Banning cupcakes from school birthdays?

Question

Am I the only who thinks this is wrong?
I do think that they should offer healthier alternatives in school for lunch(my school put only healthy snacks/drinks in the machines-that is a start) but a snack once in a while does not hurt a child. Yes there is an obesity problem but isn't up to teh parent to know when their child is obese and to get them involved in sports and healthy eating habits? It starts at home.

I don;t know about your kids but my daughter does not go to 37 cupcake parties a year! Not all kids brought in cupcakes ever in her school.
It has nothing to do with allergies..obesity problem

Answer 1

In our school they are promoting healthier snacks in kid's lunches brought to school and for school meetings and get togethers but are still allowing cupcakes for birthdays if a parent really wants to bring them in. I agree with you that the parents needs to be preparing and teaching their children about good nutrition, so many of my children's friends don't eat dinner until 8 or 9 o'clock at night and then it is just something the mom threw together. When I prepare dinner there is always vegetables and fruits along with the meat and potatoes. My youngest actually could eat a baked potatoe with fresh broccoli or string beans and think that is the best meal she's ever had. On the other hand maybe it will help parents to be more creative in bringing in snacks to school - fruit trays could be fun (especially the ones made by Edible Delights) and I was thinking of yogurt cups or frozen yogurt (and if you get vanilla and bring strawberries and blueberries and sprinkles and other toppings in it would be like a Sundae bar). Good luck and God Bless.

Answer 2

Ok while I agree it is a bit overkill to ban them. However I do see where they are coming from unfortunately.
1. Some kids may be allergic to wheat and may feel left out and indulge anyway but mostly.....
2. When some classes have 30-50 kids in them and each childs birthday falls on a different day we are no longer talking about a once in awile treat. We are looking to up to a total of fifty cupcakes
Thats a lot of cupcakes!!!!

But I remember the day when it was a rare treat that we had cupcakes brought to class.

Answer 3

I can think of a few reasons aside from obesity why it would be good for a school to have a "no birthday treats" policy.

1- some parents may not want their child eating cupcakes at school , and those kids are going to feel singled out if they are the only kid in the class who CAN'T eat a cupcake!

2- some kids are allergic to eggs, wheat, dairy, artificial coloring...you name it! It would be very hard for a teacher to assure that the cupcakes met each child's dietary restrictions!

3- some kids parent's WON'T send cupcakes on their birthday, and those kids are going to feel like the odd man out (same reason you have to write a valentine card for EVERY kid in class lol)

4- it interrupts instruction time and puts the kids on a sugar high for the rest of the afternoon!

If it were my kids, I would pack a special birthday treat for dessert in their lunchbox with a fun note and call it good :) They can always have a party with their classmates on the weekend.

**personally, I wouldn't want my child eating cupcakes made by someone I don't know...how do I know if their kitchen is clean? how do I know they weren't licking the spoon??

Answer 4

When I was in school we had parents bring in cupcakes for everyone's birthday and soda as well which was great. We each got one cupcake and one cup of soda. My sister is 7 and in her school district she can't bring in any chips, cookies, soda, or any other type of junk food. They will only have 1 party in class a year. Even the staff is going to check kids lunches if they pack and confiscate anything that has sugar or fat or junkfood in it. They are trying to get healthy food non stop in schools and are taking out things like pretzles from the high school and only putting in apples and other healthy food. In my 7 year old sister's school they can't even bring any juice to school unless it is 100% sugar free and 100% natural. That is insane. I agree healthy eating starts at home. It's up to the parents to teach their kids about healthy food and to not feed their kids nothing but soda and junkfood all the time.

Answer 5

When I was in school they had "Holiday" lunches for when the observed holidays were coming that would be a good time for a "once in a while" dessert. One problem is some students and I was to blame also, only had dessert for lunch cause I did not feel like anything else on teh menu. More sugar at lunch means sleeping in class by the end of the day it just runs them down after they use it up.

Answer 6

Lots of schools are now instigating healthier eating habits. You have to start them when they are young. When my son first started primary school, it was okay to bring cupcakes for their break on their birthday, as long as everyone got one. But then the school instigated a policy to where no outside food could be brought in unless in was in a grocery container (like the cupcakes they make). And before he was out of primary school, the school completely banned any extra goodies, birthday celebrations and so forth. The only time we were allowed to bring in store bought snacks was for the children's Thanksgiving and Christmas parties. So, as time progressed, so did the process of bringing in treats. The kids enjoyed it so much, but schools don't really care about that. They have their uncalled for protocols and rules they make and have to follow. It's not fair to the children, as far as I'm concerned, but I couldn't do anything about it, so I had his birthday parties at home, invited his classmates, friends, and relatives. Then we celebrated and ate whatever we wanted!

Answer 7

I would agree that parents need to be involved with their child's diet and if needed their fight against obesity. I think that providing cupcakes at school is appropriate on occasion, however alternatives also need to be provided. There are great and creative ways to have less fattening desserts that are actually healthy. Fruit, gelatin, whole wheat snacks, etc. What we teach our children now will last their lifetime.

Answer 8

ok whilst I agree this is variety of overkill to limit them. although I do see the place they are coming from regrettably. a million. some young little ones could be allergic to wheat and might sense disregarded and indulge besides yet as a rule..... 2. while some instructions have 30-50 young little ones in them and each and each childs birthday falls on a various day we're not to any extent further speaking some as quickly as in awile take care of. we try to as much as an entire of 50 cupcakes Thats countless cupcakes!!!! yet I undergo in ideas the day while it replaced right into a uncommon take care of that we had cupcakes delivered to classification.

Answer 9

Keeping the cupcakes at home is fine with me. The school is just trying to do their part in getting the message out about obesity.

Answer 10

Our school policy restricted treats, also.

1) Allergies, and diet restrictions for diabetic children, or children of different religions.

2) Not every kitchen is as clean as yours

3) Differences in size/shape make some children upset (he
wanted the one with the most chips, frosting, whatever).

4) Mess in the classroom, crumbs, wrappers, half-eaten snacks drawing insects, messy hands, etc.

5) Interruption of the school day

6) Not every child brings a treat (summer birthdays, different family customs, etc.)

Instead -- consider a gift to the classroom of art supplies, books, craft projects for indoor recess, offer to be a classroom visitor (read to the class, share a craft, etc.)