Let's Encourage Childhood Obesity!
Whether you're in the city, in the burbs or the middle of nowhere for that matter, as a mom you can't help but be concerned about childhood obesity. Most of us do our best to feed our kids balanced meals, teach them about the benefits of healthy choices and monitor their intake of junk. Being one of those moms (I have a homemade poster of healthy snack choices posted on our cupboard for the kids) I am appalled by two recent events.
The first was yesterday's NYT's article that announced that New York City Public Schools would no longer permit the sale of home baked goods for school fundraisers because the fat and calorie content can't be measured but that junk foods like Doritos and Poptarts pass the test! (here is the link to this incredible article: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/no-brownies-at-bake-sales-but-doritos-may-be-o-k/?scp=1&sq=no%20homebaked%20goods&st=cse). I can't believe that we're teaching our kids that things that come in a package (along with chemical, colorants and preservatives) are good but that things are homemade with all natural ingredients are bad!
The second thing that just stopped me in my tracks was a notice I recently received from my sons' public school in CT. The note announced that if children wanted to get a double lunch, they would from now on need a parent's written approval. A double lunch! What kid needs a double lunch? Why would a kid need double the calories? Why is this even an option? And why are we just now asking parents for permission? Then we wonder why we have a problem with childhood obesity!
Sometimes being a parent feels like an uphill battle! A little common sense from the department of education would really help!
The first was yesterday's NYT's article that announced that New York City Public Schools would no longer permit the sale of home baked goods for school fundraisers because the fat and calorie content can't be measured but that junk foods like Doritos and Poptarts pass the test! (here is the link to this incredible article: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/no-brownies-at-bake-sales-but-doritos-may-be-o-k/?scp=1&sq=no%20homebaked%20goods&st=cse). I can't believe that we're teaching our kids that things that come in a package (along with chemical, colorants and preservatives) are good but that things are homemade with all natural ingredients are bad!
The second thing that just stopped me in my tracks was a notice I recently received from my sons' public school in CT. The note announced that if children wanted to get a double lunch, they would from now on need a parent's written approval. A double lunch! What kid needs a double lunch? Why would a kid need double the calories? Why is this even an option? And why are we just now asking parents for permission? Then we wonder why we have a problem with childhood obesity!
Sometimes being a parent feels like an uphill battle! A little common sense from the department of education would really help!
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