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Elementary School Gym teachers telling kids to restrict calories!
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Not talking about calories while WE were in school is one of the main reasons we're here. People will not understand the energy balance if they don't know about it. I'd rather see them discussing calories and energy requirements than the "no smarties" notes I used to get in the kids' lunches.4
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Not talking about calories while WE were in school is one of the main reasons we're here. People will not understand the energy balance if they don't know about it. I'd rather see them discussing calories and energy requirements than the "no smarties" notes I used to get in the kids' lunches.
This! ACTUAL nutrition classes would be awesome. There should be more of a focus on practical nutrition information in their health classes.2 -
Not talking about calories while WE were in school is one of the main reasons we're here. People will not understand the energy balance if they don't know about it. I'd rather see them discussing calories and energy requirements than the "no smarties" notes I used to get in the kids' lunches.
I tend to agree with this. A lot of people seem to think that talking about overeating or calories or food choices or getting fat with children automatically dooms them to an eating disorder. I grew up in the 60's and 70's and talking about these things was completely normal. And there were very few overweight children back then. It's sad that we seem to have forgotten how to teach children to eat normally.3 -
coreyreichle wrote: »Seeing as far more people are affected by obesity rather than anorexia/bulimia, this is good education to prevent future problems with diet.
So, yes, kids should learn to count calories, so they aren't completely lost on why they put on the Freshman 15...
I think there's a difference between "kids" who are between the ages of say, 7-14, and "kids" who are in high school who should start to know more about what kind of food they require to fuel their bodies. Teenagers in high school have a better chance of understanding more information like this and how to apply it to their lives than younger children who will just get confused and who understand more basic concepts like how fruit is good for you and that exercise is also good for you.
If my child in elementary came home and told me that their teacher was talking to them about how many calories they should eat I would be mad. I want children to be children. I don't want them to worry about how many calories they're taking in during the day - that's my job as the parent.
According to Michelle Obama, you and your fellow parents receive an F- en-masse, in doing your job. We can't trust you as a group.4 -
coreyreichle wrote: »Seeing as far more people are affected by obesity rather than anorexia/bulimia, this is good education to prevent future problems with diet.
So, yes, kids should learn to count calories, so they aren't completely lost on why they put on the Freshman 15...
I think there's a difference between "kids" who are between the ages of say, 7-14, and "kids" who are in high school who should start to know more about what kind of food they require to fuel their bodies. Teenagers in high school have a better chance of understanding more information like this and how to apply it to their lives than younger children who will just get confused and who understand more basic concepts like how fruit is good for you and that exercise is also good for you.
If my child in elementary came home and told me that their teacher was talking to them about how many calories they should eat I would be mad. I want children to be children. I don't want them to worry about how many calories they're taking in during the day - that's my job as the parent.
According to Michelle Obama, you and your fellow parents receive an F- en-masse, in doing your job. We can't trust you as a group.
She's not the first lady anymore so her opinion doesn't matter.3 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Not talking about calories while WE were in school is one of the main reasons we're here. People will not understand the energy balance if they don't know about it. I'd rather see them discussing calories and energy requirements than the "no smarties" notes I used to get in the kids' lunches.
I tend to agree with this. A lot of people seem to think that talking about overeating or calories or food choices or getting fat with children automatically dooms them to an eating disorder. I grew up in the 60's and 70's and talking about these things was completely normal. And there were very few overweight children back then. It's sad that we seem to have forgotten how to teach children to eat normally.
Totally agree. I don't know why talking about it is so taboo. It's like saying educating kids about drugs and sex is going to turn them into crack kittens.4 -
I don't think talking about it is the issue being raised. Its how its being talked about that seems to be the problem. I know nothing about the OP's kid or gym teacher but from the description I'm picturing that person we all know who is always going on about what they eat and how many calories and then projecting it on to others by counting the calories in THEIR foods. I could be totally wrong, but that's what came to mind. I remember them talking about the 4 food groups in school so it's hardly a new thing. Maybe nutrition education just needs to be tailored to the current student population.1
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First of all kids need proper calorie intake for proper growth. If kids are active they should be able to eat what they want. If concerned about eating healthy teach healthy eating habits. They should not be counting calories and going to the extremes this teacher is teaching them.
She is setting those kids up for an eating disorder and she should be reported to the administration. I think that is absolutely horrible.
Unfortunately the activity for.most kids is walking to and from the school bus that stops in front of theit house because we can't have them walk a half block down the street to a common stop. Then walking to the video game once home from school.2 -
LowCarb4Me2016 wrote: »I don't think talking about it is the issue being raised. Its how its being talked about that seems to be the problem. I know nothing about the OP's kid or gym teacher but from the description I'm picturing that person we all know who is always going on about what they eat and how many calories and then projecting it on to others by counting the calories in THEIR foods. I could be totally wrong, but that's what came to mind. I remember them talking about the 4 food groups in school so it's hardly a new things. Maybe nutrition education just needs to be tailored to the current student population.
This would be my issue. The people in my kids' school who are "in charge" of lunch inspections are nothing more than stay-at-home moms with zero nutritional training. Most are overweight themselves and are spewing out whatever that happened to read on Facebook that morning. Education in actual science-based nutrition would be great! What they have going on now is FAR from that.4 -
LowCarb4Me2016 wrote: »I don't think talking about it is the issue being raised. Its how its being talked about that seems to be the problem. I know nothing about the OP's kid or gym teacher but from the description I'm picturing that person we all know who is always going on about what they eat and how many calories and then projecting it on to others by counting the calories in THEIR foods. I could be totally wrong, but that's what came to mind. I remember them talking about the 4 food groups in school so it's hardly a new thing. Maybe nutrition education just needs to be tailored to the current student population.
This is true. I just doubt that what was described is really going to cause any harm to the children.1 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »LowCarb4Me2016 wrote: »I don't think talking about it is the issue being raised. Its how its being talked about that seems to be the problem. I know nothing about the OP's kid or gym teacher but from the description I'm picturing that person we all know who is always going on about what they eat and how many calories and then projecting it on to others by counting the calories in THEIR foods. I could be totally wrong, but that's what came to mind. I remember them talking about the 4 food groups in school so it's hardly a new thing. Maybe nutrition education just needs to be tailored to the current student population.
This is true. I just doubt that what was described is really going to cause any harm to the children.
In most cases I would agree. If I were the OP, though, I would be speaking to the teacher to get a clearer picture of what is being taught and go from there. I don't think we have enough information for a true opinion but I do think the parents should be proactive as something does seem to be going on and is effecting the child in question and possibly some of his/her classmates. Its possible the kids are misunderstanding, but its not impossible that the teacher is going overboard.1 -
LowCarb4Me2016 wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »LowCarb4Me2016 wrote: »I don't think talking about it is the issue being raised. Its how its being talked about that seems to be the problem. I know nothing about the OP's kid or gym teacher but from the description I'm picturing that person we all know who is always going on about what they eat and how many calories and then projecting it on to others by counting the calories in THEIR foods. I could be totally wrong, but that's what came to mind. I remember them talking about the 4 food groups in school so it's hardly a new thing. Maybe nutrition education just needs to be tailored to the current student population.
This is true. I just doubt that what was described is really going to cause any harm to the children.
In most cases I would agree. If I were the OP, though, I would be speaking to the teacher to get a clearer picture of what is being taught and go from there. I don't think we have enough information for a true opinion but I do think the parents should be proactive as something does seem to be going on and is effecting the child in question and possibly some of his/her classmates. Its possible the kids are misunderstanding, but its not impossible that the teacher is going overboard.
I agree the parent should talk to a teacher if they have questions about what is being taught. In a civilized and adult manner of course. It should be a discussion, not an attack.
The fact that his child has 2 parents with a history of eating disorders may be more of a reason for his problems than remarks by a teacher.3 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »LowCarb4Me2016 wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »LowCarb4Me2016 wrote: »I don't think talking about it is the issue being raised. Its how its being talked about that seems to be the problem. I know nothing about the OP's kid or gym teacher but from the description I'm picturing that person we all know who is always going on about what they eat and how many calories and then projecting it on to others by counting the calories in THEIR foods. I could be totally wrong, but that's what came to mind. I remember them talking about the 4 food groups in school so it's hardly a new thing. Maybe nutrition education just needs to be tailored to the current student population.
This is true. I just doubt that what was described is really going to cause any harm to the children.
In most cases I would agree. If I were the OP, though, I would be speaking to the teacher to get a clearer picture of what is being taught and go from there. I don't think we have enough information for a true opinion but I do think the parents should be proactive as something does seem to be going on and is effecting the child in question and possibly some of his/her classmates. Its possible the kids are misunderstanding, but its not impossible that the teacher is going overboard.
I agree the parent should talk to a teacher if they have questions about what is being taught. In a civilized and adult manner of course. It should be a discussion, not an attack.
The fact that his child has 2 parents with a history of eating disorders may be more of a reason for his problems than remarks by a teacher.
I definitely think that factors in.0 -
Maybe have a conversation with the teacher before jumping to too many conclusions. Voice your concerns/questions and find out why she teaching about this.2
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"She told the kids that she had to eat nuts for dinner even though she was hungry because she reached her calorie limit for the day."
Who eats nuts because they ran out of calories? Talk about a calorie bomb. I eat nuts for a snack when I have extra calories I need to eat, not when I'm running out of calories.
And what a stupid story to tell a bunch of kids - especially the younger ones who might actually take it to heart. She sounds a little nuts herself. I think she has some issues that she's inappropriately projecting on the students.
I had this one middle school teacher who was always talking about her divorce and her husband's infidelities - giving all this relationship advice... That got so annoying after awhile. It didn't really affect me in a negative way, though, because even as a kid, I could think for myself. But it did kill some time and get us out of a lot of real work...didn't learn a thing in that class, but I was able to get all my work from other classes done. Yay, no homework!
Most teachers aren't idiots, but just like in all areas of life, there are always a few bad apples.
ETA: I agree with many previous posters who think there should be developmentally appropriate nutrition curriculum taught to kids, but this teacher just sounds like she's giving out her opinion in a haphazard way. That's not good...6 -
coreyreichle wrote: »Seeing as far more people are affected by obesity rather than anorexia/bulimia, this is good education to prevent future problems with diet.
So, yes, kids should learn to count calories, so they aren't completely lost on why they put on the Freshman 15...
I think there's a difference between "kids" who are between the ages of say, 7-14, and "kids" who are in high school who should start to know more about what kind of food they require to fuel their bodies. Teenagers in high school have a better chance of understanding more information like this and how to apply it to their lives than younger children who will just get confused and who understand more basic concepts like how fruit is good for you and that exercise is also good for you.
If my child in elementary came home and told me that their teacher was talking to them about how many calories they should eat I would be mad. I want children to be children. I don't want them to worry about how many calories they're taking in during the day - that's my job as the parent.
According to Michelle Obama, you and your fellow parents receive an F- en-masse, in doing your job. We can't trust you as a group.
Jokes on you because I'm not actually a parent yet. MUAHAHAHAHAHA.
But anyways - childhood obesity is definitely an issue, especially in the US and Canada so I can see why she would've said that. It's definitely something that has to be addressed but I don't think it has to be addressed in the way this teacher is apparently doing so.
Unless you elect to home school, you will be constantly learning about what they learned in school, and adjusting it with your perspective as their parent. I guess I'm saying, talk to the teacher but don't have a cow about it, use it as a method to start discussing proper nutrition with the little devils.
For full disclosure, I don't have kids but do volunteer in a middle school2 -
coreyreichle wrote: »Seeing as far more people are affected by obesity rather than anorexia/bulimia, this is good education to prevent future problems with diet.
So, yes, kids should learn to count calories, so they aren't completely lost on why they put on the Freshman 15...
I think there's a difference between "kids" who are between the ages of say, 7-14, and "kids" who are in high school who should start to know more about what kind of food they require to fuel their bodies. Teenagers in high school have a better chance of understanding more information like this and how to apply it to their lives than younger children who will just get confused and who understand more basic concepts like how fruit is good for you and that exercise is also good for you.
If my child in elementary came home and told me that their teacher was talking to them about how many calories they should eat I would be mad. I want children to be children. I don't want them to worry about how many calories they're taking in during the day - that's my job as the parent.
According to Michelle Obama, you and your fellow parents receive an F- en-masse, in doing your job. We can't trust you as a group.
Jokes on you because I'm not actually a parent yet. MUAHAHAHAHAHA.
But anyways - childhood obesity is definitely an issue, especially in the US and Canada so I can see why she would've said that. It's definitely something that has to be addressed but I don't think it has to be addressed in the way this teacher is apparently doing so.
Unless you elect to home school, you will be constantly learning about what they learned in school, and adjusting it with your perspective as their parent. I guess I'm saying, talk to the teacher but don't have a cow about it, use it as a method to start discussing proper nutrition with the little devils.
For full disclosure, I don't have kids but do volunteer in a middle school
Hats off to you. I often get nostalgic because me kids are nearly done with high school, but not for middle school, lol.
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I would be upset and meeting with the principal/contacting the school board. Encouraging kids to be active, to eat fruits and vegetables: fine. I don't think there should be any mention of counting calories or speaking of weight problems in class. If there is a concern with a particular student, before anything is said TO the student the teacher should conference w/ the parent.5
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Need2Exerc1se wrote: »First of all kids need proper calorie intake for proper growth. If kids are active they should be able to eat what they want. If concerned about eating healthy teach healthy eating habits. They should not be counting calories and going to the extremes this teacher is teaching them.
She is setting those kids up for an eating disorder and she should be reported to the administration. I think that is absolutely horrible.
I would disagree with most of this. Children should never be allowed to eat what they want. They'd likely live on chips and candy. Parents should teach children how to eat properly - proper portions along with proper nutrition.
Yes and no. My girlfriend's ten year old son is a rare exception to this. Dude still has several huge bags of candy kicking around that were given to him as gifts about two years ago.
The screwed up part? He's starting to have weight problems. He doesn't eat what most would call "junk food", but he outeats his energy expenditure. I don't care if it's fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains, too much of anything can cause fat gain problems. We all know this, so the people in this thread pretending like it doesn't apply to children are just baffling me.8 -
Gallowmere1984 wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »First of all kids need proper calorie intake for proper growth. If kids are active they should be able to eat what they want. If concerned about eating healthy teach healthy eating habits. They should not be counting calories and going to the extremes this teacher is teaching them.
She is setting those kids up for an eating disorder and she should be reported to the administration. I think that is absolutely horrible.
I would disagree with most of this. Children should never be allowed to eat what they want. They'd likely live on chips and candy. Parents should teach children how to eat properly - proper portions along with proper nutrition.
Yes and no. My girlfriend's ten year old son is a rare exception to this. Dude still has several huge bags of candy kicking around that were given to him as gifts about two years ago.
The screwed up part? He's starting to have weight problems. He doesn't eat what most would call "junk food", but he outeats his energy expenditure. I don't care if it's fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains, too much of anything can cause fat gain problems. We all know this, so the people in this thread pretending like it doesn't apply to children are just baffling me.
I don't think anyone's pretending that this doesn't apply to children.
What people, myself included, are saying is that I don't think you should present the concept of healthy eating to elementary aged children in the way that this teacher apparently is.
I agree there, based purely on the fact that, as I said, it can just be too much information at once, and the selective memories of children can warp things under the best of circumstances. However, several here have stated that the idea of calorie counting being put in the heads of children is anathema to them.1
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