Does your school allow juice?

Arnegard · September 2014

Our school allows juice in packed lunch. Snack they have a milk card and are encouraged to have milk, they cannot bring juice. They encourage healthy snacks, but a treat in the lunchbox is okay. They also have water bottles in their class room all day.

ariel06 · September 2014

DS1's school is pretty lax about food rules for lunches. They don't have a snack time since they have lunch by 11:30. No food treats are allowed for parties.

DS2's school is juice free for snacks. We have snack weeks to bring for everyone and they suggest fruits, veggies, crackers, yogurt, cheese, ect. It's not perfect, but they get small servings and it's more about teaching them social skills than the actual snack.

lexusolsen · September 2014

dmartin726 said:
DD brings a coconut water/juice mix box drink to school for lunch. I send her with water in her sippy but it always comes back full. She really only drinks milk and not so much of that either. So she gets the box drink bc that is basically the only way she will drink in the time she is there. I'd be annoyed if they didn't allow it out of concern she wouldn't drink the whole time.

That is part of our problem too! Plus, dd was apparently in charge of closing her own reusable cup. It was never closed all the way and would leak all over. I have looked for low lactose milk (or even soy) in a disposable container but can't find anything that isn't chocolate. For now, she gets 100% juice once a day. Since she isn't getting cookies or other "special treats" often, I figure it's not the end of the world.

thechickencoop · September 2014

cjcouple said:

we have no rules in school. well ds2 k class is nut free because he had a kid with allergy but unless there is a kid In class. anything goes. I mean anything. well no soda but they do sell ice cream. I think some people get too hung up on this stuff. just follow the rules. rules are a part of life, suck it up. as a kid I had a lunch like tuna sandwich with grapes, cucumber slices and 1 cookie (Oreo or chips ahoy) and I bought milk. I ate the entire lunch and as a whole there is nothing wrong with the cookie once a day. the problem is people are dumbasses and fill their kids lunch boxes with gummies, bars, chips, cookies and soda. so it ruins it for everyone.

Isn't it funny what we ate for school lunches? I feel like this stuff would be looked on so oddly now; not that I have a school aged kid, but just based on playdates, etc. My mom always packed my lunches - tuna, pb, cream cheese on date bread (even I got weird looks for that one but man was it good), then like baby carrots or an apple or something, and then always, ALWAYS a little debbie or some other type of dessert.

Court0026 · September 2014

They are both in elementary schools and there aren't rules. At the school I work at, my students all get free/reduced breakfast and lunch and it is just fascinating what they feed them/they can choose from. Juice and chocolate milk on the tray for both meals if that is what they want.

Louie4real · September 2014

Court0026 said:
They are both in elementary schools and there aren't rules. At the school I work at, my students all get free/reduced breakfast and lunch and it is just fascinating what they feed them/they can choose from. Juice and chocolate milk on the tray for both meals if that is what they want.

What does it being free breakfast/lunch have to do with anything?

dizzycooks · September 2014

The only rule I have to follow is no nuts. I choose to not send what I consider junk most days. I showed her her lunch for today (ham and cheese on ww, hummus and a variety of veggies) and her reaction was an enthusiastic YUM! However, if your kid won't eat or drink anything away from home I think you're going to have to be ok with a granola bar and juice on occassion. I don't really think it's the school's place to police that stuff. Make recommendations, yes; take it away? Absolutely not. However, I had to get a doctor's note to be aloud to send what I consider healthy food rather than have her eat school food daily which I also think is ludicrious.

spring_time · September 2014

Louie4real said:

They are both in elementary schools and there aren't rules. At the school I work at, my students all get free/reduced breakfast and lunch and it is just fascinating what they feed them/they can choose from. Juice and chocolate milk on the tray for both meals if that is what they want.
What does it being free breakfast/lunch have to do with anything?

I think she is saying that when students receive free breakfast/lunch they are not typically bringing food from home, the school is providing the food. She is saying that the school itself is not serving the students healthy food. It is interesting that some schools are regulating what children bring from home, while some schools that provide free lunch are actually serving Pop Tarts to their students for breakfast.

The schools should be providing healthy meals especially since 2 out of 3 of the students' meals are being eaten at school, and there is no guarantee they are actually getting a third meal at home.

At least that is how I read the comment.

Lindsay9911 · September 2014

Our preschool rules are "no coke or gum in lunches" which is funny to me bc I have seen those bottles of "bug juice", Hawaiian punch etc in 2 yr olds lunches! The sugar content isn't any better than a coke!
Thankfully DD loves water and happily drinks it when these kids are drinking "juice"!
They serve water with snack but lunch is pretty much a free for all!

Andrewsgal · September 2014

Earlybird725 said:
And tell me something I bake at home with whole wheat flour, oatmeal, flax, banana, and yes a few chocolate chips is worse than a bag of goldfish.

Who said this?

Andrewsgal · September 2014

Earlybird725 said:

Andrewsgal said:

Earlybird725 said:
And tell me something I bake at home with whole wheat flour, oatmeal, flax, banana, and yes a few chocolate chips is worse than a bag of goldfish.
Who said this?
If the issue is the chocolate I wouldn't be able to send it at some schools. But goldfish would be allowed. So apparently some schools?

The issue is pre packaged granola bars with CC are the same as cookies. Don't make this about something it isn't. The majority of moms are not making homemade flax seed granola bars. If you seriously think they are you are totally out of touch.

notkateanymore · September 2014

Yummmm s'mores granola bars...

Spin313 · September 2014

DD goes to preschool and there is very limited juice (holiday parties). Parents take turns sending in snacks for the whole class...fresh fruit and veggies only, plus crackers or cheese.

DS's elementary school just says "healthy, nut free snacks" (ie: no chips or cookies). Kids are allowed to have a water bottle at their desk during the day. They don't really police the packed lunches, although they do remind families to send "healthy" meals, and they are trying to discourage juice boxes/pouches.

ConnieRob · September 2014

Our schools only lunchtime rule is "no hard candy". DS takes his lunch every day because the prepared food there is gross, processed crap that all came from a bag or can. It's seriously nasty. His lunch generally consists of a homemade lunch able...boars head lunch meat, cheese and crackers. Usually grapes for fruit because he won't eat apples unsliced and he said they got nasty when I tried sending him some last year. He also gets a small treat (gasp! A cookie or granola bar!) and a 100% juice/vegetable juice box. I've tried sending him carrot sticks but he never has enough time to eat them.

They do get a snack in the afternoon. The school suggests string cheese, fruit salad, applesauce, goldfish, cheese it's, baked chips or pretzels. As far as I know they are not offered a drink with snack but Jack did say that his teacher offered them Sprite(!!!!!) or juice last week.

Andrewsgal · September 2014

FFS no one can read around here. No one said there is anything wrong with a cookie or granola bar, or even a piece if candy. I swear the lack go reading comprehension on the bump in general makes me worry for the next generation.

Andrewsgal · September 2014

NandaB said:

FFS no one can read around here. No one said there is anything wrong with a cookie or granola bar, or even a piece if candy. I swear the lack go reading comprehension on the bump in general makes me worry for the next generation.
Shaddup! My kids are fine (until they have to negotiate health insurance. Sorry kids)

It's a good thing they are cute

minerswife17 · September 2014

Heck, they took soda and juice out of the schools when I was in HS!!!

Andrewsgal · September 2014

JellyBellyStarr said:

Andrewsgal said:

FFS no one can read around here. No one said there is anything wrong with a cookie or granola bar, or even a piece if candy. I swear the lack go reading comprehension on the bump in general makes me worry for the next generation.

WTF. Are you losing your shit today or what? Hot damn you need to unclench. At no point did I suggest that there is anything wrong with a damn cookie. It was just a cute story.

lol me thinks it's you who needs to unclench as I wasn't talking about you at all. In fact I don't even remember what you posted. Holy over reaction Batman. Just went back and read your first reply, and I agree with you. Although your reading comp is a fail as that is a school rule and not mine, yesterday the grocery store had football shaped sugar cookies it was after school snack.

Andrewsgal · September 2014

Clearly you did. I actually agree with you. The rule you quoted was a school rule not my personal rule. In fact grocery store sugar cookies were our afterschool. snack yesterday, but it's kind of funny you proved my point unintentionally.

likeanoldtimemovie · September 2014

JellyBellyStarr said:
@Ilikeanoldtimemovie - Are you in Macon?

I'm about 45 min from Macon! I'm near Griffin and Barnesville.

Andrewsgal · September 2014

JellyBellyStarr said:

Andrewsgal said:

Clearly you did. I actually agree with you. The rule you quoted was a school rule not my personal rule. In fact grocery store sugar cookies were our afterschool. snack yesterday, but it's kind of funny you proved my point unintentionally.

Ha I know I did. I just "lost my shit" when I thought you were speaking directly to me.

it's all good. I was actually referencing @ConnieRob‌ gasp. I should have quoted her and her lack of reading comp.

MesmrEwe · September 2014

Our school opted out of the Fed guidelines this year - honestly - IMO I'm glad because the meals are so much more balanced and healthier for the students. I don't live in fear of losing a finger to a starved child upon their exiting school. School lunches are still insanely cheap, but we still during Lent send DD with a packed lunch on Fridays/Ash Wednesday because as a parent, it's my duty to pack her a lunch that follows our values those days, and if I want to send a cookie or treat portion in a balanced lunch, there's no reason not to. Last year when the school was still using the fed guidelines the packed lunch days are the only ones she wasn't ready to eat me out of house and home.

As for the school policies, each teacher is allowed to set the rules for what snacks/drinks are allowed in-class which has pretty consistently been "healthy snacks only" (fruit cup, jello, veggies, fruit, etc.) except on B-day treat days and then only water in a spill-proof water bottle (Contigo)... No juice in class, HOWEVER, for lunches, if we pack them we're encouraged to not have nut butters (peanut, almond, etc.), and make them balanced so kids have energy the remainder of the day but that students can purchase milk so we don't have to necessarily pack anything, it's our choice! This year DD doesn't have a "snack break" but we still pack a snack for her to have something reliably after school as a snack which for her "works", so Fiber One bars are pretty much a staple food around here.. But I'm also in the "bake your own darn healthier cookies with some chocolate chips" club - it's all about the portion size!!!

Aussie45 · September 2014

NandaB said:
I can't keep track of who thinks what is acceptable, but here is my take...the school can make rules about what parents can bring when providing for the whole class. The school can make rules about what can be brought to school if there are severe allergies, the school can not tell me what I can and cannot feed my child. My child, my choice. Period.

This is my stance too.

Look kids that get shit for lunch are still going to get shit for dinner when they get home. They probably eat breakfast before they leave so 1 out of 3 of the meals isn't completely horrible for them. In the end, it isn't making anyone inherently healthier and is taking away what should be a parents choice. When the school is packing lunches for my kid, then they can tell me what I can and can't feed them. Otherwise, eff off. Especially considering that schools are notorious for having food that is horrible for you and processed.

ConnieRob · September 2014

Andrewsgal said:

JellyBellyStarr said:

Andrewsgal said:

Clearly you did. I actually agree with you. The rule you quoted was a school rule not my personal rule. In fact grocery store sugar cookies were our afterschool. snack yesterday, but it's kind of funny you proved my point unintentionally.

Ha I know I did. I just "lost my shit" when I thought you were speaking directly to me.

it's all good. I was actually referencing @ConnieRob‌ gasp. I should have quoted her and her lack of reading comp.

Sorry, meant to be funny...

notkateanymore · September 2014

Those of you who will go to public school and say that you can feed your kid what you want...what exactly do you plan on doing?

Andrewsgal · September 2014

Yes please enlighten us. Here is the situation. Your kids school has a no cookies for snack rule. Because you are a rebel you sent a flax seed, wheat germ carob chip cookie. Because it is a cookie the teacher says sorry your precious can't eat it. So now what? What do you do now?

hmd · September 2014

DS's preschool is part of the public school, and the snack suggestions they gave are crazy. Each parent is supposed to sign up to bring a snack for a week. One of the suggestions was pudding!

ETA: They eat snack at 9:30 in the morning, and they meant the prepackaged cups.

dizzycooks · September 2014

I have a doctors note stating the type of food I will send with my child to her daycare. If I need a note in kindergarten to continue packing her lunch I will get it. My notes states that we avoid processed food and adhere to a low sugar diet for personal reasons. A few chocolate chips in her cookie is far lower sugar than the flavored yogurt they are serving for breakfast. I stand my ground on this issue.

Andrewsgal · September 2014

Oh FFS no one is making your kid buy lunch or breakfast in public school.

dizzycooks · September 2014

LalaMama81 said:

dizzycooks said:

I have a doctors note stating the type of food I will send with my child to her daycare. If I need a note in kindergarten to continue packing her lunch I will get it. My notes states that we avoid processed food and adhere to a low sugar diet for personal reasons. A few chocolate chips in her cookie is far lower sugar than the flavored yogurt they are serving for breakfast. I stand my ground on this issue.

Oh, I'm with you for daycare where food is provided. But that's not what we're discussing. The complete opposite.

My point though is that if a school were to say I could not send her lunch for whatever reason, or were to take away a portion of her lunch for whatever reason, I would have a fit and deal with it. Schools/daycares/preschools whatever should not be having any say in what we are aloud to feed our kids whether we pay for it or not.

Andrewsgal · September 2014

dizzycooks said:

LalaMama81 said:

dizzycooks said:

I have a doctors note stating the type of food I will send with my child to her daycare. If I need a note in kindergarten to continue packing her lunch I will get it. My notes states that we avoid processed food and adhere to a low sugar diet for personal reasons. A few chocolate chips in her cookie is far lower sugar than the flavored yogurt they are serving for breakfast. I stand my ground on this issue.

Oh, I'm with you for daycare where food is provided. But that's not what we're discussing. The complete opposite.

My point though is that if a school were to say I could not send her lunch for whatever reason, or were to take away a portion of her lunch for whatever reason, I would have a fit and deal with it. Schools/daycares/preschools whatever should not be having any say in what we are aloud to feed our kids whether we pay for it or not.

a school having a no cookie rule hurts no one.

spring_time · September 2014

hmd said:

DS's preschool is part of the public school, and the snack suggestions they gave are crazy. Each parent is supposed to sign up to bring a snack for a week. One of the suggestions was pudding!

ETA: They eat snack at 9:30 in the morning, and they meant the prepackaged cups.

We also had pudding listed as a healthy snack, as were goldfish and graham crackers. I have no problem feeding my children those items, but I was surprised to find them on a healthy snack list. I consider them a healthier snack that potato chips or a Twinkie, but I wouldn't classify them as healthy.

As for the future, I plan to adhere by the rules of the school. However, if I send a granola bar thinking it is healthy (as many people do), I would be very upset if my child were told they could not have the snack and nothing were provided in its place. There are ways to enforce the rule without kids going without a snack. Just send a note home stating the reason, and I will bitch to my DH, and then comply with the rule.

That being said, unless it is affecting other children (i.e. allergies), I do not think it is the school's place to dictate what I send for my child to eat.

Keeptruckin · September 2014

Our school council meeting cleared things up. They reinforced we are a water only school and absolutely anything packaged has to state it is nut free. It is teachers discretion on lunch box items. They told us all to use common sense. A homemade pumpkin muffin, good. Oreo, bad. So not to bad really. I think some parents just wanted to argue.

Aussie45 · September 2014

Andrewsgal said:

dizzycooks said:

LalaMama81 said:

dizzycooks said:

I have a doctors note stating the type of food I will send with my child to her daycare. If I need a note in kindergarten to continue packing her lunch I will get it. My notes states that we avoid processed food and adhere to a low sugar diet for personal reasons. A few chocolate chips in her cookie is far lower sugar than the flavored yogurt they are serving for breakfast. I stand my ground on this issue.

Oh, I'm with you for daycare where food is provided. But that's not what we're discussing. The complete opposite.

My point though is that if a school were to say I could not send her lunch for whatever reason, or were to take away a portion of her lunch for whatever reason, I would have a fit and deal with it. Schools/daycares/preschools whatever should not be having any say in what we are aloud to feed our kids whether we pay for it or not.

a school having a no cookie rule hurts no one.

I'm not too sure it helps anyone either. Food in moderation is key. If a kid has nothing but chips, cookies, and coke for lunch, then ya there's a problem. But one cookie? Pretty sure that never hurt anyone either.

Like I said in my other comment, I'm just not sure that these rules really do any good. So the parents switch their lunches to fit the rules. Then they eat shit food when they get home anyways. I don't think that one 'healthy' meal is enough to tip the scales kwim?

Andrewsgal · September 2014

I love how everyone is all it's not the schools job it does t effect them. Um have you ever tried to teach 20 7 years olds hopped up on sugar?

spring_time · September 2014

Keeptruckin said:

Our school council meeting cleared things up. They reinforced we are a water only school and absolutely anything packaged has to state it is nut free. It is teachers discretion on lunch box items. They told us all to use common sense. A homemade pumpkin muffin, good. Oreo, bad. So not to bad really. I think some parents just wanted to argue.

Unfortunately, common sense is often in short supply :-)

I am sure it is one of those things that the school will only make it an issue if it really becomes an issue. Teachers have a lot of things to do, and policing lunch boxes is probably pretty low on that list.

lexusolsen · September 2014

I'm a high school teacher, so I have no idea if this is an elementary thing or not, how do you see what they have for lunch? Aren't you taking your lunch break then? Do you have supervision duty then?

Andrewsgal · September 2014

NandaB said:

I wasn't saying I was going to send a lunch box full of donuts and cookies to stick it to the man, just that as a parent I am the one who decides what my kid eats. The teacher or lunch lady have no right to arbitrarily decide what is healthy (pudding? Grahm crackers??) And take foods away from my child that I have packed in their lunch. There are many different factors that go in to what a parent packs for lunch...parents education, access to grocery stores w/fresh fruits & veggies, income level, allergies, childs preferences........ To me its just overstepping. And yes, I know what happens to a class full of kids hopped up on sugar. If I had a particular student who was consistantly bring junk and it was affecting his learning I would call or write to the parent. That is not the same as a kid occassionally bringing 1 cookie in their otherwise healthy lunch

What about if it's a policy set ahead of time. In our middle class school no cookies, chips and candy for snack time isn't a hardship. There is no policy for lunch. Honestly a lot of this sounds like screw the man I don't have to follow the rules and you can't make me. And let's be honest when we are talking the bump we are not talking food stamps the majority of the time.