Teacher says Pop Tarts are not a healthy snack
Replies
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Need2Exerc1se wrote: »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".
From the OP's later post: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.
To define "healthy" is nearly impossible and is not the call of an individual teacher.
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I'm with the teacher...
Here are the ingredients:
Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, vitamin b1 [thiamin mononitrate], vitamin b2 [riboflavin], folic acid), corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, soybean and palm oil (with tbhq for freshness), sugar, cracker meal, contains two percent or less of wheat starch, salt, dried strawberries, dried pears, dried apples, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate), citric acid, milled corn, gelatin, soybean oil, modified corn starch, caramel color, soy lecithin, xanthan gum, modified wheat starch, vitamin a palmitate, red 40, niacinamide, reduced iron, color added, turmeric extract, vitamin b6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), yellow 6, vitamin b2 (riboflavin), vitamin b1 (thiamin hydrochloride), blue 1.
There's not really much nutrition in a pop tart, just sugar. 4 kinds of sugar... I'd let my kids eat 'em as a treat, not a food snack, but not often, as they will avoid healthy stuff if they eat too much oversweetened food, it messes up their palate so that regular food (fruit, vegetables, meats, dairy items, beans, etc.) don't taste as good to them.
I don't think it's really wrong to say "snacks should consist of whole foods" or to provide a list of what is OK to bring. Maybe they are trying to teach nutrition to the kids, or maybe they SEE that the kids who eat sugary snacks do not eat their lunches, why not ask for clarification?
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Giving your kids pop tarts is a form of child abuse.......
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AngInCanada wrote: »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
Dammit! If this hadn't been a pop tart thread, I totally would have made that connection.
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Omg. Like teachers don't have enough to worry about. How about you just send an apple or something and just let it go?12
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Sorry...technically you are correct but you're picking the wrong fight for a trivial gain. Health messages are indeed complex (we argue about it enough round here) and I'm not sure I'd want my teacher using up valuable teaching time to deliver such complexity to a class of children. If they go down that road they then have to explain (to multiple other kids and their not so well educated parents) what constitutes a 'balanced diet', 'occasional snack' etc...not something you'd want them to get into without a trained nutrionist to hand.
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Need2Exerc1se wrote: »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".
From the OP's later post: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.
To define "healthy" is nearly impossible and is not the call of an individual teacher.
Um, yeah it could be. But that has nothing to do whether a child being asked to bring a healthy snack instead of a pop-tart is an injustice. I mean come on, get serious.4 -
I don't think the "only healthy snacks" rule is too unusual. I have heard of similar rules at schools down here.
I think the teacher could have handled it differently though. This seems like a conversation that should've taken place between the teacher and you not the teacher and your son.
I agree with this. Our kids school also requests healthy, non-smelly (ok ok it was MY kid who kept bringing sardines - he loves them), non-messy snacks and I am fine with it. I normally pack them a less "healthy" snack for after school and everyone is happy. Plus, my kids do get a little more wound up when they eat refined sugary items so I get why they teacher doesn't want it.
But, that said, the teacher should have waited and addressed this with you and let your kiddo just eat his snack that day
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Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »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".
From the OP's later post: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.
To define "healthy" is nearly impossible and is not the call of an individual teacher.
Um, yeah it could be. But that has nothing to do whether a child being asked to bring a healthy snack instead of a pop-tart is an injustice. I mean come on, get serious.
Injustice isn't a good word to describe the problem I agree. I was talking about the "rules" that are not in place.
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There were pop tarts a plenty back in my day. But that was the '80s when fruit roll ups were considered a healthy snack.
I do not think it's up to the teacher unless they are a certified dietitian or work with one.1 -
There is 16 g of sugar in a cherry poptart. And 4.5 g sugar per oz of grapes. So 1 poptart is equal to not quit 4 oz of grapes. That's like what 10-15 grapes if even that many. Sure grapes have other vitamins but still both can be in a good diet. Besides sugar is sugar doesn't matter if you get it from a soda or fruit it all becomes the same thing.3
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We need "trained nutritionists" to teach kids what a balanced diet is? "Non-nutrition professionals" aren't qualified to determine/enforce a healthy snack rule?
Crazy times.4 -
It's part of life that we don't agree with everything. The teacher is trying to introduce healthy eating habits. Nothing wrong with that. Our school removes unhealthy snacks and fizzy juice from the kids. I don't agree with that as we paid for it, but accepted it. I'd supply the healthy snack so my kids fit in at school with their peers. If they want junk, they can have some later at home.
We can be as outraged as we like, but how it affects our kids is what's important. I sucked it up for their sake and now that I'm used to it, I appreciate it's one helping of fruit and veg a day I don't have to worry about.
My kids fit in and don't feel awkward, though now they're old enough they go to a shop outside school with all their pals for hotdogs at lunch. The school is trying to instil healthy eating and that's a good thing, as for many kids, it's likely the only time of day they eat anything healthy.1 -
Smash the pop tart into the shape of a granola bar. Close enough?5
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hawkmancody wrote: »There is 16 g of sugar in a cherry poptart. And 4.5 g sugar per oz of grapes. So 1 poptart is equal to not quit 4 oz of grapes. That's like what 10-15 grapes if even that many. Sure grapes have other vitamins but still both can be in a good diet. Besides sugar is sugar doesn't matter if you get it from a soda or fruit it all becomes the same thing.
Some nutrition study is needed if you're saying 4 oz of grapes are the same quality snack as a pop tart7 -
This actually makes me a bit nervous. I have severe food allergies to the point that we can't have anything I am allergic to in the house. Immoregnant right now and baby has a 50/50 shot of also having my allergies. Even if she doesn't have my allergies, mine are so severe that we still have have it in the house and going to have to make it very very clear that my daughter can only eat what I pack for her and CANNOT share food or eat anything the schools provides.
If they make a huge issue from that or tell her she can't eat something I packed for her, they are going to regret it. Technically severefood allergies can be classified as a disability and I will pursue that if need.2 -
Chunkahlunkah wrote: »This title sounds like it would be a headline at The Onion.
lol, my favorite Onion piece: "Multiple Stab Wounds May Be Harmful To Monkeys"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ7J7UjsRqg . Is there anything more political than food? It touches socio-economics, religion, gender, cultural backgrounds, environmental concerns, health and wellbeing, education, etc. I think this could be the most politically charged subject in the world. 2 -
Commander_Keen 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?
I think you are missing the reason.
I too have a 7 year old and we have rules for snacks.
-- Everyone brings in something healthy, so the kids can't trade.
-- Too much sugar means its harder to control the kids.
"Just so you know there are granola bars with just as much or more sugar in them as Pop Tarts." --- Can you prove it?
The problem is "healthy" is subjective, and included on the acceptable list are yogurt and granola bars, which would be an issue if they were really concerned about sugar. Look at a Nature Valley nutrition label - 18g sugar vs a Pop-Tart with 14g.
Not that I think we need to be teaching kids that sugar is the devil, but its not useful at all to teach them that some foods are "good" and some are "bad" while they are nutritionally just about the same thing, just in different packaging.1 -
This actually makes me a bit nervous. I have severe food allergies to the point that we can't have anything I am allergic to in the house. Immoregnant right now and baby has a 50/50 shot of also having my allergies. Even if she doesn't have my allergies, mine are so severe that we still have have it in the house and going to have to make it very very clear that my daughter can only eat what I pack for her and CANNOT share food or eat anything the schools provides.
If they make a huge issue from that or tell her she can't eat something I packed for her, they are going to regret it. Technically severefood allergies can be classified as a disability and I will pursue that if need.
If the baby would have issues by the time school rolls aroind it would be your responsibility to discuss with the school beforehand and resolve. The administration aren't mind readers.2 -
At my grandkid's schools in Wyoming, the kids were required a few times a year to bring boxes of snacks such as granola bars, crackers, etc. and the teachers would divvy them out for snack time. That way there was no trading because everyone had the same snack. And, theoretically, the snacks were "healthy." And if there was a specific kid that had allergies all the parents were made aware of that and to choose snacks accordingly.0
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NeuronsNeuronsNeurons wrote: »Chunkahlunkah wrote: »This title sounds like it would be a headline at The Onion.
lol, my favorite Onion piece: "Multiple Stab Wounds May Be Harmful To Monkeys"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ7J7UjsRqg . Is there anything more political than food? It touches socio-economics, religion, gender, cultural backgrounds, environmental concerns, health and wellbeing, education, etc. I think this could be the most politically charged subject in the world.
I'm sorry but that picture made me laugh so hard. Reminds me of a call I was on a years ago. Guy called 911 for a headache..... secondary to agin shot wound tonhead. Yeah, I'd say that could cause a headache lol.
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I homeschooled my kids until they were in 6th grade. There are things about the public school experience that we're not thrilled with, such as policies like this. I don't think they are ill-intentioned; more that it stems from having to deal with large numbers of children and families. It's crowd control, and rules (policies, federal mandates...) help the school/teachers serve *most* of the kids well most of the time, and just help the days to run smoothly. I feel like it's all part of the "teach to the middle" problem. That being said, we "take the bad with the good.". When my kids complain about homework being "busy work" I acknowledge that it's frustrating, and yes, if we were homeschooling we could move on quicker--but, they're in school and the hw has been assigned, they need to do it, and it won't hurt. Dress code, food policies...they can complain, we'll talk about it, but, for the most part, they'll follow the rules because that's what we signed up for.
It all comes down to choosing our battles. I'll let my daughter carry Midol in her backpack, in violation of school policy. But I don't march into the principal's office to tell him that if I deem her responsible enough to carry OTC drugs, that should be good enough for him.2 -
Packerjohn wrote: »This actually makes me a bit nervous. I have severe food allergies to the point that we can't have anything I am allergic to in the house. Immoregnant right now and baby has a 50/50 shot of also having my allergies. Even if she doesn't have my allergies, mine are so severe that we still have have it in the house and going to have to make it very very clear that my daughter can only eat what I pack for her and CANNOT share food or eat anything the schools provides.
If they make a huge issue from that or tell her she can't eat something I packed for her, they are going to regret it. Technically severefood allergies can be classified as a disability and I will pursue that if need.
If the baby would have issues by the time school rolls aroind it would be your responsibility to discuss with the school beforehand and resolve. The administration aren't mind readers.
I never said they would. We already have planned how we are going to discuss with school and care givers. this Even if she isn't allergic, we still can't have her eat it.0 -
Wow, I'd be so mad and that teacher wouldn't have a leg to stand on after I got done with her! It's non of her business what you feed your kids unless you're feeding them pot cookies! It is absolutely absurd and inappropriate for the teacher to behave like this. If she wants to control someones diet, she should worry about her own kids/family! Oh I just get so mad at this crap!!!!!!
What she^^ said. I would be furious.1 -
Christine_72 wrote: »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.I'm with the teacher...
Here are the ingredients:
Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, vitamin b1 [thiamin mononitrate], vitamin b2 [riboflavin], folic acid), corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, soybean and palm oil (with tbhq for freshness), sugar, cracker meal, contains two percent or less of wheat starch, salt, dried strawberries, dried pears, dried apples, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate), citric acid, milled corn, gelatin, soybean oil, modified corn starch, caramel color, soy lecithin, xanthan gum, modified wheat starch, vitamin a palmitate, red 40, niacinamide, reduced iron, color added, turmeric extract, vitamin b6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), yellow 6, vitamin b2 (riboflavin), vitamin b1 (thiamin hydrochloride), blue 1.
There's not really much nutrition in a pop tart, just sugar. 4 kinds of sugar... I'd let my kids eat 'em as a treat, not a food snack, but not often, as they will avoid healthy stuff if they eat too much oversweetened food, it messes up their palate so that regular food (fruit, vegetables, meats, dairy items, beans, etc.) don't taste as good to them.
I don't think it's really wrong to say "snacks should consist of whole foods" or to provide a list of what is OK to bring. Maybe they are trying to teach nutrition to the kids, or maybe they SEE that the kids who eat sugary snacks do not eat their lunches, why not ask for clarification?
If that's woeful I don't want to know what they allow you to buy in Australia because I can think of a lot of things that are way worse. 200 calories while providing some vitamins and minerals is far from the worst.6 -
Packerjohn wrote: »hawkmancody wrote: »There is 16 g of sugar in a cherry poptart. And 4.5 g sugar per oz of grapes. So 1 poptart is equal to not quit 4 oz of grapes. That's like what 10-15 grapes if even that many. Sure grapes have other vitamins but still both can be in a good diet. Besides sugar is sugar doesn't matter if you get it from a soda or fruit it all becomes the same thing.
Some nutrition study is needed if you're saying 4 oz of grapes are the same quality snack as a pop tart
Same amount of sugar, different micronutrients, neither being particularly outstanding.
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1920/23 -
This actually makes me a bit nervous. I have severe food allergies to the point that we can't have anything I am allergic to in the house. Immoregnant right now and baby has a 50/50 shot of also having my allergies. Even if she doesn't have my allergies, mine are so severe that we still have have it in the house and going to have to make it very very clear that my daughter can only eat what I pack for her and CANNOT share food or eat anything the schools provides.
If they make a huge issue from that or tell her she can't eat something I packed for her, they are going to regret it. Technically severefood allergies can be classified as a disability and I will pursue that if need.
If this makes you feel less anxious, my son just finished a kindy stint where we weren't allowed to use eggs, shellfish or nuts in school lunches due to a severe allergies of one student - even the packages that may have had the product in it weren't allowed. I felt terribly sorry for the parents but fortunately they found a subsequent primary school for the following years that had a complete ban on those products too due to another student. I hated it sometimes because all I could think of was egg recipes for his lunch and then I'd go doh! Can't do (my son loves eggs). Happy to comply though for the little fella that needed an epi-pen. Would have hated to be the reason he got sick.0 -
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.
Letting your kid have a treat now and then isn't teaching them bad habits...
My kids have treats regularly...they also eat their fruit and some veggies and their chicken and rice and fish...my youngest (4) plays soccer and my oldest (6) plays flag football...both are avid bike riders and my youngest recently completed a 12 mile ride with me. My wife and I are both very active, healthy, and fit are excellent roll models for our kids even though at this very moment both of them are snacking on a cookie.
There's a lot more to health and wellness and raising children the right way than denying them anything good...you act as if the OP is feeding her kid nothing but pop tarts....3 -
ummijaaz560 wrote: »I think this was the second time he took the pop tart, as I said he usually takes either fruit or a fruit cup.
The first time he took it I heard nothing. Which was a few weeks ago because I'd just purchased the box.
He took another one yesterday, I opened his lunch box after school and it was in there.
Thats when he told me she said he could not have it weeks ago, because it was not healthy.
So he sat hungry that day because he was forbade from eating it (first time), and yesterday because I packed it and didnt know he couldn't have it.
He must have seen it and was afraid to take it out.
I dont know why he didn't tell me sooner. The first one got trashed so I didnt find it then.
But more so, who stops a child from from eating and not providing another snack?
Ok you dont want him to have it, well what else you got?
I retract my previous advice. Your child was made to sit hungry while everyone else was having a snack?
I would have this lady's head on a silver platter. I'd complain to high heaven and see if I couldn't cost her, her job.
To begin with, this should've been a conversation between you and her not her and your first grader who is what six or seven? And then she has the audacity to not let him eat anything?
Heads. Would. Roll.
But I don't take kindly to people who bully children. Even if you'd sent him a chocolate covered freaking donut he should have been allowed to eat it if he was hungry or another snack should have been provided and this should have been taken up with you.9 -
All I know is, deep fried Poptarts are amazing! They go from being sugary cardboard to some delightful French pastry.
And will kill you in the long run.
The things you learn when you are friends with the Funnel Cake guys at the Ren Faire... And they bring fryers with them out to Burns...1
This discussion has been closed.
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