Teacher says Pop Tarts are not a healthy snack
Replies
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Teachers are like most of the general public. They have no idea of how nutrition actually works. The deeming of "unhealthy" only seems to relate to food or smoking cigarettes, etc. "Unhealthy" could be having too much stress, lack of sleep, being unhappy with themselves, being overweight, etc.ummijaaz560 wrote: »I went to my kids school this morning, to speak with his first grade teacher.
He came home yesterday saying he couldn"t bring his Pop tart for their morning snack, because they can only have "healthy snacks".
I was upset. I still am even after speaking with the teacher this morning.
I teach my child that there are no good or bad foods, unless you have a allergy or ethically cant eat it.
He has been sitting there afraid to pull out his "unhealthy snack" because its not "fruit, or granola bar, or yogurt"(healthy snacks").
I often send those as well.
I told her not to teach my child about foods being good or bad, because I dont subscribe to that.
Teacher: "So you're ok with him having a sugary Pop Tart in the morning"?
Me: Yes, I if send it its good enough for him to have. Just so you know there are granola bars with just as much or more sugar in them as Pop Tarts.
Teacher: blank stare.
Do teachers have the right to teach children sugary snacks are unhealthy?
Are Pop tarts the devil?
If your kid is eating a decent meal in the morning (yes kids should have something in the morning for brain focus), then I say the Pop tart is fine.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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They are sugar covered frosting. I'm sorry, but are we really asking if Pop Tarts are healthy??16
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All the pop tart talk I am now going to eat my last Glutino GF Strawberry Toaster Pastry as I love pop tarts can no longer eat them and only buy these once in a while because it is $3 something a box for 4. YUM! And I will log it.1
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nevermind. I don't want to be involved in this, after all.5
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Define healthy. If a child is getting in all the nutrients they need throughout the day, then why would a Pop tart be unhealthy? You don't get "extra credit" for eating "healthy" once your daily macros/micros are met.DancesWithDogz wrote: »OMG - Pop Tarts are NOT healthy foods - and kudos to the teacher for trying to educate their students, and parents. Granola bars are just as bad... what's wrong with carrots, apples, grapes, and celery sticks? Seriously people!
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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redheaddee1974 wrote: »They are sugar covered frosting. I'm sorry, but are we really asking if Pop Tarts are healthy??
It seems there are only 2 things it could be - healthy or the devil. They don't look like the devil now do they?2 -
Ever since the time I nearly burned down the office toasting my breakfast PopTarts, I've been less than enthralled by them. Seriously, all I did was put it in the toaster.
I have made them from scratch, though, and those are to die for.1 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »ummijaaz560 wrote: »I think I'm more disturbed by the fact that he's been sitting there hungry and afraid to be judged for not eating healthy food.
Who wants their child to be afraid to eat and go hungry? This is how food disorders begin.
But if he took something within the rules he wouldn't be afraid or hungry, correct? It seems like you are perpetuating the problem rather than solving it.
Whenever I encounter something I believe is an injustice, I like to stick my head in the sand in order to prevent creating any waves too.
Injustice? ::laugh::
What was your question? Are you unsure of the definition of the word?
Here you go:
An unjust or unfair act; wrong.3 -
I'll make 1 more point to add to previous points I've made.
When I was 9 years old, I got type 1 diabetes. At that time, and for the next several months, I was given very thorough education about how to manage my disease. By the time I was 10, I actually knew more about type 1 diabetes than most physicians. Yes, that much education.
And I knew at that time that, as far as insulin and BG is concerned, carbs are carbs. It doesn't matter whether those carbs come from an orange (most deem this "healthy") or from a donut (most deem this "unhealthy") - or even a Pop Tart. Insulin doses worked the same way regardless.
Now, as a 10 year old (and subsequently), adults assume that there is no topic you could possibly understand better than them. So I had adults such as school nurses, school cooks, and just people I knew in general telling me that I could not eat "sweets." They were wrong, of course... I could eat "sweets" just as easily as I could eat a sandwich made of whole wheat bread. So even though I knew better, I kept being told regularly for several years that there are certain foods I can't eat.
I have been restricting calories for 3 years now and have eaten low carb for almost a year. However, when I have a cheat day, guess what I go for. I start it out with "sweets" such as donuts, cookies, brownies, cake, etc.; add in pizzas and pasta, and end it with more cookies, brownies, cake, and ice cream.
My point: Telling a kid they can't have something enough times might actually have consequences later in life.4 -
In England schools have 'healthy schools' policies and snacks like that aren't allowed. In secondary school kids bring in snacks they like, but they can't buy chocolate, sweets etc at school. I sent a brunch bar (basically peanuts, oats etc with a bit of chocolate on top) in my son's (he's 7) bag for a break snack and we were told he wasn't allowed it. Fair enough, it's their policy, and I understand. My kids do get treats, but not on a daily basis.
There are plenty of alternatives to a pop tart.6 -
ummijaaz560 wrote: »I went to my kids school this morning, to speak with his first grade teacher.
He came home yesterday saying he couldn"t bring his Pop tart for their morning snack, because they can only have "healthy snacks".
I was upset. I still am even after speaking with the teacher this morning.
I teach my child that there are no good or bad foods, unless you have a allergy or ethically cant eat it.
He has been sitting there afraid to pull out his "unhealthy snack" because its not "fruit, or granola bar, or yogurt"(healthy snacks").
I often send those as well.
I told her not to teach my child about foods being good or bad, because I dont subscribe to that.
Teacher: "So you're ok with him having a sugary Pop Tart in the morning"?
Me: Yes, I if send it its good enough for him to have. Just so you know there are granola bars with just as much or more sugar in them as Pop Tarts.
Teacher: blank stare.
Do teachers have the right to teach children sugary snacks are unhealthy?
Are Pop tarts the devil?
How can you be ok with teaching your child bad habits? Teaching them at a young age to eat unhealthy transitions them to eat bad later on in life. The teacher is doing through right thing and educating your child to a healthier lifestyle.3 -
crzycatlady1 wrote: »The teacher who told me my son couldn't bring in pretzels and fishy crackers anymore because they weren't 'healthy' was also very overweight. Not really interested in what her definition of 'healthy' was.
You're delegating the important job of educating your child to her. And you're micromanaging. This is hardly gross incompetence, it's a minor difference of opinion in a somewhat controversial topic; let the teacher do their job. Probably that teacher didn't make up the rules, but it's part of their job to enforce them equally for everybody. You're unfairly putting them in a difficult position if you pick a fight with them as an individual (and disregard what they have to say because you don't like their body) instead of, you know, working with the decision makers to address the policy, or leaving it be.8 -
puttputt24 wrote: »ummijaaz560 wrote: »I went to my kids school this morning, to speak with his first grade teacher.
He came home yesterday saying he couldn"t bring his Pop tart for their morning snack, because they can only have "healthy snacks".
I was upset. I still am even after speaking with the teacher this morning.
I teach my child that there are no good or bad foods, unless you have a allergy or ethically cant eat it.
He has been sitting there afraid to pull out his "unhealthy snack" because its not "fruit, or granola bar, or yogurt"(healthy snacks").
I often send those as well.
I told her not to teach my child about foods being good or bad, because I dont subscribe to that.
Teacher: "So you're ok with him having a sugary Pop Tart in the morning"?
Me: Yes, I if send it its good enough for him to have. Just so you know there are granola bars with just as much or more sugar in them as Pop Tarts.
Teacher: blank stare.
Do teachers have the right to teach children sugary snacks are unhealthy?
Are Pop tarts the devil?
How can you be ok with teaching your child bad habits? Teaching them at a young age to eat unhealthy transitions them to eat bad later on in life. The teacher is doing through right thing and educating your child to a healthier lifestyle.
Teaching kids to abstain from foods, or whatever rarely pays off. Often, when they go off to college, kids now do and eat what since they weren't before. I rather teach my child how you can still eat junk food, as long as you are eating an overall solid diet. And teaching them there are no bad foods but rather bad diets.7 -
Define healthy. If a child is getting in all the nutrients they need throughout the day, then why would a Pop tart be unhealthy? You don't get "extra credit" for eating "healthy" once your daily macros/micros are met.DancesWithDogz wrote: »OMG - Pop Tarts are NOT healthy foods - and kudos to the teacher for trying to educate their students, and parents. Granola bars are just as bad... what's wrong with carrots, apples, grapes, and celery sticks? Seriously people!
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
You have 30 years of nutrition and trying to argue that pop tarts are ok to eat?? Sure they are ok to eat but they are no means healthy. Smh4 -
Both my daughters' schools have policies on snacks, both for allergy/safety reasons and health. Growing up, my schools had rules about student access to vending machines to keep kids from buying candy and soda all day long.
I look at it this way: the school is responsible for all the students. Just because my family might do well with talking to the kids about nutrition doesn't mean that other families are doing the same thing or have the same resources. I think of the rules on snacks much like the rules about school lunches - the school is doing the best that it can to ensure that kids are receiving/have access to healthy foods during school hours, because that may not be the case at home. The school policies may be helping another kid keep that healthy food/treat balance in check.
I'm willing to keep the treats at home to help another kid. I also send in items to the classrooms to have on hand for kids who may have forgotten their snack, brought something that isn't allowed, or just don't have one.7 -
puttputt24 wrote: »ummijaaz560 wrote: »I went to my kids school this morning, to speak with his first grade teacher.
He came home yesterday saying he couldn"t bring his Pop tart for their morning snack, because they can only have "healthy snacks".
I was upset. I still am even after speaking with the teacher this morning.
I teach my child that there are no good or bad foods, unless you have a allergy or ethically cant eat it.
He has been sitting there afraid to pull out his "unhealthy snack" because its not "fruit, or granola bar, or yogurt"(healthy snacks").
I often send those as well.
I told her not to teach my child about foods being good or bad, because I dont subscribe to that.
Teacher: "So you're ok with him having a sugary Pop Tart in the morning"?
Me: Yes, I if send it its good enough for him to have. Just so you know there are granola bars with just as much or more sugar in them as Pop Tarts.
Teacher: blank stare.
Do teachers have the right to teach children sugary snacks are unhealthy?
Are Pop tarts the devil?
How can you be ok with teaching your child bad habits? Teaching them at a young age to eat unhealthy transitions them to eat bad later on in life. The teacher is doing through right thing and educating your child to a healthier lifestyle.
Having a pop tart is a bad habit? How in the world do you know if this child eats unhealthy or not? A single pop tart does not define healthy eating.9 -
NorthCascades wrote: »crzycatlady1 wrote: »The teacher who told me my son couldn't bring in pretzels and fishy crackers anymore because they weren't 'healthy' was also very overweight. Not really interested in what her definition of 'healthy' was.
You're delegating the important job of educating your child to her. And you're micromanaging. This is hardly gross incompetence, it's a minor difference of opinion in a somewhat controversial topic; let the teacher do their job. Probably that teacher didn't make up the rules, but it's part of their job to enforce them equally for everybody. You're unfairly putting them in a difficult position if you pick a fight with them as an individual (and disregard what they have to say because you don't like their body) instead of, you know, working with the decision makers to address the policy, or leaving it be.
Then let her stick to educating and leave the food choices to the parent.6 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »ummijaaz560 wrote: »I think I'm more disturbed by the fact that he's been sitting there hungry and afraid to be judged for not eating healthy food.
Who wants their child to be afraid to eat and go hungry? This is how food disorders begin.
But if he took something within the rules he wouldn't be afraid or hungry, correct? It seems like you are perpetuating the problem rather than solving it.
Whenever I encounter something I believe is an injustice, I like to stick my head in the sand in order to prevent creating any waves too.
Injustice? ::laugh::
What was your question? Are you unsure of the definition of the word?
Here you go:
An unjust or unfair act; wrong.
Yep. A teacher asking a child to follow rules does not fit that description.3 -
double post0
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puttputt24 wrote: »
Define healthy. If a child is getting in all the nutrients they need throughout the day, then why would a Pop tart be unhealthy? You don't get "extra credit" for eating "healthy" once your daily macros/micros are met.DancesWithDogz wrote: »OMG - Pop Tarts are NOT healthy foods - and kudos to the teacher for trying to educate their students, and parents. Granola bars are just as bad... what's wrong with carrots, apples, grapes, and celery sticks? Seriously people!
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
You have 30 years of nutrition and trying to argue that pop tarts are ok to eat?? Sure they are ok to eat but they are no means healthy. Smh
I think the point trying to be made is that just because pop-tarts are not "healthy" doesn't make them unhealthy when they are a small part of an overall healthy diet.0 -
unexpectedawesome wrote: »Nope. Not okay. That teacher with one day has just undone your years of hard work in trying to teach your kid that there are no good or bad foods. Kids are like sponges and they take everything personally, he's not going to see that the teacher was being a not-nice person, he's going to see that he has bad food. And it's going to take a lot of consistent effort on your part and on his (when he figures it out for himself) that foods don't get labels like that unless - you're right - they're medically or ethically unsound FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL. (I'm all het up over this. Sorry.) If I were you I would have gone immediately to the principal because shenanigans.
Also, did they send you out a guideline at the beginning of the school year as to what constitutes a healthy or unhealthy snack? Is it in writing that the kids can only have fruit/yogurt/granola?
Sounds to me like teacher just didn't want to deal with your child on a sugar high, which if I were the parent would be unacceptable. You don't tell my kid what's good or bad when it comes to food, I do.
They need to provide that guideline for all parents in writing or they need to stfu.
(not that I'm mad about this at all...
)
Do you need a pop tart?
Maybe a snickers
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Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »ummijaaz560 wrote: »I think I'm more disturbed by the fact that he's been sitting there hungry and afraid to be judged for not eating healthy food.
Who wants their child to be afraid to eat and go hungry? This is how food disorders begin.
But if he took something within the rules he wouldn't be afraid or hungry, correct? It seems like you are perpetuating the problem rather than solving it.
Whenever I encounter something I believe is an injustice, I like to stick my head in the sand in order to prevent creating any waves too.
Injustice? ::laugh::
What was your question? Are you unsure of the definition of the word?
Here you go:
An unjust or unfair act; wrong.
Yep. A teacher asking a child to follow rules does not fit that description.
From the OP's previous posts it seems that "healthy" is not actually part of the rules. I believe the restrictions were nuts and seafood (really? seafood? Or did they really mean shellfish and not know the difference).0 -
NorthCascades wrote: »crzycatlady1 wrote: »The teacher who told me my son couldn't bring in pretzels and fishy crackers anymore because they weren't 'healthy' was also very overweight. Not really interested in what her definition of 'healthy' was.
You're delegating the important job of educating your child to her. And you're micromanaging. This is hardly gross incompetence, it's a minor difference of opinion in a somewhat controversial topic; let the teacher do their job. Probably that teacher didn't make up the rules, but it's part of their job to enforce them equally for everybody. You're unfairly putting them in a difficult position if you pick a fight with them as an individual (and disregard what they have to say because you don't like their body) instead of, you know, working with the decision makers to address the policy, or leaving it be.
Then let her stick to educating and leave the food choices to the parent.
Everybody has their own opinion on what "educating" means, they're all different, and yet, we need a policy that applies to everybody. Luckily most students go home to their parents after school, so the parents are the ultimate authority on food choices in the home. But not in the school. If it's really that hard for parents to live with, homeschooling is an alternative; you've heard the saying "if you want something done right, do it yourself."3 -
Back when I was a kid in the late 80s, my school also had a "healthy snack" policy. This must vary by district and state since many here seem to have not been exposed to this before.
Schools call it a "healthy snack" not a "healthy diet." Of course a healthy diet has room for processed, low nutrient foods like pop tarts. That's not what a "healthy snack" policy refutes.
Little kids can be very sensitive to reprimands from authority figures. I personally think the teacher was an idiot for saying something directly to the boy, since from his pov that could easily feel like he was in trouble for breaking a rule. I think she should've instead sent a letter home for the parent or called. My two cents.4 -
NorthCascades wrote: »NorthCascades wrote: »crzycatlady1 wrote: »The teacher who told me my son couldn't bring in pretzels and fishy crackers anymore because they weren't 'healthy' was also very overweight. Not really interested in what her definition of 'healthy' was.
You're delegating the important job of educating your child to her. And you're micromanaging. This is hardly gross incompetence, it's a minor difference of opinion in a somewhat controversial topic; let the teacher do their job. Probably that teacher didn't make up the rules, but it's part of their job to enforce them equally for everybody. You're unfairly putting them in a difficult position if you pick a fight with them as an individual (and disregard what they have to say because you don't like their body) instead of, you know, working with the decision makers to address the policy, or leaving it be.
Then let her stick to educating and leave the food choices to the parent.
Everybody has their own opinion on what "educating" means, they're all different, and yet, we need a policy that applies to everybody. Luckily most students go home to their parents after school, so the parents are the ultimate authority on food choices in the home. But not in the school. If it's really that hard for parents to live with, homeschooling is an alternative; you've heard the saying "if you want something done right, do it yourself."
Read my post above, which rules are we talking about? I see no mention of specific rules regarding "healthy" snacks as the OP has posted.0 -
Having worked with kids, it was easy to see that many of them did not get proper nutritional guidance at home. Many also lived in low income families, and their only snacks/meals for the day would be at school. So I could see why the teacher/school is advocating for eating fruits and vegetables (for example) over a treat, and they want to enforce this with ALL the children so that no one feels "left out" when someone brings chips or a pop tart instead.
I would not take this personally, especially since there are a lot of other things within the academic system to be concerned about. Kids learn most of their lifestyle habits at home, so keep teaching your child about balanced eating. Maybe send an approved snack at school, and allow him to have that pop tart at home.9 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »ummijaaz560 wrote: »I think I'm more disturbed by the fact that he's been sitting there hungry and afraid to be judged for not eating healthy food.
Who wants their child to be afraid to eat and go hungry? This is how food disorders begin.
But if he took something within the rules he wouldn't be afraid or hungry, correct? It seems like you are perpetuating the problem rather than solving it.
Whenever I encounter something I believe is an injustice, I like to stick my head in the sand in order to prevent creating any waves too.
Injustice? ::laugh::
What was your question? Are you unsure of the definition of the word?
Here you go:
An unjust or unfair act; wrong.
Yep. A teacher asking a child to follow rules does not fit that description.
From the OP's previous posts it seems that "healthy" is not actually part of the rules. I believe the restrictions were nuts and seafood (really? seafood? Or did they really mean shellfish and not know the difference).
From the OP: He came home yesterday saying he couldn"t bring his Pop tart for their morning snack, because they can only have "healthy snacks".0 -
puttputt24 wrote: »
Define healthy. If a child is getting in all the nutrients they need throughout the day, then why would a Pop tart be unhealthy? You don't get "extra credit" for eating "healthy" once your daily macros/micros are met.DancesWithDogz wrote: »OMG - Pop Tarts are NOT healthy foods - and kudos to the teacher for trying to educate their students, and parents. Granola bars are just as bad... what's wrong with carrots, apples, grapes, and celery sticks? Seriously people!
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
You have 30 years of nutrition and trying to argue that pop tarts are ok to eat?? Sure they are ok to eat but they are no means healthy. Smh
Having a all-or-nothing attitude about food isn't mentally healthy. What a lot of posters here are saying is that it's more important to learn that it's okay to eat a wide range of foods, even "junk" food in moderation, than it is to start teaching kids to demonize foods that early.6 -
For what it's worth, my 2 cents...
I don't think it's worth fighting to have Pop Tarts allowed as a snack. Schools need to do something about childhood obesity, and for every parent like the OP who are teaching there kid to have a healthy relationship with food, there are 10 that aren't. They have to draw a line in the sand somewhere, and "swapping" is a thing, so I can see where Pop Tarts fall behind the probably arbitrary line.
BUT, I would read the riot act to the teacher for telling my child a snack I sent them in with was "unhealthy". If the snack I chose is against the rules, send me a note or email or call me and let me know. Then I can explain to my child that the school is trying to protect the children who don't have a healthy diet as a whole, so we are going to do our part by sticking to the rules.
When I was a child, we never had candy in the house and I was only allowed a half a can of soda on special occasions. I got a part time job at a drug store when I was a teenager, and I had a Snickers Bar and a can of soda as a meal every time I was there. It was like I had to make up for every one I had missed as a child to prove to my parents I knew better. Forbidding a food and teaching your child that it is unhealthy and should never be eaten is not necessarily the best way to prepare them for real life 12 -
I never gave my kids poptarts, in fact they were banned for sale in supermarkets here in Australia for a while due to their woeful nutritional profile. I agree with the teacher, in that they are most definitely not a healthy snack.7
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