Whats your opinion? Schools putting rules on snacks brought to class...

joshandpanda · January 2013

OK, I got my daily email from care.com this morning, and one of the articles was a student was denied recess since his mother packed a twinkie in his lunch.

Now, at the end of the article, it states that he didn't follow directions from his teacher, and supposedly that's why he wasn't allowed his recess. But still...

So, what is your opinion regarding schools putting rules on what the children eat?

joshandpanda · January 2013

My opinion: I don't think there should be a RULE that they cannot have certain foods. The only reason I could see this, is in a classroom that has a student that has an allergy to a certain food, then a letter should go out at the beginning of the year stating it would be appreciated if *peanuts* or etc. were not brought into the class room.

Now, I would rather send my kid to school with healthy options, yes, but in this mothers case, she threw it in there with a few other healthy things. So, why should the kid get in trouble for it? It is up to the parents (even though I think some should be limiting how much sweets etc. a kid gets) to give their child whatever they want...

alizabethanne · January 2013

I agree. There should be no rule about what can come to school in a lunch unless there is a classmate with an allergy. I dont understand how a school could make a rule like this at all?

However I also agree a twinkie is a pretty unhealthy snack...but if it were in my lunch as a kid I would have loved it

brennarobbie · January 2013

I'm not in any way saying that this was the right/wrong thing to do - I wasn't there. But I know as a kindergarten teacher that sometimes teachers/schools choose to punish/add restrictions to the child when the parents don't listen or follow the rules. It's a last resort kinda thing from what I'm aware of. Fortunately, I've never had to do it (don't really agree with it, but totally understand why they do it).

In this case, there were probably other things going on that we don't know about.

I ask my parents to send in one snack - a drink (preferably water) and something healthy to go with it. They do a great job with it.

brennarobbie · January 2013

*I realized I didn't answer the original question* Ooops! ) I do not think that we should make definite rules to what parents have to send to school for their children's snacks. I think as teachers we need to make strong suggestions.

However, as a parent, sometimes you don't have time to grocery shop - things come up - so you might not have a 100% healthy option ALL THE TIME. So once in a while, it's fine IMO. Any snack is better than no snack when it needs to get them through that extra hour or two till lunch or till they go home. )

joshandpanda · January 2013

brennarobbie:
In this case, there were probably other things going on that we don't know about.

I think so as well...

but, still, it would be up to the parents as to what was packed, the student shouldn't be the one punished for it IMO...

a letter/email to the parents stating that they would *prefer* to see more healthy snacks in the classroom.

KatFCo · January 2013

I don't think it's right for a teacher to punish a student for what the parent did, but it's possible there's more to the "didn't follow directions." I would be there's more to this story.

I do think teachers and schools can put limits on what foods children can bring to school--especially in the case of allergies. For example, saying no sodas, etc, I think is perfectly reasonable. It can be taken too far, though.

unaveragejane · January 2013

If it is a rule that the parents disagree with, I think there are better ways to contest it then by breaking it. I get the whole, "we didn't have time to go grocery shopping" argument, but would you really send your kid with a coke if you were out of juice boxes or water bottles? I would guess that most of us would just have the kid buy a milk or juice in the lunchroom instead.

bornmommy · January 2013

At my school, we are unable to take away recess, which I do not agree with but, in this case, it seems absurd to take away a kid's recess because the parent packed an inappropriate snack. Yes, kids should be taught to eat healthy but taking away physical exercise because a parent isn't doing that? Backwards.

khill86 · January 2013

A lot of the schools in my area have these kinds of "preferences." They prefer healthy snacks, no chips, no candy, no pop. They also ask that lunches are packed in reusable containers, not plastic sandwich bags, plastic wrap, etc.

They're not rules that the kids would be punished for if the parents didn't follow them, but they are very strongly encouraged.

joshandpanda · January 2013

khill86:
A lot of the schools in my area have these kinds of "preferences." They prefer healthy snacks, no chips, no candy, no pop. They also ask that lunches are packed in reusable containers, not plastic sandwich bags, plastic wrap, etc. They're not rules that the kids would be punished for if the parents didn't follow them, but they are very strongly encouraged.

I think it should be like this everywhere...

brennarobbie · January 2013

bornmommy:
At my school, we are unable to take away recess, which I do not agree with but, in this case, it seems absurd to take away a kid's recess because the parent packed an inappropriate snack. Yes, kids should be taught to eat healthy but taking away physical exercise because a parent isn't doing that? Backwards.

Totally agree! Unhealthy snack and no physical activity outside - hmmm.... ;o)

brennarobbie · January 2013

joshandpanda:
khill86:
A lot of the schools in my area have these kinds of "preferences." They prefer healthy snacks, no chips, no candy, no pop. They also ask that lunches are packed in reusable containers, not plastic sandwich bags, plastic wrap, etc. They're not rules that the kids would be punished for if the parents didn't follow them, but they are very strongly encouraged.
I think it should be like this everywhere...

Me to )

mben1119 · January 2013

I very highly doubt that his snack was the reason his recess was taken away. Very highly.

forestdancer · January 2013

joshandpanda:
My opinion: I don't think there should be a RULE that they cannot have certain foods. The only reason I could see this, is in a classroom that has a student that has an allergy to a certain food, then a letter should go out at the beginning of the year stating it would be appreciated if *peanuts* or etc. were not brought into the class room.
Now, I would rather send my kid to school with healthy options, yes, but in this mothers case, she threw it in there with a few other healthy things. So, why should the kid get in trouble for it? It is up to the parents (even though I think some should be limiting how much sweets etc. a kid gets) to give their child whatever they want...

This

APendola · January 2013

I agree with schools promoting healthy diet and I agree with restricting food if a child in the class has an allergy. I do not agree with punishing the child for a lunch that their mom (or dad) packed.

When I was a kid, my mom always gave us a dessert with our lunch. Sometimes it was fruit, sometimes it was yogurt, but sometimes it was something like a cookie. Not a big deal if the main part of the lunch was still healthy and it wasn't something we got every day.

Funny how schools reprimand parents for packing a sweet treat, but they are quick to put in vending machines full of pop and chips if it will make the school some money.

thatoneredhead · January 2013

I dont mind rules on like class parties, but I dont think it's right to single out a kid's snack. Not his fault.

Our 6th grade center served pizza and fries EVERY DAY as an alternative to normal hot lunch. Deplorable.

Since it came up, I dont believe in taking kid's (whole) recess away for any reason. They need the break.

sabrina69barnes · January 2013

I agree with most of the OPs. Most of the time I send DS with a piece of fruit for his snack but not always. Sometimes I've sent him with homemade cupcakes and cookies even though the school sent home a letter saying healthy snacks only. This same letter listed fruit snacks as healthy so it got an eye roll and went in the trash. It's my job to decide what to feed my kids. Even with the cookies and cake I give DS every once in a while his diet is far healthier than what the school thinks is acceptable. When the school considers french fries a veggie and fruit snacks a healthy snack I have zero interest in taking nutrition advice from them. I would be furious of DS was denied recess because of the snack I sent.

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