Teacher says Pop Tarts are not a healthy snack

Need2Exerc1se · January 2017

Pop-Tarts are not the devil, nor did the teacher suggest they were. If it's a public school then teachers have the right to teach whatever the school dictates. This seems a very silly argument especially given that your child is involved. Is making your child afraid to pull out his snack really worth digging your heels in and making your point to his teacher? What harm is there in simply explaining that you disagree with the teacher but still following the rules?

joemac1988 · January 2017

ummijaaz560 wrote: »

Are Pop tarts the devil?

No, but the macro profile isn't great. A pack of 2 is (going from memory) about 400 calories, 72c, 10f, 6p or somewhere thereabouts. I agree the teacher has no business interfering unless they're exceptionally qualified to do so, and even then... That being said, a greek yogurt and some berries would be a better choice but whatever...

For the record I love poptarts. I just use them as pre-legday fuel.

Cylphin60 · January 2017

First, thank God my kids are all graduated lol.

I'm going out on a limb and going to say this likely isn't the teacher's fault. Right or wrong, teacher is likely following school guidelines that were most likely developed by state agencies. I don't know where the OP hails from, but here's a link to Massachusetts guidelines.

http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/community-health/mass-in-motion/school/nutrition-regs/

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, developed nutrition standards for competitive foods and beverages sold or made available in public schools. In December 2014, the Massachusetts standards were revised to more closely align with USDA federal standards for competitive foods and beverages. All standards apply to foods and beverages sold or provided in:

School cafeterias offered as à la carte items
Vending machines (must comply at all times)
School stores and snack bars

The Massachusetts standards for competitive foods and beverages do not apply to foods and beverages sold as part of a federal nutrition program such as the School Breakfast Program, School Lunch Program, or the Child and Adult Care Food Program, all of which follow USDA national guidelines. The current regulations can be found on the School Nutrition Standards page.

Also of note:

School districts have the discretion to go beyond the standards and establish local policies that apply to all settings and/or all times to promote a healthy school environment throughout the entire day. For example, schools may determine if the standards apply to classroom lessons and parties.

So rage worthy? I think so. Parents should have the final say in their childrens dietary needs, what they are subject to etc, assuming said parent isn't abusive etc..

But an issue like the OPs may require writing to the the head(s) of the dept that developed those standards.

missmagnoliablossom · January 2017

Send one of those organic, whole fruit Pop-tart knock offs and see what she says then. Lol.

Alyssa_Is_LosingIt · January 2017

JoeMacCready wrote: »

ummijaaz560 wrote: »

Are Pop tarts the devil?

No, but the macro profile isn't great. A pack of 2 is (going from memory) about 400 calories, 72c, 10f, 6p or somewhere thereabouts. I agree the teacher has no business interfering unless they're exceptionally qualified to do so, and even then... That being said, a greek yogurt and some berries would be a better choice but whatever...

For the record I love poptarts. I just use them as pre-legday fuel.

It's a kid, and it's a snack. The OP seems like she otherwise feeds her child a well-rounded diet, so I'm sure his macros aren't lacking. If he's getting the proper nutrients and has a snack every now and then that doesn't have perfect macro ratios, I don't see the harm. Especially if the child is active and he's running and playing often.

T1DCarnivoreRunner · January 2017

ummijaaz560 wrote: »

They sent a note saying we had to provide two snacks plus lunch for the child.

I didnt see anything specifying what was an acceptable healthy snack item. We just cant send nuts, or seafood.

Then here is how I would handle the conversation you described:

Teacher: It's against policy to send unhealthy foods like pop tarts.
You: Show me the policy.
Teacher: It was sent home at the beginning of the year.
You: This one? *Pulls out what was sent home at beginning of year.* How exactly do you figure this says no Pop Tarts, unless said Pop Tarts contain nuts or seafood?
Teacher: *blank stare*

Look, I don't think Pop Tarts are "healthy" either, but I am willing to acknowledge when that is my opinion and not a verifiable fact.

Need2Exerc1se · January 2017

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.

butterfli7o · January 2017

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!

Good luck getting little kids to love celery sticks...yuck.
I don't believe in demonizing food.

cwolfman13 · January 2017

everher wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

I would consider pop tarts to be junk food...but I also wouldn't appreciate a teacher dictating to me or my child what they can and cannot have, particularly if it's a public institution.

I agree but if it's a rule I would follow the rule even if I didn't personally agree as a parent or I would place my child in another school.

From a teaching standpoint, I would say something to the parent simply because it is a rule and not fair to the other children who I'm sure would much rather a pop tart too but meanwhile are eating yogurt or fruit or vegetables.

I think this teacher is definitely judging OP though as a parent and shouldn't have addressed this issue with the first grade child but rather with his parent(s).

For something like this, I'd probably just go along to get along...but I've discovered that schools and other institutions often over step their legal authority with their rules and policies.

Last year I received a letter from my kid's school that if he didn't attend the teacher meet and greet prior to the start of school that he would be suspended as per school policy. We had a long planned family vacation scheduled for that time so we were going to be out of state...I work with a bunch of lawyers so I inquired if they had the legal authority to actually enforce that policy. Nope!..and my lawyer buddy just told me to let him know and that he'd handle it and it would be very quick and painless...

We obviously missed the meet and greet and I was told that my kid would be suspended...I told them I was getting a lawyer...that was that...no suspension, etc...they knew they had no legal ground to stand on.

cqbkaju · January 2017

http://thehill.com/opinion/letters/235441-school-lunch-programs-matter-to-us-military-national-security

Most people are not aware that the original National School Lunch Program (NSLP) came about because too many young men were malnourished to serve in WWII:
"The NSLP legislation came in response to claims that many American men had been rejected for World War II military service due to diet-related health problems: it was clear that America’s children were malnourished."

Recent studies are pointing to the opposite threat: too many people are obese to serve. It is actually being classified as a National Security issue by some people.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/school-lunches-pose-national-security-threat-ret-military/story?id=10424313

"...nearly one in three young adults ages 17 to 24 is too heavy to serve in the military. Among active-duty service members, 12 percent are obese based on their height and weight, an increase of 61 percent since 2002. The military’s health system spends more than $1.5 billion annually treating obesity-related health problems and replacing troops discharged because they are unfit."

People are trying to modify school food guidelines to address the 'obesity epidemic'.
"...an overweight child has about an 80 percent chance of remaining overweight as an adult."
That is why they have tried adding a tax to sugared drinks and sodas in schools and some schools have banned them entirely.

A teacher instructing you to adhere to those guidelines while your child is at school is a gray area but it is not crossing the line.
No more than telling you not to send a snack with peanuts due to possible allergies.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_meal_programs_in_the_United_States#History_of_the_National_School_Lunch_Program

Why are you so opposed to sending carrots instead of poptarts?
Do you actually believe there is any nutritional value in a poptart?
Do you honestly think a poptart as healthy as apple slices?
Why is this such a sore spot with you?
If it is about freshness of fruits and vegetables then get stuff that will not go bad as fast or simply buy less at a time.

Yes, perhaps the teacher could have handled it better but there are far better snack choices than frosted toaster pastries.
Good foods vs bad foods has nothing to do with it. A poptart is devoid of nutrition.
Snacks consisting of mostly sugar are not healthy choices. At the very least they raise blood sugar and contribute to the threat of juvenile diabetes.

As an aside, it seems you are not a teacher and do not know what it is like to try to teach kids hopped up on sugar or what it is like to deal with when they start to crash.

deannalfisher · January 2017

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.

what rules? the OP said the only thing on the policy she saw was nuts and seafood...so unless they provide concrete examples of what is/isn't allowed; and/or a nutrition profile for food (must be less than xg fat or xg of carbs) - then the school doesn't have a leg to stand on

and FWIW, have you seen the quality of many school lunches? a pop-tart may be the least of the kids issue down the road

amyinthetardis1231 · January 2017

Can you not explain to your kid that home and school have different rules? Pop tarts aren't healthy, any more than sugar loaded granola bars are. They aren't evil either, but if the school doesn't want classrooms full of 30 sugar-crazed kids making it impossible to actually teach and learn, I think they are within their rights to say no to certain foods. It is ignorant to think that the granola or yogurt is better by default, but why not just make pop tarts an at-home treat? Just because a food isn't "good/bad" doesn't mean all foods are equally nutritious or beneficial. Your home is your castle, but it's silly to assume a school can cater to every family's individual preferences about food, with the obvious exception of allergies. All that said, the school should have sent guidelines on the snacks they wanted home at the beginning of the year rather than teachers making kids who don't pack their own lunches feel bad in front of their peers. If it's a school policy and you object that strenuously, contact the principal.

Need2Exerc1se · January 2017

deannalfisher 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.

what rules? the OP said the only thing on the policy she saw was nuts and seafood...so unless they provide concrete examples of what is/isn't allowed; and/or a nutrition profile for food (must be less than xg fat or xg of carbs) - then the school doesn't have a leg to stand on

and FWIW, have you seen the quality of many school lunches? a pop-tart may be the least of the kids issue down the road

The rule set by the teacher. Is there a problem with teaching a child to obey the teacher's rules? No.

Your post seems silly to me. It's school not MFP. Just follow the rules and let the kid eat the pop-tart for an after school snack. Problem solved and the poor kid doesn't have to sit starving and afraid in his class.

Lounmoun · January 2017

ummijaaz560 wrote: »

Do teachers have the right to teach children sugary snacks are unhealthy?

Are Pop tarts the devil?

Schools have a right to set policies about what comes into the school. Sometimes these policies are applied in a dumb way to things like food, scissors, clothing. The teacher means well but probably is like many who believe there are strict lines between healthy and unhealthy foods and everyone needs to be the same. If you disagree strongly with what your child is being taught or a policy you should present your side to the teacher, principal, school board, etc. You may succeed in getting poptarts approved or you may get more foods eliminated from the approved list... maybe they'd set a policy of fresh fruit only. If it is just mildly annoying just ask for an approved snack list, send the approved snacks and tell your kid to enjoy the poptarts at home.

If you are in the US, homeschooling is legal in all states and a great option for educational/personal freedom. Eat whatever, whenever you want! (My child is homeschooled and I am biased for it for a number of reasons.)

My personal opinion of pop tarts as a snack is that they are not unhealthy unless you are allergic to the ingredients or have a medical condition. They are not super packed with nutrition but not any more unhealthy for most people than granola bars, yogurts or other popular snack foods. I wouldn't want a poptart but if my dd wants to eat them occasionally that's fine.

ummijaaz560 · January 2017

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.

How am I perpetuating the problem?
I just wrote verbatim what was said along the snack and lunch guidelines, ie what to send.

I also am not nor have I dug my heels about it?

What rules have I decided not to follow and decided to "let him be afraid or hungry?

I have no problem with following the guidelines. But dictating that an occasional snack item is "unhealthy" is not what I want my child taught.

This is why folks come on the forums thinking you must eat "clean" to lose weight.

Reaverie · January 2017

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?

Though I strongly disagree with kids having sugary or salty ANYTHING, The school "policy" is just that. A policy. It isnt a law. The school CANT kick your kid out for eating what you send him with. Most people will just let it slide and work around the schools rules even if they are ridiculous, or just pull their kids out. When they tried to tell me I couldnt send something they deemed unhealthy with my son in the 4th grade, I showed up with McDonalds and dared the school to stop me. Yes, McD's BAD.. but I tend to rebel when someone tells me I CANT parent MY KID. When they told me I couldnt dye my kids hair, both of my kids ended up with blue hair all year long. When they said I couldnt leave with my kids for lunch, I signed them out for the "day" and came back with them after lunch. The school was so afraid of me after a few months that the principal would see me coming, turn on his heals, and head straight back to his office. He tried to threaten me with a truancy officer because I was pulling my kids out of school too often to take them to the zoo or museum. He tried to use the excuse that their grades would suffer and a good parent worries for their childrens grades. I asked him, "OH NO! My son is making less than an A in all his classes?" "Uhh.. well no, not yet.." "And my daughter is struggling to turn in her assignments?" "Evidence shows that.. " "Then who the HECK are you to tell me how to raise my EFFIN kids when BOTH are in advanced classes making straight A's! Step the HECK off and stay OUT of our business!" After that, they never questioned me again. I eventually pulled both of my kids out to homeschool them. It seemed easier than domineering the school officials each year and reminding them who pays their wages.

deannalfisher · January 2017

Need2Exerc1se wrote: »

deannalfisher 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.

what rules? the OP said the only thing on the policy she saw was nuts and seafood...so unless they provide concrete examples of what is/isn't allowed; and/or a nutrition profile for food (must be less than xg fat or xg of carbs) - then the school doesn't have a leg to stand on

and FWIW, have you seen the quality of many school lunches? a pop-tart may be the least of the kids issue down the road

The rule set by the teacher. Is there a problem with teaching a child to obey the teacher's rules? No.

Your post seems silly to me. It's school not MFP. Just follow the rules and let the kid eat the pop-tart for an after school snack. Problem solved and the poor kid doesn't have to sit starving and afraid in his class.

if rules are CLEARLY enunciated/dictated then I have no issues with following them - however arbitrary application of said rules is something that i do dig my feet in against

fattymcrunnerpants · January 2017

Ah the great pop tart debate. My ex and I battle over this practically daily. He feeds them nothing but junk. Pizza, popcorn, pop tarts, cookies, fast food. Bugs the absolute crap out of me because while there's no "bad" foods in the context of a varied diet it means I have to 100% be the "varied" part of their diet. Now let's look at this critically:

A cherry pop tart JUST ONE has 200 calories, 38 grams of carbohydrates, Less than 1 gram of fiber, 17 grams of sugar, 2 grams of protein and 5 grams of fat. So if your child is getting two pop tarts in a pack... and you know he's going to eat two... That's 400 Calories and 34 grams of sugar, 10 grams of fat, and 4 grams of protein. In a snack.

Now lets compare that to my children's other favorite snack: Quaker Oats chocolate chip granola bars. 100 Calories, 3 grams of fat, 7 grams of sugar, 2 grams of protein, 1 gram of fiber. And that's just one. Which they only get packaged in one bar/ package anyway.

So while there are no "good" or "bad" foods there are foods that give you more nutrient bang for your buck. I used to work under the SNAP-Ed grant that tried to educate people on more nutritious foods. The thing of it is, is that the government has a high investment in teaching children to eat nutritious foods. They actually get more funding based on healthy lunch and snack policies. So that's probably where this policy is coming from. Although I don't think it's cool to not let him have it if that's what his parent is packing for him.

AliceDark · January 2017

I've heard similar stories from a lot of my friends with elementary school-aged children, and I think it's really inappropriate for children that young to be hearing negative messages about food. Food is an incredibly complicated topic (clearly, judging from these boards) and first-graders really aren't yet equipped to sort through messaging about good vs. bad foods. Some of those poor kids are going to be set up perfectly for disordered eating patterns. Good for you for reinforcing the message that you can eat everything in moderation with your son.

I would ask to see the policy, and follow it to the letter so that your son doesn't have to personally handle any more food-related confrontations with the teacher. It's really sad that he's already been dealing with so much stress and uncertainty about the foods you give him. I'd also tell the teacher that you'll follow the policy as written, but that any other food-related questions need to be handled directly between the two of you since he's already feeling stress around the subject.

Need2Exerc1se · January 2017

ummijaaz560 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.

How am I perpetuating the problem?
I just wrote verbatim what was said along the snack and lunch guidelines, ie what to send.

I also am not nor have I dug my heels about it?

What rules have I decided not to follow and decided to "let him be afraid or hungry?

I have no problem with following the guidelines. But dictating that an occasional snack item is "unhealthy" is not what I want my child taught.

This is why folks come on the forums thinking you must eat "clean" to lose weight.

You are perpetuating the problem by continuing to send pop-tarts when the teacher asked you not to. You said your child feels afraid to bring out his snack and eat it. If you continue to send a snack that makes him feel that way, then you are the one putting your child in that position. You can teach him your nutritional views at home.

Teacher says Pop Tarts are not a healthy snack

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