's schedule as it is.

I do have to say the treat jar did wonders for establishing my son's homework habits. He'll do anything for a candy at the end of the week. (We don't give it out much around here!) Last year's teacher had extra recess on Friday as her homework pay-off. That worked for him as well. The slackers have to stay in the classroom and finish their work for the week. I wonder if he'll still be as motivated when the pay off is "not failing" or "not getting fired".

[Gwendolyn]

To throw a monkey wrench into things...Tucson does lie in the region of the country that is most studied (worldwide) for high occurance of childhood type 2 diabetes.

I completely agree with taking the fun out of things and moderation is best...but the stats in southern AZ are alarming...

Tara -

how has the new "wellness" plan been going now that school is in session?