Cupcakes Banned in MA Schools

The last school lunch I saw consisted of (alleged) chicken nuggets, corn, fruit punch, and canned fruit......I don't think the problem is the bake sales or birthday parties.

Definitely this. Jaime Oliver did a series about getting schools to change habits to help stop childhood obesity and ultimately he wasn't very successful because the bad foods are cheap, easy and the kids are so hooked on the salts, fats and textures that they refuse to eat real food. Coming from a school where I ate that same crap day in day out I can attest to the fact that it majorly contributes to the problem.

I am with you. They need to worry more about Physical Education in schools! It is crazy that they have done away with PE but then they turn around and serve them a lunch with 2000 calories in it because "for some kids this is all they will eat today". There seems to be a definate problem and it isn't cupcakes.

and don't even get me started on the condoms......:explode:

Hard to believe that our educational delivery system is so out of contact with reality!! Teach kids math and MFP...calories in/calories out will cure obesity!

Pretty sure these are the same states/schools that eliminate recess in elementary school and reduce Phys Ed. I'm with you, use the funds to support Sports and Phys Ed instead of thinking food is always the issue. Sitting for 8 hours a day does not help these kids with weight issues!

Insane. Seriously.

No recess, no PE...crap lunches...but "Kids are overweight" and "your kid is hyper". No *kitten*, Sherlock.

My son's school lunches are better than at his previous school, but IMO there is still a LOT of room for improvement - especially in the breakfasts.

But the continually declining amount of time spent at physical activity annoys the heck out of me.

I live in the only state that has banned school bake sales, thinking THAT'S going to change the obesity problem. And, they want to ban all fundraising for sports teams by selling cookies or candy, no cupcakes or treats given out for birthdays and no banquets for sports, etc. Maybe it would make more sense to have bigger bake sales and raise money to keep phys ed in the schools!

I'm disgusted!

Not surprising at all. Big Brother alive and well. The future of all of society. People need to wake up about the control we are just handing over to the government...LIVE FREE OR DIE...sorry that was my NH born identity piping up. Carry on.

It is about the same here in So. Indiana. They think by limiting what they can have for lunch and parties (which they have put a limit on how many we can have... think its currently 2 per school year) is going to make the kids thinner. The issue is not what the school gives the kids but what the parents give the kids and the lack of making kids move! I am at fault myself... my kids eat bunches of junk and my oldest hardly moves. I am trying to correct this situation at this moment. So at the kids "parties" we have to give them 90% healthy and 10% crap.

I'm in Ireland, my son's school seems to have a really good structure in place - they all bring packed lunches but their lunch must contain at least one piece of fruit daily. They're not allowed bring crisps (potato chips), soda, cakes, biscuits, chocolate, but on Fridays they're allowed to bring a chocolate bar or a cupcake or bun. I think it's a good way to teach them moderation. They also have swimming, football and gardening (!) during the week.

For all I give out about it, I guess we're actually pretty lucky!

I love this. I think its fantastic.

Our son rather have salad than mac and cheese any day.

Thats massachusetts for you. this state is WAY WAY WAY over the top

QUOTE:

I'm in Ireland, my son's school seems to have a really good structure in place - they all bring packed lunches but their lunch must contain at least one piece of fruit daily. They're not allowed bring crisps (potato chips), soda, cakes, biscuits, chocolate, but on Fridays they're allowed to bring a chocolate bar or a cupcake or bun. I think it's a good way to teach them moderation. They also have swimming, football and gardening (!) during the week.

For all I give out about it, I guess we're actually pretty lucky!



I disagree. I packed my kids lunches every day and I would be really angry with the public schools (gov't run) telling me what I can and can't feed my kids.

They aren't telling you what you can and can't feed kids - you can feed your kids all the junk they want - at home.

My views on this are that junk food has no place in their diet when teachers are responsible for getting these kids to learn. Do you know how difficult it is to teach kids after they eat a lunch of junk? They are either hyper and can't concentrate or are crashing and can't stay awake. I don't view this as a health issue or a 'telling parents what to feed their kids' issue, I view it as a "let's all work together and give these kids the best opportunities we can to get a good education, and that includes making sure that their lunch doesn't create a hindrance for them to learn". They can have whatever junk you want to feed them when they get home from school, when YOU have to deal with them :-)

Just my opinion, and i'm not saying you only feed your kids junk, but many parents DO feed their kids nothing but junk, because they don't know any better or are lazy. I think guidelines are a good thing. It's not like these kids don't get ENOUGH cookies, cupcakes, etc without the school making them readily accessible or the parents shoving them in their lunchbags. I just think there is a time and place for everything. And if we want to ensure a child's success and improve performance in school, you'd be surprised at how much a good diet can affect that.

Kids in my town aren't allowed to run on the playground. Or when they play wiffel ball. Or play tag. Seems like i'd focus more on encouraging the kids to be active and leave the dietary limitations up to the parents.